NATCHEZ — City and business leaders are ready to take a hard line against violent crime, starting with enforcing loitering ordinances and clearing the streets.

A group of club owners — who formed a bar association last spring — met with the Natchez Board of Aldermen Tuesday afternoon to update their progress and ask for more help.

“I think we are going to need more support from law officials, the sheriff working with the police department, would be a big help,” said W.C. Curtis, owner of Club Paradise.

Curtis and other club owners said they have added “No loitering” signs outside their businesses and see positive results, but sometimes fights and disturbances just move from their property to city property or that of another business.

“Standing around in the parking lot, that has always been like a culture thing in this town. People like to stand around outside,” Curtis said.

And that culture can lead to trouble — including two recent murders outside local businesses, aldermen agreed.

The bar association asked if the city could make an ordinance banning loitering — something Alderman James “Rickey” Gray said they already have — and enforce it.

Adams County Sheriff Chuck Mayfield attended the meeting and suggested that law enforcement could begin an aggressive form of patrol that would mean officers and deputies stopped and questioned groups of people who appeared to be loitering.

“Officers would target areas that are high crime, high drug, conduct a field interview, check IDs and ask what their business there is,” Mayfield said.

In the process, officers check for weapons and drugs — sending a message to residents that carrying such items may lead to questioning or arrest.

“Some people call it harassment,” Mayfield said. “But it’s really not. It’s basically just answering a few questions.”

Mayor Jake Middleton said he thought such patrols were something the city should consider, saying he would discuss them with the police chief, who was not present.

Bar owners also requested that law enforcement and the legal system do something to make sure that those arrested stay in jail.

Curtis asked for no bond until trial — something Mayfield said was unconstitutional — or higher bonds.

Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis suggested that perhaps a meeting with the municipal and justice court judges was in order.

“We’ve got a missing element,” she said. “We have what we want to do, what the officers and bars want to do, but we need to schedule another meeting and get the judges here.

“We need everybody on the same page, singing the same song in the same key.”

Alderman Mark Fortenbery agreed, saying ordinances mean nothing without the court system.

“It’s up to that judge as far as what they want to enforce,” he said.

The group agreed to meet again at 4 p.m. Nov. 15, this time inviting judges.

“It’s really getting out of hand, and we are going to have to do something tougher,” Curtis said.