BANNED from one and banned from all.

That’s the aim of licensees of pubs, businesses and restaurants in Ferndown who have launched a PubWatch-style scheme in which participants will work together with the police and local authority.

Anyone causing problems can be banned from all members’ premises, and pictures of troublemakers can be circulated.

The White Heather pub on Ringwood Road hosted the initial meeting with 14 participants interested in launching a project.

PC Ian Curtis, Ferndown beat officer and the safer neighbourhood team manager, said: “It was a whole spectrum of the community who turned up, pubs, businesses and restaurants as well.

“Lidl also turned up as we were very pleased with the responsible actions they have taken.

“It’s not going to be a talking shop, it’s going to be a formal organisation, their organisation.

“They are going to form themselves into a business partnership which means that they can register with data protection and they can share information on offenders.

“That’s not just the pubs, it’s the shops that are involved as well. You could be banned from anywhere that sells alcohol in Ferndown. It’s quite a powerful tool.”

PC Curtis said they would have procedures in place including an appeals process.

The next process is forming a steering group with a chairman, and giving the group a name.

He said that as the scheme grows it could then form links with similar schemes inWimborne and Bournemouth.

Christine Shade of the White Heather said: “It was excellent. Everyone here was terribly positive.”

Cllr Peter Richardson, chairman of East Dorset District Council’s licensing committee, said: “The committee is keen to have licensing groups throughout the whole of East Dorset so all licensees can contribute towards sociable safe communities.

“The Ferndown licensees’ enthusiasm in this respect is much appreciated.”

In Wimborne, 11 licensed premises signed up to the scheme when it launched in December last year.