RADIOS have been supplied to pubs and bars in Lowesmoor, Worcester in the latest bid to tackle crime and disorder and protect children.

The aim is for the radios to be used so managers can talk to each other to help prevent licensed premises serving people who are already drunk, reducing nuisance and promoting safety.

The voluntary scheme provides four licensed premises in Lowesmoor with radios to aid the retailers to work together to reduce the supply of alcohol to intoxicated people attempting to buy alcohol.

The scheme has been created by West Mercia Police's South Worcestershire licensing department. the Cathedral Safer Neighbourhood Team, the Department of Health, Worcester City Council and licensed premises in Lowesmoor.

The scheme aims to support businesses to enable them to work together, as well as to further safeguard vulnerable members of the public and ensure compliance with the licensing objectives.

The radios were funded through the city council's Safer Worcester scheme and is the original innovation of PCSO Dan Kendall-Smith and Sgt Paul Smith.

Sergeant Paul Smith, one of the organisers of the voluntary initiative said: "We visited the licensed shops in Lowesmoor throughout October and November and came up with the idea to provide radios to the licence holders to talk to each other so that when one premises refuses to sell alcohol to an individual the other premises can follow suit.

"We haven't done this before in the city and we are really hoping that this helps the licence holders uphold their licence objectives to prevent crime and disorder, promote public safety, prevent public nuisance and, protect children"

He added: "We will continue to be in regular contact with the licence holders and are really pleased to have the support of our partners from Worcester City Council - Safer Worcester and the Department of Health as well as the full support of the licence holders."