A TWO-week campaign targeting pub crime led to 20 people being reported to the courts.

Officers in the Maryhill, Kelvin and Canal areas of Glasgow have been targeting pubs and off-sales that flout licensing regulations.

Police said the aim of the initiative was to improve safety for pub customers by targeting venues that are a magnet for alcohol-related crime.

Over the two-week period officers made a number of arrests for disorder and possession of controlled drugs in pubs.

They said it had resulted in more than 20 reports being sent to the procurator fiscal for consideration.

Police said several positive lines of inquiry are also ongoing following inspections by fraud investigators.

An off-licence owner was caught evading payment on an electricity meter and has been ordered to pay back the cash to ScottishPower.

Pub owners and staff were also given specialised training in how to handle incidents and what steps can be taken to prevent crime taking place.

Community Inspector Vicky Little said: "We are committed to keeping people safe and although this initiative was for a two-week period, local officers will continue to maintain a high profile within licensed premises in our area.

"This will provide public reassurance and identify those persons who are intent on behaving in an anti social manner within our communities.

"We hope to continue to engage with our local premises and are here to support them where required."

Last June a pub in Summerston, The Scotch, was shut down after one officer said the bar's problem with drugs represented the biggest difficulty in its neighbourhood.

caroline.wilson@ eveningtimes.co.uk