More than 130 troublemakers have been banned from Shrewsbury’s pubs and clubs or forced to sign behaviour contracts in the last 12 months, new figures showed today.

It follows a clampdown by West Mercia Police and the Pubwatch scheme which includes many of the town’s popular nightspots.

Constable Dave Walton, from Shrewsbury Town Centre Police Station, said the number of individuals to receive Pubwatch bans or sign acceptable behaviour contracts (ABCs) had rocketed by more than 800 per cent from about 15 this time last year to more than 130 now.

He said the move had coincided with a “significant” reduction in the number of drink-related incidents of disorder and anti-social behaviour in the town centre.

Constable Walton highlighted the fact that during the first weekend of January this year there were no arrests or reports of alcohol related disorder, a pattern which has continued.

“The group exercise a banned from one banned from all strategy,” he added.

“Persons dealt with by the police for offences of violence, drugs or being drunk and disorderly can expect a ban from member premises. Those individuals who attack members of staff at licensed premises, or police officers, can expect lengthy bans of up to five years.

“The police are not involved in the decision to ban an individual, it is a matter for the members to decide upon. We provide the information about an incident.

“Photographs of banned persons are circulated to members, there are currently over 130 individuals subject to Pubwatch bans or ABCs.”