Pubs in Chichester will put lifetime bans on troublemakers in a tough new crackdown on antisocial behaviour.

Thirty-two of the city's 36 bars have joined a Pub Watch scheme, launched yesterday with the backing of Sussex Police.

Members are displaying posters saying "Don't get yourself banned" and listing people barred.

Wayne Humphrey, landlord of the Hogs Head in South Street and co-founder of Pub Watch, said: "Pubs have always banned people but this is different. This is a very low tolerance approach which can be used as a blanket ban by all pubs."

The names of those banned would be put in a prominent place and each licensee would keep photographs of them.

Mr Humphrey said: "Offenders don't like being banned because it affects their social life. In many ways that's worse than what the courts can do."

Lifetime bans will be issued in the worst cases of antisocial behaviour including drug dealing, violent or abusive behaviour and carrying or using an offensive weapon.

Chichester city beat officer PC Dave Phillips said convictions for antisocial behaviour had increased since radios linking pubs and police were introduced three years ago.