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How to Report Incidents at Licensed Venues

How to Report Incidents

How to Report Incidents

You’ve been out for an enjoyable time with your friends, but things haven’t gone to plan. Reporting incidents is an important part of crime prevention, as it ensures police and venues are able to investigate, understand crime trends and put measures in place to prevent future issues.

We outline the reporting procedures for incidents you may encounter while at a licensed venue:

Spiking

Spiking is the process of adding an additional substance, such as drugs or alcohol, to somebody’s drink without their knowledge or permission.

How to report incidents at the time:

  • If you think you or a friend has been spiked, report the incident to venue staff or security and to the police via 101 immediately. It is important to be seen by a medical professional as soon as possible

  • Report the incident to the venue, giving them the suspected spiked drink to be collected as evidence for the police. The venue should have policies and procedures in place to look after you until you receive emergency assistance from police or paramedics, as required

How to report incidents later:

 

For more information, visit Stamp Out Spiking and DrinkAware

 

Sexual Assault

Sexual assault is defined as a person touching another person in a sexual manner without their consent, and can happen to anyone regardless of gender.

How to report incidents at the time:

  • If you have been sexually assaulted, call 999 immediately. It is important to be seen by a medical professional as soon as possible

  • Report the incident to the venue. The venue should have policies and procedures in place to look after you until you receive emergency assistance from police or paramedics, as required

How to report incidents later:

There are many organisations available to support victims of sexual assault. Visit our Support Services Directory to find more information.

Sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) offer medical, practical and emotional support to anyone who has been raped sexually assaulted or abused. They have specially trained doctors, nurses and support workers to care for you. Help is available 24 hours a day. Click to find your nearest SARC.

 

Hate Crimes

Hate crimes are any crimes that are targeted at a person because of hostility or prejudice towards that person’s:

  • Disability
  • Race or ethnicity
  • Religion or belief
  • Sexual orientation
  • Transgender identity

Hate crimes can include threatening behaviour, assault, robbery, damage to property, inciting others to commit hate crimes, harassment, and online abuse.

If you’ve experienced a hate crime or hate incident, or witnessed a hate crime happen to someone else:


How to report incidents at the time:

  • If the incident is in progress or if someone is in immediate danger, call 999

  • Report the incident to the venue. The venue should have policies and procedures in place to look after you until you receive emergency assistance from police or paramedics, as required, or will be able to ensure you are able to get home safely by calling you a taxi or minicab.

How to report incidents later:

  • Call 101 or report a hate crime using the online form
  • Report the incident to the venue as soon as possible


Support is available to victims of hate crimes on the True Vision website.

Theft

Alongside the inconvenience and frustration of having personal property stolen, theft can cause emotional and financial harm to the victim, leading to feelings of violation, insecurity, and distrust. In a broader sense, theft can undermine the trust and feeling of safety in a venue, so it’s important to report incidents when they occur.

  • If your property has been stolen from you in a venue, report the theft to the venue as soon as possible. Venue security may be able to help you, and police may be able to retrieve CCTV footage of the incident

  • Report the incident to police on 101 as soon as possible, or by filling in the online form

  • Check out the Theft Checklist on the Victim Support website for further advice on what to do if specific items have been stolen, such as keys, ID documents, bank cards and mobile phones.

 

Assault

In the UK, ‘assault’ covers a range of actions, from using threatening words to a severe physical attack that leaves the victim permanently disabled. There are 3 basic types of assault:

  1. Common Assault - Inflicting violence on another person, however slight this might be, or making a person think they are about to be attacked. This type of assault doesn’t need to cause physical harm to the victim.

  2. Actual Bodily Harm (ABH) – An intentional or reckless (includes accidental) attack which causes physical harm to the victim.

  3. Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) – An intentional or reckless (non-accidental) attack in which the victim suffers serious physical or mental harm.


How to report incidents at the time:

  • If the incident is in progress or if someone is in immediate danger, call 999

  • Report the incident to the venue. The venue should have policies and procedures in place to look after you until you receive emergency assistance from police or paramedics, as required, or will be able to ensure you are able to get home safely by calling you a taxi or minicab.

How to report incidents later:

  • Call 101 or report an assault using the online form

  • Report the incident to the venue as soon as possible


If you require support following an incident, visit the Victim Support website or our Support Services Directory to find more information.