Hampshire Constabulary will be supplying 100 tabards to welfare officers working in bars and nightclubs across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Welfare officers are staff members at venues dedicated to helping customers and ensuring everyone stays safe during a night out. They have received training to recognise the signs of drunkenness, drug abuse, and whether a customer is underage or vulnerable.
The officers are also alert to any predatory behaviour or any activity that may lead to crime and disorder.
Earlier this year, officers from Hampshire Constabulary set up a project to improve the visibility of welfare officers in Night Time Economy venues across both counties.
Welfare officers will now be easily identifiable within venues – including Fever in Newport and Coburgs in Ryde – thanks to 100 new pink tabards that have ‘welfare’ written across the front and back.
Funded by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Hart District Council, the tabards will ensure the officers are clearly visible and more approachable when working in venues.
Rob Cohen, Force Licensing & Alcohol Harm Reduction Sergeant, set up the project and is delighted to be able to roll out the tabards. He said:
“It is great to see that licensees across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are employing welfare officers to support their customers and reduce vulnerability in our towns and cities.
“The response from the trade has been very positive. This is an opportunity for venues to highlight the welfare provisions they have in place and encourage others to do the same.
“The improved visibility of welfare support staff in our venues will encourage members of the public to seek help for themselves or others. This visibility will be the same in all participating venues, wherever you may go for a night out in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.”
Islanders are reminded that they can flag areas on a map where they do not feel safe, regardless of whether a crime has taken place.
The data will then be used to improve safety and introduce new measures, such as night-time patrols or installing better street lighting in the local community. The tool forms part of the Government’s whole system approach to tackling violence against women and girls.
For more information, visit www.police.uk/streetsafe.
The drive for profits from big business and the relentless immoral advertising it responsible for the UK’s unhealthy relationship with alcohol. You do not need to drink to have a good night out, more over, it could well be a much better night out without any. Drunken one night stands are not a good foundation to a relationship.
One night stands, well they’re darn good fun. By their very nature a relationship isn’t the point of them. Often the relationship is at home because they didn’t want a night out…..