Photo credit: PCPI.
A police-owned organisation that works with the Home Office and Police Forces to deter and reduce crime, has launched a pioneering new licensing initiative to help improve the safety and security of bars, pubs, clubs, restaurants, hotels, theatres and sporting clubs.
The initiative is called Licensing Security & Vulnerability Initiative (Licensing SAVI) and it provides the most comprehensive, single source of information that licensees need to comply with the Licensing Act 2003 and meet the requirements of Police and Council Licensing Teams.
Licensing SAVI is ground-breaking because, for the first time ever, licensees in England and Wales have consistent information to promote the four, all-important Licensing Objectives: Prevention of Public Nuisance, Prevention of Crime and Disorder, Protection of Children from Harm, and Public Safety.
It has been developed at the request of the Home Office by Police Crime Prevention Initiatives (Police CPI), which works alongside the Police Service around the UK to deter and reduce crime.
Licensing SAVI is independent from the alcohol drinks industry and is backed by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and Project Servator, a police-led vigilance scheme to deter terrorist attacks at crowded places.
Available as an online self-assessment, Licensing SAVI brings together definitive information on effective management practices and operational security including some practical safety measures – many of which can be introduced quickly and at little or no cost and some which licensed premises may not have considered before.
Importantly, completion of the self-assessment can lead to Accreditation and an Award with a Star-Rating for display to show the efforts undertaken to enhance safety and security.
Appropriate for start-up businesses through to established operators, and single independent premises to large groups of venues, its advice and guidance embraces safety and security inside premises and in garden and other outdoor seating areas during operating hours to security when closed.
Critical issues covered include responsible drinking, drugs misuse, violent behaviour and safeguarding vulnerable customers through to opportunist theft and physical venue security.
It includes procedures such as pre-employment checks, age verification, managing unplanned large queues and customer searches through to ejecting badly behaving customers and dispersal arrangements when everyone leaves at the same time.
Other aspects of security are included too, such as staff branded uniforms and identification badges, CCTV systems and lighting, identification scanning and intruder and hold-up alarms. Raised areas behind bars to increase staff vision are suggested, and how to assist customers to get home, such as displaying taxi contact details or bus and train times, are included too.
There is even a non-assessed guidance section on counter terrorism and a COVID-19 risk assessment template for licensees to use.
Licensing SAVI’s Business Manager Mark Morgan, a former Merseyside Police Superintendent, said: “I believe Licensing SAVI is an important milestone for the licensing industry in England and Wales and will help provide safe and secure venues for staff, customers and the local communities.
“We have worked with licensed premises and many other authoritative sources well-versed with industry good practice throughout the development of Licensing SAVI to ensure the self-assessment is the very best it can be,” he said.
Licensing SAVI’s launch is timely because it can become part of a business recovery plan following COVID-19 restrictions and as a refresher resource for the return of staff who have been furloughed and the recruitment and training of new staff to replace those who have left.