Huddersfield’s The Crown Hotel has become the first venue in West Yorkshire to receive a National Policing Award for Safety, taking advantage of a pioneering partnership between Licensing SAVI, West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit and West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership.
The Crown Hotel, part of the Stonegate Group, achieved this accolade after successfully taking part in a pioneering, police-led initiative to improve the safety and security of its premises for the benefit of staff, customers, and local communities.
Available as an on-line self-assessment, Licensing Security & Vulnerability Initiative (Licensing SAVI) brings together, for the first time, all the information that licensed premises need to comply with the requirements of local police and council licensing teams, achieve a star-rating and have the opportunity to apply for Licensing SAVI accreditation and an award.
Victoria Booth, manager of The Crown Hotel, commented: “I have been at The Crown Hotel since July 2021 and have always felt strongly that my position requires me to create and ensure a safe place for all to enjoy, we are just about to undergo a huge refurbishment investment from Stonegate Pub Group. I am excited to see what this will bring to The Crown Hotel and look forward to welcoming all customers new and old into our new-look pub.”
Mark Morgan, Business Manager, Licensing SAVI, said: “It’s great to see The Crown Hotel having undertaken the LSAVI self-assessment and become an accredited venue. We’re delighted to be able to support the hospitality industry and enable venues to demonstrate that they take safety and security seriously - for customers, staff and nearby residents. We know from our recent YouGov survey that customers will more likely visit a venue who can display a police safety award. We look forward to continuing our work across West Yorkshire contributing to maximising the safety of all.”
Director of the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), Chief Superintendent Jackie March said: “It is really encouraging to see a prominent venue such as this take the lead in promoting safety across our night-time economy, taking full advantage of this VRU funded opportunity.
“I hope it will be the catalyst for others to follow their lead in achieving the national policing award for safety.
“The more support we generate for this innovative approach, the safer venues will be, improving the experience of all those within West Yorkshire.”
Licensing SAVI was developed at the request of the Home Office by Police Crime Prevention Initiatives (Police CPI), which works alongside the Police Service to deter and reduce crime. As well as provide safer and more secure venues for managers, staff, customers, and local communities, it also seeks to reduce demand on Police Forces, NHS Ambulance Services and Accident & Emergency Departments.
A YouGov survey of 5,050 adults aged 18-45 in England and Wales commissioned by Police CPI between 16 August – 5 September this year, found that 79% of adults agreed with the statement that ‘recent publicity around the safety of women and girls has made it more important for licensed premises to improve their safety procedures’.
The research also found that support for improved safety in venues is greatest among women – with 83% of women wanting improved safety in nightclubs compared to 75% of men; and 81% of women wanting safer bars and pubs compared to 70% of men.
On 15 October, Licensing SAVI was launched to 300 licensed venues across Bradford, Calderdale, Wakefield and Kirklees in West Yorkshire in a move funded by the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit in partnership with the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership.
Licensing SAVI covers critical issues like responsible drinking, drugs misuse, violent behaviour and safeguarding vulnerable customers through to preventing opportunist theft and improving physical security, such as lighting and CCTV.
It also covers drink spiking and the use of date rape drugs, which have hit national headlines in recent months with a number of victims from around the country reporting being assaulted with needles.
Most measures included in Licensing SAVI can be introduced quickly and at little or no cost.
The first police award of its kind, Licensing SAVI aims to support the licensing trade and is backed by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and Project Servator, a police-led vigilance scheme to deter terrorist attacks at crowded-places.
Contact:
The Crown Hotel
Tel: 01484 515084
Email:
Address: 43/45 Westgate, Huddersfield, HD1 1PB
Web: https://www.greatukpubs.co.uk/crownhotelhuddersfield
For further information visit:
Licensing SAVI:
Email:
Web: https://licensingsavi.com
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