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Date: May 5, 2024 Sun
Time: 12:42 pm
Time: 12:42 pm
Results for anti-social disorder
1 results foundAuthor: Knight, Victoria Title: Engaging with the Night Time Economy Community: Finding Ways to Enhance Violence Reduction Across Leicester City Summary: This report documents the outcome of a series of consultations with the night time economy community in Leicester city. Its focus was to explore the ways in which this community and its stakeholders views and responds to the incidence of violent crime. The report describes the rationale and approach to understanding violent crime in the night time economy in the context of Leicester city. A number of key messages and themes have been identified as a result of this consultation. These messages have helped to secure a number of priorities to assist with violence reduction in the night time economy and more broadly enhance harm reduction associated with alcohol consumption. The report captures what Leicester city is doing well and highlights additional areas to enhance good practice for all stakeholders. A consolidated and joint approach is imperative to securing good working relationships across the night time community in order for it succeed. This executive summary highlights the key points of the full report. Rationale and Approach to the Consultation Violent crime reduction has been identified as a priority for the Safer Leicestershire Partnership. Common assault was identified as an area which required attention in Leicester's city centre and the West of the City. It was also observed that common assault and other violent crime was occurring more frequently during the night time periods, especially those where individuals visit these areas to consume alcohol. An audit of the night time economy in 2011 highlighted a number of complex issues associated with violence and the night time economy. In addition Leicestershire police conducted a review of violent crime data in the night time economy in 2011. Although useful, it was recognised that a much deeper understanding of the practices of key stakeholders was necessary in order to develop strategies to bring about harm minimization and a safer night time experience for all stakeholders. A series of consultations occurred in 2012 which was led by an independent researcher from De Montfort University. Key stakeholders who included licensees, door supervisors, police, clinical staff, volunteers and key strategic and operational staff took part in a series of group discussions to describe their practice and their views on violence reduction. What Research says about Violence in the Night Time Economy The causes and impact of violence in the night time economy have been closely associated with the consumption of alcohol. Using geographical techniques research has identified that violence increases during 'hot times' and in 'hot spots'. Extended opportunities to consume more alcohol as a result of relaxed licensing hours have also been attributed to an increase in violent crime. Injury is an outcome for some of the violence that occurs during these times and more recently clinical data has been used to understand the scale of violent crime. It is widely acknowledged that the extent of violence is not fully understood, with a large proportion going unreported. Significant contributors to violent crime in the night time economy include; drunkennessexacerbated by long drinking periods extended by 'pre-' and 'back-' loading and the availability of cheap alcohol, previous involvement in violence, drinking in single sex groups, young and male. Violence is also increased in spaces where crowds can gather, where loud music is played and in standing-only venues. Police typically employ two generic models of policing for the night time economy; community/preventative policing and reactive/fast response. Together these use intelligence and knowledge of the community to deliver their services. Clinical provision typically provides static care within A&E departments. More recently mobile and specialist units have been deployed at night time periods to slow down entrants to A&E. Research indicates that the night time periods have demanded an increase in staffing to manage an increase in alcohol related injury. Some departments now provide alcohol specialist nurses, alcohol screening tool, and joint working with police officers to promote harm minimization. Door supervisors contribute significantly to the regulation of the night time economy. Volunteers like Street Pastors provide additional pastoral care for vulnerable night time users. A range of prevention and intervention strategies have been trialed and implemented to assist with violence reduction in night time economy contexts. These include practices and techniques adopted by licensees and door supervisors such training for dealing with drunkenness, drinks or entry refusal and ID checking. The adoption of banning patrons, using plastic glasses instead of glass and pub/club watch initiatives. Policing has also used high visibility techniques to increase police presence, test purchasing, targeting hot spots and vulnerable venues, the use of dispersal orders and training the drinks industry. Local government initiatives include coordinated transport arrangements, multi-agency working, temporary road closures and replacing conventional street lighting with 'white lighting'. Public health interventions include harm minimization awareness campaigns and alcohol screening tools. Key Findings Maintaining standards across the night time economy is achieved through compliance with regulations and good practice. Balancing safety and working within resources and creating a healthy economy can be a challenge. There is a strong desire to maintain and extend standards. Barriers to this included lack of understanding about other services, working relationships, ability to invest in better practice and access to support. Good practice includes: coordinated forum through Citywatch to access support, advice and their radio service, licensee practices within venues to maintain compliance with Licensing Act, the city's shared agreement not to sell alcohol cheaply, designing in environmental features to keep night time visitors calm in venues, use of experienced and legitimate door supervisors, regulation of the security industry, joint local partnership between licensing and specialist licensing officers, focused policing- licensing officers and dedicated night time economy responsive teams, high visibility policing in hot spots, joint police and paramedic mobile unit- POLAMB, availability of voluntary services. Access and availability of training is limited across the city for all stakeholders. Despite training being available, this is uncoordinated and lacks consolidation. There is a desire for more frequent and diverse training to enhance knowledge and practice. The supply of alcohol across the city that exacerbates drunkenness and disorder has brought about a stigmatization of the industry and for licensees and door supervisors this has meant they are unable to promote their professionalism more extensively. There is evidence to support that licensees and door supervisors do accept a duty of care for their customers but it was felt this was not widespread or acknowledged by other stakeholders. Dealing with difficult situations as a result of drunkenness is a pressure point for all stakeholders. Stakeholders are routinely subjected to abuse (verbal and physical) from night time visitors. Stakeholders who used the Citywatch radio felt that this facility should be used more to help tackle these issues and help other services and visitors to keep safe There is some frustration about the ways in which offenders of crime and anti-social behaviour are dealt with. Confidence in the Section 27 disposal (dispersal order) is limited. All stakeholders expressed some misunderstandings about what other services can do. As a result disproportionate expectations of services have emerged. Achieving trust and sound working relationships between services is limited by lack of understanding, negative experiences of services, stigma and ability to forge relationships based on time and resources. The night time economy in Leicester is diverse in terms of places (including types of venues), people and behaviour. Open and transparent communication and targeting the right resources to the right places at the right time can enhance this. Problems arise when crowds are able to gather, transport remains limited, extended availability of alcohol (including off-licenses), litter is allowed to gather, response times are delayed by accessibility issues and the availability of food is limited. Competing agendas between stakeholders is a barrier to enhancing working relationships and subsequent partnerships. Limited resources were identified as a significant barrier. Details: Leicester, UK: Leicester City Council, 2012. 69p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 23, 2018 at: https://www.dora.dmu.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/2086/9336/Engaging%20with%20the%20Night%20Time%20Economy%20Community%20Full%20Report.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.dora.dmu.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/2086/9336/Engaging%20with%20the%20Night%20Time%20Economy%20Community%20Full%20Report.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y Shelf Number: 150347 Keywords: Alcohol Law EnforcementAlcohol Related Crime, DisorderAnti-Social DisorderNight-Time EconomyViolenceViolent Crime |