How can a watch ensure pubwatch bans do not breach Human Rights legislation?
Human Rights legislation only applies to public bodies and these are normally accepted as national or local government bodies or controlling organisations setup under statutory regulation. As pubwatch is no more than a local group of people who have got together on a voluntary basis, they are not required to take account of this legislation. If you consider the origins of the legislation it was created initially in Europe to safeguard populations from oppression by their Governments. It was not, and is not, intended to affect a voluntary group such as a pubwatch from taking action to protect themselves and their patrons by excluding others from their premises. All those premises holding a premises licence as with most other businesses have the right to not supply or serve or grant access to anyone they choose provided they do not do so as an act of discrimination on the grounds set out in the relevant legislation. Effectively a person has no ‘Right’ to enter and consume drink in a pub
