Yobs in Telford will be shown the red card and banned from pubs and clubs in a scheme to be introduced across the borough in time for Christmas, it was revealed today.

The Three Strikes and You’re Out scheme could see hooligans and drunken revellers banned from licensed premises, forcing them to celebrate the festive season elsewhere. The scheme was launched in Oakengates in June and its success will now see licensing officers roll it out in every area of Telford.

It is hoped the scheme will cut alcohol-fuelled violence. Today the scheme was due to be launched in Madeley.

Paul Homersley, licensing officer for Telford police, said: “It’s been trialled in the Oakengates area and has worked extremely well. We will launch it in Madeley today. It is going to start very soon all over the Telford division but Madeley Pub Watch are going to start it first.

“It should be in force everywhere across the borough in the next few weeks – certainly in time for Christmas.

“Wellington will also be introducing the scheme shortly and that will be very important for us, because after Oakengates that’s another area with a large concentration of the night time economy.”

The Madeley scheme was due to be launched at The Red Lion, Park Street, at 3pm today.

Mr Homersley said anybody who was drunk and came into formal contact with the police for any reason would get one of the yellow warning cards – a first strike – which lasts for three months.

If the same person is dealt with by the police again within that period they would get a red card – their second strike – and be banned from the area, he said.

Mr Homersley said if they commit another offence in that time, police officers would then start proceedings for an anti-social behaviour order – their third strike.

And he warned revellers that officers would be on the lookout for anybody out to spoil the night for other people. “We want people to have a good time while they are out, but this will not involve violence or anti-social behaviour of any kind,” he said.

By Kirsty Marston