DRINK and drug-fuelled crime is being targeted in a new police and pub partnership in Abingdon.

Six pubs and Stratton’s nightclub have signed up to the Nightsafe scheme which was launched in the town on Friday.

The move will see bar staff trained in managing drunk customers and drugs awareness.

It will also see police swabbing venues for signs of drugs use and using sniffer dogs.

Pub owners have also pledged to attended regular pub watch meetings and sign up to a drugs prevention initiative.

So far, landlords at The Punchbowl, The Blue Boar, The Black Swan, The Grapes, Oracle Snooker Club and The Stocks bar at the Crown & Thistle, have joined up.

Landlady at The Blue Boar, Hilary Collis, said: “It is another way of working with the police to keep our pubs and customers safe. It sends a big message to people that it will not be tolerated.

“We are fortunate as we rarely get any problems but if you put a lot of people together who have been drinking or worse and a little misunderstanding can turn into violence.”

Staff will also wear badges with the slogan “We serve drinks not drunks” to deter revellers from drinking too much.

Members of Abingdon Pub Watch have been meeting for the past 25 years to work together to combat bad behaviour in their pubs.

Beverly Vanstone, landlady at The Midget and a member of Abingdon Pub Watch, said violence and drugs were the main problems pub owners face. She said: “Drugs do seem cheaper than alcohol and the fear is people will bring them into the premises.”

Police are urging bars in the town to use a radio system to alert them and other pubs of trouble.

Nightsafe was launched in Oxford in 2004 to tackle alcohol related anti-social behaviour.

In the Vale last year there were 262 cases of violent crime against people and more than half of them were solved.

Inspector Ian Money said: “Alcohol-related disorder is not a problem in Abingdon but we want to ensure it stays this way. This scheme is a good opportunity for the police to continue to work with the licensees and partners in the town to build relations in an attempt to help keep the Vale a safe place to be.”

Nightsafe is a joint initiative between local councils and the police. Leader of the Vale of White Horse District Council, Matthew Barber, added: “It is important to the council that all residents feel safe and secure when enjoying a night out and this is one of the ways we can help, whilst also supporting local businesses.”