NIGHTSPOT bosses on Canvey are joining forces to fight increasing antisocial behaviour on the island - and will use mobile phone messaging service WhatsApp to aid their plight.

Canvey Night Time Watch will see traders and publicans form a WhatsApp group to alert each other to cases of antisocial behaviour.

The Behave or Be Banned scheme, which stopped a few years ago, will also be reinstated to aid the fight. Depending on the severity, it would see people who have committed offences such as criminal damage or violence, banned from all participating premises.

Warren Garner, who has owned the Haystack Pub in Furtherwick Road, for four years, is keen to see both schemes put into action.

He said: “The WhatsApp group is a really good idea. A few years ago we had phone numbers so if you encountered antisocial behaviour you could let everyone else know. This is much more effective communication now.

“I’m really keen to bring Behave or Be Banned back too as without it people can commit an offence in one place and you have no way of knowing, they can just come in and do the same in your pub. The problem just moves around. I don’t see why this wouldn’t help if everyone participates.”

He added: “This is a family run business and from the minute we took it on we have been fully supportive of any scheme the police want to bring to the area.

“It’s important in improving the safety of the area for everyone to enjoy.”

Sarah Russell, 26, deputy manager of the Lobster Smack in Haven Road, Canvey, agrees the schemes would help.

She said: “It would be a really good idea as it might stop antisocial behaviour spreading if people were aware.

“Everyone should take part as it’s looking after the community and helps the police.”

Sgt Mark McQuade, from the Castle Point and Rochford community policing team, hopes the scheme will encourage businesses to watch out for each other.

He said: “We want to make the town centre a better place to visit, we want it to look better and for people to feel safer. Rather than just a pub watch, I want to generate a Canvey night-time watch, which will include shops and other places which are open after 7pm - they will all be part of the scheme.

“They will all come together as one business group to look out for each other and stop antisocial behaviour. “There will be a WhatsApp group that they will all be involved in to let each other know of any issues in the town and the Behave or Be Banned scheme will also be reinstated.“The scheme will be advertised on beer mats and on lampposts.

“It’s so all businesses will watch out for each other and look for antisocial behaviour.”