by Angela Cole

Under the 1872 Licensing Act, it is an offence to be drunk in a public house. Spend a Saturday night out in Maidstone, and you wonder how many people realise that.

Every one is out to have a good time and that usually means a drink or two. For some, it’s several more and not all of them can handle it.

Since October, under the leadership of Inspector Dave Coleman of the town centre policing unit, police have been busy giving out Section 27 Orders to people found drunk in the town centre. Those issued with one must leave town for 48 hours – previously, it could have meant a night in a cell.

Within moments of arriving at Maidstone police station at 9pm, we are heading for Lockmeadow. A group from Gillingham celebrating a 30th birthday have been asked to leave Liquid as two of them are drunk and become abusive to door staff.

Shortly before, at 8.15pm, one of their friends had already been arrested, after resisting efforts to give him a Section 27.

Two of the group reluctantly accept the orders, after some calm discussion with Insp Coleman and Acting Sgt Steph Wilson . The other three helpfully ensure they will all take a taxi home – although the birthday night out is ruined.

“It does surprise me, the amount of drunkenness,” Insp Coleman says. “When I tell people it is an offence to be drunk in a public house, they say that is what pubs are for. I say no; they’re for refreshment.”

Explaining the need for Section 27 orders, he says: “If they are not fit to be in one club, then we don’t think they are fit to be in any other club or pub.”

Under changes brought in since October, there is now a greater visible police presence in the town centre with two Sergeants, six Constables and two PCSOs policing the streets.

By 9.30pm, we begin meeting door staff and licensees, starting with Mu Mus in Week Street, where police rarely need to be called for drunkenness. Briefings are now held every Friday night by police for door staff. “It has brought all the door staff together,” says Insp Coleman.

Police, club staff and CCTV operators also use the town centre radio network to communicate. “It is what I really consider to be the night time economy family. We are all in it together, after all.”

Deidre O’Quigley, who runs Mu Mus in Week Street with brother Ciaran , says the “family” of door staff and managers, CCTV operators and police help ensure the smooth running of the town at night.

“We have a triangular situation that works perfectly. The relationship between door staff, the cameras and the police is water tight,” she says.

One of her door staff alerted camera operators to a domestic abuse incident the previous weekend, and, when it escalated, he said, police were on scene within 30 seconds.

Next, we meet Nathan Scudder , a doorman at Muggletons in the High Street. He is also one of the taxi marshals introduced last month to keep the taxi rank in order between 1am and 4am on Saturdays. It has proved a rewarding experience for him.

“I am really enjoying it,” he says. “Most of the people see that we are there for their benefit; one girl even linked arms with me last week and said 'Will you stand with me until the taxi gets here?’

“I really feel like I’m doing something good. Doing this job (on the door) you do get abuse, but there I get thanked.”

By 10pm, there is a briefing at the station for the team to be assigned their streets for the night, in twos.

Under the new policing system, the crime rate has reduced. “It isn’t rocket science,” says Insp Coleman. “It is the right people in the right place at the right time doing the right thing.”

By 10.30pm, we are at the Urban Blue Bus, run by a team of volunteers, who all have first aid training.

The bus has CCTV and now an awning on the side means the people it helps can sit in safety – but also won’t vomit on the bus.
Already there is one young girl, who is drunk, waiting for a lift home.

While we are there, another girl, who is 18 and can barely stand, arrives with her friend, claiming she has only had one drink in town.
Her friend is calling round to try and get a lift for them both back to Whitstable. We also see the Street Pastors – volunteers who have a religious faith who patrol at weekends – out meeting clubbers.
Volunteer Rob Garner, who is on the bus most Saturday nights, said the majority of those who turn to the bus for help are now young girls.

“A lot of them are on their own,” he said. Staff say, in many instances, their friends have left them in order to continue their nights out.

As the numbers of people in Bank Street swell after 11pm, we also meet door staff at The Sun pub in Bank Street, Banks, where their night is young, and in the High Street, staff at Players are expecting a busy night later.

At 11.30pm, while patrolling in Bank Street, where hundreds of people are queuing to get into Beluga Bar, we find an 18-year-old girl, barely able to stand due to drink, who is crying and alone.

As Sgt Wilson accompanies her to the sanctuary of the Urban Blue Bus, she has to stop to take off her heels, as she is struggling to walk.