Police Crime Prevention Initiatives (Police CPI) is pleased to launch Safer Spaces Crime Prevention Guidance for Licensed Premises, a comprehensive new resource designed to support licensed premises in creating safer, more secure environments for staff, customers and local communities.
The guidance, developed through the Licensing SAVI initiative, brings together policing expertise and recognised good practice into a single, practical document for those responsible for managing licensed premises across England and Wales.
The guidance has been developed to support pubs, bars, clubs and other licensed venues in identifying and reducing risk, strengthening security, safeguarding vulnerable people and supporting compliance with the Licensing Act 2003. It also provides a valuable resource for police officers, Designing Out Crime Officers and partner organisations working alongside the licensed trade to reduce crime and improve public safety.
Covering every stage of venue management, the guidance includes advice on staff training and welfare, customer safety, preventing anti-social behaviour and violence (including knife crime, other weapons-related offences and serious violence), tackling drink spiking and drug misuse, supporting vulnerable people, emergency planning, physical security, CCTV, fire safety, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), and effective incident management. It also highlights the importance of partnership working and signposts readers to additional legislation, resources and recognised good practice.
The guidance promotes a proactive approach to crime prevention, recognising that well-designed, well-managed licensed premises play an important role in creating safer communities while helping to reduce crime, disorder and vulnerability across the night-time economy.
Police CPI encourages police forces, local authorities, community safety partners and those working with licensed premises to share the guidance and support its adoption across the sector.
Safer Spaces Crime Prevention Guidance for Licensed Premises is available to download now.