West Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership Evening Economy Codes of Practice

Lincoln City and Gainsborough Town Centre have developed a good reputation for a Fun Night Out regardless of whether that involves a trip to the cinema, the theatre, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, or simply one of a large number of takeaways. However this has brought with it a reputation for alcohol-fuelled violence. It is therefore imperative that all those involved in running or shaping the Evening Economy work together in a partnership that keeps Lincoln City and Gainsborough, safe and pleasant places to both visit and work. 
These Codes of Practice are intended, by all those involved, to encourage best practice across all sectors involved in the running or shaping of the Evening Economy. It is recognised that each premises, and the problems encountered, is different. The Codes are designed to be used as a ‘toolbox’ from which practitioners, having identified an area of concern, can find solutions from which a Policy Document or Aide Memoire can be produced and acted upon.

Purpose
The Codes of Practice outline commonsense principles for each sector within the Evening Economy with the aim of:

• Supporting the Licensing Objectives as defined under the Licensing Act 2003:
• The Prevention of Crime & Disorder.
• Public Safety.
• The Prevention of Public Nuisance.
• The Protection of Children from Harm.
• Encouraging all those involved in the alcohol-led Evening Economy to engage with each other in a more constructive manner so as to achieve co-ordinated action towards a Safer Lincoln and Gainsborough.
• Reducing risks for all those involved in the Evening Economy by providing a guide on how to deal with problem situations in a more effective manner.
• Reducing opportunities for disorder, crime and particularly violence, ensuring that more visitors to Lincoln and Gainsborough enjoy a trouble-free evening ‘Safe in the City’.
• Protecting ‘vulnerable’ individuals in the community and helping to prevent them from becoming victims of crime.
• Reducing the ‘Fear Factor’ surrounding the Evening Economy by together raising the standards of practices across all sectors thereby improving customer service at the point of delivery and reassuring the public of the extensive ‘joined-up’ measures in place to protect them and prevent, deter and deal with problem ‘high risk’ individuals.
• Reducing demands on overstretched Emergency Services by joining with them in pro-active Crime Reduction so that quality of service is maintained.

It is sincerely hoped that these Codes of Practice will assist even the most experienced evening operator to reduce crime & disorder; encourage greater safety for their staff and customers, and make for a safer Lincoln and Gainsborough.