BUSINESSES in Wycombe have joined forces in their battle against crime and slammed the first ever exclusion order on a man banning him from pubs and shops.

Wycombe Watch, a scheme made up of businesses in High Wycombe, put the order on the 22-year-old man from Hazlemere following a catalogue of complaints of unacceptable behaviour including a number of assaults.

The group aims to make the town centre a safer place by sharing information on crime and anything that may seem suspicious between themselves and the police.

Wycombe sector's Inspector George Wrigley said: "The exclusion order exists to ban individuals who are persistent offenders or who have committed a serious offence against a shop or business which is a member of the scheme.

"The exclusion notice is served by a police officer. It lasts for six months and means that the individual is excluded from all members' premises.

"If he or she ignores the notice, it can be extended and in extreme cases this can lead to action for an Anti-Social Behaviour Order."

He added: "Experience tells us that offenders prefer to remain anonymous to commit their crimes. The actions of Wycombe Watch members in identifying them and approaching them are now causing the offenders to leave even before they commit offences.

"I am optimistic that the options available to Wycombe Watch to deal with persistent offenders, including exclusion orders, will go a long way towards making Wycombe a safer place."