4.0 Public Safety

4.1 The Licensing Authority is committed to ensuring that the safety of any person visiting or working in licensed premises is not compromised.

4.2 When preparing an application for grant or variation of a premises licence or club premises certificate, applicants should consider if there are any particular issues effecting public safety (including fire safety), having regard to their particular type of premises and/or activities proposed. Where an applicant identifies such issues they should include such steps as are considered appropriate to deal with them within the operating schedule.

4.3 Examples of some of the issues that impact on public safety are: -

1. the occupancy capacity of the premises,
2. the age, design and layout of the premises, including means of escape in the event of fire,
3. the nature of the licensable activities to be provided, in particular the sale or supply of alcohol, and/or the provision of music and dancing and including whether those activities are of a temporary or permanent nature,
4. the hours of operation (differentiating the hours of opening from the hours when licensable activities are provided, if different),
5. customer profile (e.g. age, disability),
6. the use of special effects such as lasers, pyrotechnics, smoke machines, foam machines, etc.

4.4 Applicants may wish to consider the following examples of control measures that might be included in their operating schedule, having regard to their particular type of premises and/or activities: -

1. suitable and sufficient risk assessments,
2. effective and responsible management of premises,
3. provision of a sufficient number of people employed or engaged to secure the safety of the premises and patrons,
4. appropriate instruction, training and supervision of those employed or engaged to secure the safety of the premises and patrons,
5. adoption of best practice guidance (e.g. Guide to Fire Precautions in Existing Places of Entertainment and Like Premises, The Event Safety Guide, Safety in Pubs published by the BBPA),
6. provision of effective CCTV in and around premises,
7. provision of toughened or plastic drinking vessels,
8. implementation of crowd management measures,
9. proof of regular testing (and certification where appropriate) of procedures, appliances, systems etc. pertinent to safety.