POLICE in Warminster are launching a CCTV and radio link-up for landlords to help crack down on troublemakers in the town's pubs and bars.

Pubwatch is an extension of the town's already successful Shopwatch scheme, where shop owners can alert other businesses and the police to known troublemakers. Police have provided landlords with radios, which can be used to contact the CCTV headquarters to record evidence of bad behaviour, alert other pubs to troublemakers and contact police direct.

Jim Stannard, acting Inspector at Warminster police, said: "When the shops closed the existing system became redundant so we decided to extend it to the pubs in the town centre. "We found Shopwatch to be very effective a while ago we became aware of counterfeit Scottish notes circulating in the area so we alerted the shops so they could make sure they refused them."

Mark Couch, licensee of the Nags Head in Portway, said: "We usually use the telephone to call round, but most of the time people don't hear it because it is busy. "This will be much better because you can carry the radio on you.

"It will also give us a direct link to CCTV and enable us to forewarn the other pubs in advance."

The pubs involved in the scheme include The Snooty Fox, JBs, The Bath Arms and The Old Bell Inn. Stewart Pease, of the Old Bell Inn in Market Place, hopes that having CCTV footage will help police catch persistent troublemakers. The radios cost £1,000 and have been provided by the Community Safety Partnership.