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10
May
2022
|
15:21
Europe/London

Your guide to a safe night out in Hackney: new campaign launches

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A new awareness campaign to help people enjoy a safe night out in Hackney has launched as part of the Council’s Hackney Nights safety scheme. 

The campaign will be shared on social media and in Hackney’s nightlife spaces highlighting key issues affecting nights out such as the sale and use of laughing gas, pick-pocketing and drink-spiking. 

Safety guidance within the campaign includes tips such as watching your drinks being poured, leaving important debit/credit cards at home and facts about the effects of laughing gas.

Alongside the springtime awareness campaign, the Council is also launching a new accreditation scheme in June 2022 which will aim to ensure Hackney licensed venues follow the same safety guidance. 

The new accreditation scheme encourages licensed venues to become safer and better equipped to deal with issues around the sale of alcohol and to encourage a healthy environment for all visitors, staff, and customers. 

Venues will voluntarily complete a list of criteria which ranges across many areas and staff will receive training around Coronavirus safety, crime prevention and awareness, health and well-being and sustainability. 

Premises who successfully gain the accreditation will benefit from a 30% reduction to late night levy fees. 

The Hackney Nights springtime awareness campaign and accreditation scheme is funded by the Late Night Levy.

Mayor of Hackney, Philip Glanville

Hackney has a thriving and diverse nightlife and is home to grassroots and world class venues. As we continue to recover from the pandemic and the months get warmer, we want to make sure everyone can enjoy a night out in Hackney while feeling safe, welcome and included. We hope the work we are doing through our Hackney Nights safety scheme reassures residents, staff, business owners and visitors that the safety of our nightlife spaces is a priority.

Mayor of Hackney, Philip Glanville
Cllr Susan Fajana-Thomas, Cabinet Member for Community Safety

We created our night time safety charter, Hackney Nights, to ensure everyone is able to enjoy our nightlife without fear of harassment or crime. It's a priority for us to protect our residents, visitors and venues by tackling crime and antisocial behaviour. 

The springtime awareness campaign is about sharing helpful tips and guidance that can be put to use during a night out. The new accreditation scheme seeks to mirror that advice, ensuring that our licenced venues are equipped to deal with any issue that could arise. Businesses that take part in the scheme will benefit from useful training as well as a discount on their Late Night Levy fees. Together we hope these two new initiatives will contribute to safer and enjoyable spaces for all.

Cllr Susan Fajana-Thomas, Cabinet Member for Community Safety