A pilot scheme encouraging Sale pub licensees to talk to each other and alert the police if they suffer problems from troublesome punters looks set to continue.

Nite Net' started on November 15 and provisionally ran until January 2.

As part of the initiative licensees have a direct line of communication with Trafford council's CCTV control room team and police officers out on patrol.

Area coordinator Pc Phil Blundell explained: "The idea is to nip any problems in the bud before they start becoming the sort of thing we really don't want to see in Sale.

"It means we can get to an incident much faster than we would be able to ordinarily while the control room team can focus their cameras on any developing situations in a hot spot area.

"Nite Net is very similar to the town centre link that all the shops in Sale are using and essentially were just extending it into the night time economy."

The initiative has played its part in reducin violent crime in Sale by more than 40 per cent, compared to the same period last year, added Sale Area Insp Brendan O'Brien.

He explained: "We're determined to make sure people feel safe when they go out and enjoy the facilities in the town centre and although that's a good achievement I think there's still a lot more we can do.

"At the moment this is a trial but it is going to roll out, it's something we're going to continue through the year and get all the licensees on board.

"I'll do everything I can to make sure this scheme continues and make sure that Sale is the safest place in Trafford to enjoy a night out."

So far eight bars and pubs in Sale have signed up for the scheme including Richard Taylor, manager of the Kings Ransom pub.

He said: "We're finding the scheme very useful and I just hope all the other landlords in the area come on board.

"It means we can all help each other, in this trade you can feel isolated at times and now we're beginning to know when other bits of trouble are happening elsewhere."

Neil Cuningham, owner of Bar Amp, who has also signed up, said: "The scheme has been very successful it's proved to be a great way of keeping in contact with the police, the CCTV control room team and other licensees in the area."

And Greg Yates, manager at the Waterside, added: "Sale is a nice community and a good place to work but I think this just helps to make it a bit better.

"Communication is certainly better, particularly on football match days, we're able to speak to each other and pass on information and that makes things a lot easier."

For further information email Andrew.Jordan@gmp.pnn.police.uk