Public Consulted On Safety-First Approach To Licensing

Protecting vulnerable people leaving venues, whether women or men, was at the heart of a debate about licensing policy as councillors consult the public about proposed changes.

Brighton and Hove City Council’s Licensing Committee agreed to start a consultation on a “good operator policy”, new licensing categories such as grass roots music venues and bringing in a “city safety area” (CSA) in place of the cumulative impact zone (CIZ).

The current CIZ rules mean that certain types of premises can open in the busy central area of Brighton and Hove only in exceptional circumstances – and if they don’t add to the cumulative problems resulting from having so many existing licensed premises.

Labour councillor David McGregor, who chairs the Licensing Committee, said that he had spent the past two years working on the night-time economy and the past year focusing on the licensing aspect.

Councillor McGregor said: 

“What we have here is a plan that works for Brighton and Hove for the next decade. I think it’s a brilliant update.

“The whole city has been struggling. We’ve lost a lot of great venues and continue to lose great venues. 

"On the other side, there are a lot of new dangers for people on nights out.”

The focus on safety includes approaches to drink spiking including practices such as buying doubles rather than singles to get people drunk.

The safety-first approach also includes door policies that mean vulnerable people are not just ejected on to the street.

And it would mean vulnerability training to support people from the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning community) and measures aimed at preventing violence against women and girls.

Councillor McGregor said that the number of sexual assaults in the past year was “abhorrent and disgusting” and needed action.

The Police UK map for Brighton and Hove showed that 66 violent and sexual offences were recorded in the area around The Lanes and West Street in May.

Labour councillor Tobias Sheard asked about training for venue staff, saying: 

“When we talk about these (incidents) we focus on the vast majority of victims who are women.”

With a large LGBTQ+ community, he asked:

“Are we asking questions of these venues? Are we making sure men who are victims have access to this as well.

“I think it’s one in six victims of rape and sex assault in the UK are men. 

"They are men who are victims of male sexual assault. It would seem remiss of us to pride ourselves on our LGBT culture if we didn’t make sure we tackled the dark underbelly of it as well.”

Councillor McGregor said that he had been sexually assaulted by a man in the past, adding: 

“I understand how much people don’t take it as seriously and how we don’t talk about it. How a lot of the conversation just ignores us.

“Then there’s the next stage of talking about chem sex that sits so beyond any conversation we seem to have in the council.

“It’s a big part of training for door staff, spotting the dangers when people are leaving. Are they being coerced out? Are they vulnerable?

“I really want, as much as violence against women and girls is a key priority, it’s also trying to spot some of the men who are potentially in the same position.”

He said that one concern about existing door policies was that people could leave venues when drunk and end up falling asleep on the beach where many sexual assaults occur.

Labour councillor Julie Cattell said that she would like to see better lighting on the beach and in trees around the city centre.

Councillor McGregor said that lights under the pier would improve visibility in a place where many attacks had occurred.

Green councillor Steve Davis shared his concerns about off-sales linked with underage drinking, as the father of a 17-year-old.

Councillor Davis said: 

“I’ve seen what they’re like down on the beach. This summer in particular it’s been absolute carnage on the beach.

“I feel for the marshalls – and this is late afternoon and evening. I just feel overall it’s like we’re encouraging it.

“And without going down the deep sociological rabbit hole about why the UK are completely different to the Italians and the French.

“We have a culture in this country where we need a little restraint.”

Councillor Davis cited data from World Health Organisation, saying that Britain had the worst underage drinking rates out of 44 countries in northern Europe.

Councillor McGregor agreed that underage drinking was “scary” when it seemed “out of control”.

He argued that it would be better to have people in venues. What he would like to see is greater control of delivery services.

The 10-week public consultation is due to appear on Brighton and Hove City Council’s website.