A BOURNEMOUTH police chief has pledged his support to calls for time on conventional pub glasses following a spate of "glassing" incidents across Dorset.

The Daily Echo revealed yesterday how Recorder Mr Jeremy Gibbons had urged Chief Constable Martin Baker to encourage local councils to force licensees to serve drinks in plastic containers or glasses which shatter on impact.

His plea for action came after he sentenced a Poole teenager to five years detention in a young offenders' institution for a "nasty" pub attack.

On the same day, at Bournemouth Crown Court, an 18-year-old Bournemouth youth was sent to a young offenders' institution for nine months for "glassing" a former school friend at the Brass House public house in Westover Road.

Inspector Neil MacBean said: "I support what this judge has said. When you have alcohol and glass in a very crowded, excited atmosphere it can be a recipe for disaster.

"Thankfully, glassings in Bournemouth are very rare but anything that would reduce the figure even further must be supported.

"I think the Chief Constable will be in favour of any measures which will reduce crime and disorder."

Town Watch chairman and Elements nightclub manager Steve Hudson said several pubs in Bournemouth town centre had already introduced plastic drinks containers.

"I don't think a blanket ban is the answer but in some pubs and clubs where there has been a lot of trouble it would certainly help. In Elements we have had glasses that shatter on impact for several years.

"The dangerous glasses are those which smash, leaving a base and shards sticking out. We need to be careful that all licensed premises are not banned from serving drinks in glasses. No-one wants to be drinking a bottle of wine, with a meal, out of a plastic tumbler.

"Glass bottles also cause problems in pubs and clubs. The government needs to reduce duty on plastic bottles which are almost double the price of glass ones because of production costs."

First published: April 19