Community leaders have thrown their weight behind plans for an action group of landlords to tackle drink-fuelled violence in the City of Hamilton.

?Strength in numbers? could help beat the growing culture of binge-drinkers causing trouble in the Front Street area, according to representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and the Corporation of Hamilton.

They say businesses in town are losing vital profits because they have had to increase security to keep aggressive revellers at bay.

Landlords should be applauded for confronting the issue collectively, they add.

Under the forum scheme, licensees propose to share information about known troublemakers and hold regular meetings to discuss ways of improving safety.

It could ultimately mean people acting violently in one bar find themselves banned from a string of venues across town. Managers could also be encouraged to telephone each other to warn about gangs of rowdy drunken youths who are heading in their direction.

Philip Barrett, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce?s restaurant division, said the group had already been in talks with landlords over the issue.

?Unfortunately, it seems as each day goes by we have an anti-social element rearing its ugly head,? he said.

?Businesses are doing what they can but it?s a grave, grave worry.

?We are finding a lot of these bars are having to get more and more security on duty to deal with potential troublemakers. There?s a perception that once people are in the bar they can do what they want and will not get arrested.

?Anything that helps make pubs and bars in Bermuda an enjoyable and safe place for everybody is top of our agenda.

?We have spoken about a forum with landlords and we will continue to make headroads. We can bring pressure together. As always, it?s about strength in numbers, being able to respond collectively and put our point of view to the Police Commissioner to see how we can improve things. We look forward to hearing more information from the landlords in the forum.?

Mr. Barrett is also president of the Island Restaurant Group, which includes bars such as The Hog Penny and The Pickled Onion.

Venues which have already said they will be involved include the Docksiders pub, Bermuda Bistro At The Beach ? formerly The Beach ? and Flanagan?s Irish Pub.

Mayor of Hamilton Sutherland Madeiros gave his support to the initiative.

He said: ?Absolutely anything we can do to improve security and safety in Hamilton has to be welcomed. Maybe collectively licensees could put more pressure on the powers that be to take action, such as MPs or the Police.?

The project is being led by management at Docksiders, where a reveller had been drinking minutes before he was viciously assaulted in an alleyway in the early hours of Thursday, December 28. A similar initiative was set up on the Island several years ago but faded without achieving substantial success.

However, Docksiders managing director Anthony White says he has seen a number of similar ?Pubwatch? operations in his native UK reap positive rewards. Assistant Police Commissioner has welcomed the scheme, but urged landlords to ensure their methods stayed within the law.