Family told to stay out of town pubs (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Family told to stay out of town pubs

AN ENTIRE family has been banned from the pubs of Cirencester following a series of disturbances in the town.

Trevor Savory and his sons Danny, Steve and Trevor junior will not be allowed in local premises until January 2005.

They are part of a record number of people on the latest list issued by BOBS (the Behave or Be Banned Scheme), which covers most pubs in the Cirencester area.

Licensees meet each month to vote on who should be banned and 15 names are currently pinned up in all member premises.

BOBS chairman Dave Watson said: "It's certainly the most banned at one meeting and reflects the amount of incidents we've had in the last month.

"The decision we've made is in support of the police, in relation to incidents which may be construed as drink-related."

As revealed in last week's Standard, police are mounting a major clampdown on local troublemakers.

Officers have made more than 25 arrests in Cirencester alone, in connection with disorder offences, since the start of June.

BOBS is also throwing its weight behind the campaign and has vowed to bar anyone that causes problems in member premises.

Speaking to the Standard this week, Danny Savory admitted his family had been involved in certain incidents recently, including a disturbance in the Market Place two weeks ago, but claimed they were being used as scapegoats.

He said: "The family's being victimised. It was self defence. My older brother got hit and I got a call saying he was being jumped.

"We shot down the Market Place. We're very close as a family and we just went to help him.

"My dad wasn't even there. It's not fair he should be BOBed - it's just because he's a Savory."

Mr Watson says the latest list gives BOBS the first opportunity to try out a new part of the scheme.

He says that although a number of 'banned' names are familiar to people in the town, many staff don't know what the individuals look like. Police, who have issued photos to members of the Stroud BOBS scheme, say they are waiting to see how successful it is before giving snaps to Cirencester landlords.

In the meantime, Cirencester BOBS is offering to reduce 18 month bans to 12 and six month bans to three if people voluntarily hand in a picture of themselves.

Police spokesman Steve Partridge said: "Police in Cirencester are actively dealing with problems of nuisance and anti-social behaviour and are taking action whenever possible.

"Quite often these incidents will be alcohol-related and so the support of the licensees and the town is very much appreciated.

"Many people who are dealt with by the police for disorderly behaviour are as worried about being banned from the pubs as they are about being arrested and charged with criminal offences.

"We certainly hope that those banned will reconsider their future behaviour and Cirencester can become an even safer and more pleasant place for everyone."

People currently banned under BOBS and the length of their bans are: Michael Luker (March 2004); Leonard Davey (February 2004); Will Ponting and Gordon Ayres (both August 2003); Gordon Hunt (November 2003); Caroline Saunders (February 2004); Wayne Twitchell (May 2004); Lester Caswell (January 2004); Jason Daniels, Danny Savory, Steve Savory, Trevor Savory (jnr), Trevor Savory (snr), Ricky Moisejevs, John Goscombe (all January 2005).