PORMG : 5682A
recording
An oral history interview with Ms Linda Smith, a designated premises supervisor of a public house in Milton, Portsmouth, who talks generally about crime. Mrs Smith took over the running of the public house and is now the fifth generation to do so. Mrs Smith became the licensee in July 2002 and talks about the training involved, what her current job entails. The pub is a family pub and therefore welcomes people of all ages. Mrs Smith describes a typical day and her busiest days. She does a lot of fund raising for the community and talks about the different events she has run. Mrs Smith talks about job satisfaction and benefits she experiences of running a pub, holidays, excellent customer support for the pub events and future prospects. Mrs Smith talks about the crimes she has experienced in the pub and the ongoing one, which is the zero tolerance for drugs. She talks about the how her staff are trained to recognise the signs and symptoms of people talking drugs, how known drug dealers are banned, and how people are immediately banned if found taking drugs on the premises. The other crimes mentioned are mainly drink related such as aggressive behaviour and fights. Mrs Smith doesn't really have many big incidents at the pub, about a couple a year, it's mainly dealing with people who have had too much to drink. She talks about the worry of people drink driving and how she offers to call taxis for people to prevent them from driving. Mrs Smith talks about the occasional vandalism to the pub and local area. She talks about Pub Watch, a local system between pubs where they contact each other about incidents to be aware of. Mrs Smith has visits from the Police but finds it difficult to get to know them as they are constantly changing beat officers. Mrs Smith has CCTV in the pub which helps to prevent drug related crime. She talks about how the council are trying to tackle crime in licensed properties and how they are trying to improved standards, responsibility of publicans and reduce crime through a project called Best Bar None. Mrs Smith talks about the public's view of the police and how this has changed in her experience.
