Bars and pubs sign up to night-time safety initiative
BAR and pub staff are being trained to react to difficult situations and help patrons.
Up to 300 staff across the island are being offered the training to improve safety in the night-time economy.
The project will see Guernsey become the first place outside of mainland UK to have qualifying venues certified as safe places by training provider The Egalitarian.
Local charity SafetyNet has been co-ordinating the training and chairwoman Poppy Murray said she was thrilled that the funding had been secured to deliver the training.
‘This is a landmark moment for night-time economy safety in Guernsey,’ she said.
‘The Egalitarian has achieved outstanding results with venues across the UK, significantly improving safety for both customers and staff.’
Research by The Egalitarian found that 97% of customers felt safer in venues where they know staff have been trained, with 91% saying they would stay longer in those venues.
To receive Safe Place certification, 75% of customer-facing staff from each venue must undertake the half-day training course. The Egalitarian then undertakes six-monthly audits to ensure that this threshold is met, or arranges additional training if required due to staff turnover.
‘Many islanders have expressed a desire to feel safer on nights out, and we hope this training will help boost public confidence in certified venues,’ said Miss Murray.
‘Additionally, we have received support from businesses who have committed to prioritising certified venues for their corporate events.’
Miss Murray added that in the coming weeks, they would be reaching out directly to venues and encouraging as many staff members as possible to sign up.
Spaces will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. All Randalls venues and PingQuay have already signed up.
The training includes modules on how to be an effective ally and understanding, identifying and responding to spiking, sexual violence and other unacceptable behaviours.
Miss Murray said the training helped staff to be more reactive and proactive when difficult situations arose.
‘It’s about learning to spot unacceptable behaviour and creating environments where customers and staff feel safer,’ she said.
‘It increases trust and confidence to help enhance the reputations of participating venues.’
The scheme has the backing of Guernsey Police.
Detective Sergeant Thomas Lowe, who has been working alongside SafetyNet to bring a greater awareness about drink spiking, attended the launch.
‘Poppy has made us aware of this new initiative, that has come about as a result of some really great research,’ he said.
‘We would encourage all the bars to get involved.
‘With our liquor licence inspector, we are noting down which establishments have attended. So we know when we go to incidents that a establishment has been part of this initiative, and the bar staff have attended this training.
‘We’re also looking at sending down a crime reduction advisor to the training to participate and help out and assist in our learning as well.’
Funding for the training came from the Social Investment Fund after an application from SafetyNet Guernsey.
Any business interested in taking part in the training can email info@safetynet.gg for details.
