Since its inception, the Licensing Security and Vulnerability Initiative (Licensing SAVI) has gone from strength to strength, supporting the licensing industry to provide safer and more secure venues for staff, customers and local communities.
What is Licensing SAVI?
Licensing SAVI was developed in partnership with the Home Office by Police Crime Prevention Initiatives (Police CPI), which works alongside the Police Service to deter and reduce crime. As well as encouraging venues to look more closely at their safety and security policies and procedures, it also seeks to reduce demand on Police Forces, NHS Ambulance Services and Accident & Emergency Departments.
The Licensing SAVI online assessment platform is simple to use, and the questions provide consistent standards, guidance and advice that licensed premises in England and Wales need to meet the requirements of the Licensing Act 2003 and promote the four Licensing Objectives - Prevention of Public Nuisance, Prevention of Crime and Disorder, Protection of Children from Harm, and Public Safety.
The assessment is applicable for pubs, clubs, restaurants, hotels, universities, theatres, sports venues, arenas, stadia - any licensed venue where alcohol is served on the premises, and covers effective management practices and operational security, including critical issues such as:
- Responsible drinking
- Preventing drugs misuse
- Reducing violent behaviour
- Safeguarding vulnerable customers
- Preventing opportunist theft
- Improving physical security, including emergency exits, lighting and CCTV systems
- A non-assessed guidance section on counter terrorism.
Most measures included in Licensing SAVI can be introduced quickly and at little or no cost, with accredited venues benefitting from advice and resources, including:
- Free policy templates to save you time
- Safety and security advice with up-to-date guidance
- Free venue posters aimed at both customers and staff
- Material to promote the star rating within the venue
- Easily shareable social media assets
- Bespoke marketing opportunities
- Accredited venues added to the interactive map
- Accredited venues added as a ‘safe space’ on the WalkSafe app
Where is Licensing SAVI?
The Licensing SAVI assessment has proven to be adaptable to different types of venue and as the scheme has grown, venues have been accredited in England, Wales and Scotland, in over 110 towns and cities across the UK. While the majority of these premises are pubs, clubs and bars, Licensing SAVI has also accredited sports venues, theatres, hotels, arenas, stadiums and restaurants up and down the country.
This includes sporting stadiums such as Telford United’s New Bucks Head Stadium and Mold and Telford Hornets Rugby Clubs, iconic music venues and arenas including, most recently, the O2 Arena in London, and ASM Global venues in Newcastle, Aberdeen, Manchester, Leeds, London and Hull.
Hotels across the country have also benefited from the Licensing SAVI accreditation, from rural, family-owned properties through to chains, and historic locations like the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London, showing the diversity of venue types that have undertaken the assessment.
The interactive map, launched earlier this year, shows an up-to-date list of all Licensing SAVI accredited venues and can be found on the Licensing SAVI website.
Licensing SAVI Website
This year has seen the Licensing SAVI website undergo a complete overhaul, with two separate areas of advice and information for licensed premises and the general public.
The licensed premises section of the website features information on the assessment process, free resources including front of house and spiking posters (available in both English and Welsh), and an advice hub offering expert guidance on safety practices, training, and preparing for significant seasons and events.
The general public portion of the site focuses on personal safety, with a selection of blog posts on different safety topics including how to report incidents in licensed venues, what to look out for and how to respond to suspected spiking incidents, and advice to keep in mind in various scenarios, such as when out drinking, at festivals and travelling.
The general public site also hosts a support directory with a comprehensive list of organisations and websites that specialise in victim care, general resources to help you have a safer night out and personal safety products which have achieved Secured by Design accreditation.
The website is also home to the handy ‘Find a Venue’ interactive map, on which users can locate Licensing SAVI accredited venues in their area.
Licensing SAVI Partners
In order to be as effective as possible in its goal to reduce and prevent crime in licensed venues and the night-time economy, Licensing SAVI has joined forces with a number of organisations, police forces and council across England and Wales.
Licensing SAVI has had widespread launches in Wigan, Telford & Wrekin, Northamptonshire, Swindon, Cardiff, West Yorkshire, Dyfed-Powys, Bournemouth, South Yorkshire and Humberside, and has worked with organisations such as the Night Time Industries Association to ensure consistent messaging and focus across these areas.
Licensing SAVI also recently collaborated with WalkSafe, a free personal safety app providing safer space information to users on an interactive map. Clear icons for different safe space types make the app easy to use and navigate, alongside other useful features such as journey plotting and crime zone information. All venues which have completed the Licensing SAVI accreditation are listed on WalkSafe as safer spaces, encouraging a wider number of app users to find venues which have received a National Policing Award for Safety.
Licensing SAVI Testimonials
Mark Morgan from Licensing SAVI explains the importance of the scheme for the night-time economy: “We have unfortunately over recent years seen numerous adverse and significant incidents at licensed premises, which remind us why reviewing operating and emergency procedures in relation to all aspects of safety and security is so important. We also know from the results of a number of surveys that customers want to feel safe when socialising.
“Unlike other initiatives, we are run by crime prevention practitioners with extensive problem-solving experience. The people managing the venues are seeing the benefits of what we offer, the easy-to-use digital platform and the economic benefits of having a policing award for safety and security.
“We are committed to continually improving our content to ensure that we are best placed to support the licensing industry to be as safe as it possibly can be. We are now starting to see the measured success of Licensing SAVI with early indications of a 30%+ demand reduction in premises in the Telford & Wrekin area, and are one of many schemes contributing to a 40% damage and 60% violence reduction in the night-time economy in Northampton. Such feedback is really encouraging and we’re now working to deliver academic work to further support these findings.”
Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold discusses implementation of Licensing SAVI across the county: “In Northamptonshire, we have launched an ambitious plan to make the night-time economy safer, particularly for women and girls. We work well with our partners, especially in the local authorities, and have developed a wide-ranging programme of interventions to improve safety. What was missing, however, was stronger engagement with licensed premises and a simple offer for licensees from which they would see clear benefits.
“Our research led us to Licensing SAVI - the scheme gives licensees all the support they need to check that the security and vulnerability measures they have in place are effective and up to scratch. It’s online, so licensees have control over when and how they do the assessment and it’s a police-backed scheme, so it gives the venues the comfort of knowing that their premises are as safe as possible for their customers. We now have 50 venues across the county signed up to the scheme.
“Licensees have told us that they love the way the accreditation helps them show their customers that they run a safe venue and it’s been a real incentive to them to ensure that safety is central to their plans. And for us, Licensing SAVI has helped us increase our engagement with licensed premises, building relationships and involving them closely in the wider work to create safer nights out in Northamptonshire. We’ve been very grateful for the support of the team at Police Crime Prevention Initiatives in helping us on the way: we now have a safety scheme that we know will have long term value to venues in our area.”
Licensing Manager Joanne Brockley on the strides Wigan Council have taken to ensure safer socialising across Wigan: “The Licensing Enforcement Officers at Wigan Council and I have built up a great working relationship with Mark and Ian at Licensing SAVI, and we have worked well together to help our licensed venues achieve a high star rating. The rating that a venue receives works in a similar way to a food hygiene rating and venues can display their rating on the premises once their application has been approved. This can hopefully offer some reassurance to visitors when attending those venues which have received 4- and 5-star ratings. This also gives licensed premises some recognition amongst their trade.
“We have received great feedback from our venues in relation to how easy the application was, how helpful Mark and Ian have been, but most importantly how the information they have received as part of their process has helped them to make positive changes at their venue to ensure their venues are safe and secure.
“Wigan Town Centre was recently successful in receiving Purple Flag Accreditation, and as part of our application we made reference to Licensing SAVI. This was one of a number of initiatives Wigan Council took part in as a result of Home Office funding, and Association of Town and City Management have commended Wigan in relation to our partnership working, and the work we have done to promote the safety of women and girls at night. I would encourage more venues to sign up for this accreditation, not only in Wigan but across the region.”
Carl Phillips, Commercial Manager at Telford & Wrekin Council: “Here in Telford & Wrekin, we have made a concerted effort to work with licensees and other partner agencies with the aim of making our night-time economy safer. We have placed heavy emphasis in ensuring women and girls feel safe and secure when enjoying a night out in the Borough. As such, this local authority is delighted to be working alongside Licensing SAVI.
“For the first time, we now have an online self-assessment tool for the licensed trade that is easy to use and provides comprehensive advice and guidance on how to run a safe venue. Premises have access to a wide range of resources through Licensing SAVI and we have seen venues complete and enhance their drugs policies, search policies and operating procedures around their business.
“Through the council’s Safer and Stronger Communities project, we managed to secure funding for 65 licensed venues who receive the first year’s membership free. Since launching Licensing SAVI to the licensed trade back in December 2022, it is wonderful to be able to report that to date we have already seen a significant take-up of licensed premises registering with the scheme, and most premises have already achieved the highest possible safety accreditation rating.
“Our Night-Time Economy Team have proactively engaged with the trade and have been on hand to assist licensees with the accreditation process. Licensing SAVI has undoubtedly helped us increase our engagement with licensed premises, building closer relationships with key personnel and involving them closely in the wider work to create safer nights out in our Borough.
“We are encouraged by the positive feedback we have had to Licensing SAVI from the trade. In turn, we are playing our part by actively promoting businesses who have been accredited. This is done through our social media channels and on our website, and we feel it is important to showcase those venues who are committed to making our night-time economy a safe and vibrant place to visit.
“I wanted to give particular praise to the team at Licensing SAVI. They have offered us considerable support in getting the most out of the scheme. Together, we have developed a strong partnership, and we are confident that Licensing SAVI will produce long-term benefits for not only our venues, but also for those customers who frequent accredited premises.”
Emma Kay, founder of the WalkSafe app, to which over 300 Licensing SAVI accredited venues were recently added: “We know 63% of women prefer to visit pubs, bars and restaurants that have safe spaces and our map allows them to see exactly where these venues are. Our new WalkSafe safe space icons are designed so that people can plan nights out knowing exactly what safety initiatives, including Licensing SAVI, venues offer.”
For more information about Licensing SAVI, visit licensingsavi.com or contact us at , or click here to start the self-assessment process.
About Police CPI
Police Crime Prevention Initiatives (Police CPI) is a police-owned, not-for-profit organisation which delivers a wide range of innovative and ground-breaking crime prevention and demand reduction initiatives to support the UK Police Service, Government and the public. Senior police officers control and direct the work Police CPI carries out on behalf of the Police Service.
Visit: https://www.policecpi.com