Venues committed to a safer city

More than 20 venues have signed up to the scheme to make restaurants, bars and pubs even safer in Lincoln.

The Licensing Security and Vulnerability Initiative (Licensing SAVI) was launched in 2021 and has registered licensed venues in more than 110 towns and cities across the country. 

People can see stickers in accredited venues and licenced premises which display the steps they have taken to make them a safer socialising space for customers and staff.

The partnership with venues is funded by Lincoln Business Improvement Group and provides people with reassurance that they will be kept safer in venues across the city especially in the evenings.

 There are now 21 premises in Lincoln with 4.5 and 5-star accreditations and plans are underway to launch Licensing SAVI in other parts of the county.

A series of questions, template policies, advice and guidance provided by Licensing SAVI are provided and designed to help licensed venue owners meet the requirements of the responsible authorities. Currently, the scheme is only available to those businesses that have a licence to sell alcohol on the premises.

Applying for a licence means the police, alongside a mixture of central and local government departments are called on to verify, review and comment on every application so improvements can be made where necessary.

Accredited venues will also appear during a search on Licensing SAVI’s “Find a venue map”, making it easier for the public to search for them.

Sergeant Amy Adams from the Alcohol Licensing Team said: “With Lincoln now having 21 premises gaining 4.5 and 5-star accreditations with Licensing SAVI, it seems an appropriate time to recognise the hard work that licenced premises do to ensure the safety of customers, particularly in the night-time economy.

“The majority of premises involved have utilised the resources and advice provided by Licensing SAVI to strengthen their own in-house policies and procedures which has led to improved training for staff and a safer environment for customers. 

“Working closely with Lincoln BIG and the Licensing SAVI team, we continue to improve working relationships between police and licensees to ensure we work towards achieving the common goal of safety in licenced premises.

“In time, we hope that recognition of the Licensing SAVI scheme will help give the public more confidence in the safety of the premises they visit and frequent. We also hope that as the number of Licensing SAVI accredited venues increase, that customers will begin to see a much more consistent approach in terms of the service and the support they receive and that it will help us to deter criminality in Lincoln and other areas of the county once the scheme is rolled out further afield.”

Chief Inspector Gareth Boxall added: “This is one of the ways we want to work with venues to reduce crime, violence and anti-social behaviour in the evening and night-time economy and make the city and town centres feel safe for all.

“The role of keeping Lincoln a safe place for people cannot be done solely by statutory agencies like the police or the council – everyone has a part to play.”

Marion Cooney, Hospitality Manager at Lincoln BIG, said: “The Licensing SAVI accreditation not only highlights the commitment of our venues to safety but also offers a trusted mark for the public, recognising the dedication of these businesses to make our city a secure and enjoyable place to visit.

“With 21 venues now accredited and more joining each month, our goal is to have Lincoln recognised nationally for our commitment to safety and excellence. Together, we’re setting a high standard and inviting others to join us in promoting Lincoln as a safe and welcoming destination for all.”

Venues who are interested in the scheme can find out more by visiting the https://www.licensingsavi.com

Pictured top from left to right: LSAVI Development Officer Ian Shuttleworth, PC Rebeka Casey, Marion Cooney and Sergeant Amy Adams.