17 January 2007
Safety Thirst: more City pubs and clubs join scheme
A record number of licensed premises have qualified for this
year’s City of London Safety Thirst Awards.
Dozens of the award winners attended a ceremony at the Guildhall
this week where their success in meeting high standards of safety
and security was recognised.
In all, 116 bars and clubs have qualified to join the scheme
which acknowledges initiatives such as providing approved mini-cab
numbers to stop customers using unlicensed cabs; ensuring premises
are well-lit, well-staffed and patrolled; having well-trained door
and bar staff, and stopping cheap alcohol promotions that can
encourage binge drinking
18 premises were commended for their work, a significant
increase on the 5 which achieved that accolade a year ago.
The Safety Thirst Awards are a joint initiative between the City
of London Corporation, City of London Police and the London Fire
Service – a partnership aimed to reduce crime and disorder in the
City. Whilst crime numbers are relatively low, the City does
face incidents of alcohol-related crime. To tackle this, the
awards encourage and support pubs and clubs to achieve the highest
possible standards of safety and security for customers and to
minimise any impact on their neighbours.
This year’s scheme included a section on fire safety for the
first time, this included ensuring a venue had necessary procedures
in place such as an emergency evacuation plan, risk assessment, how
to contact local fire safety team, regular servicing schedule of
fire extinguishers and fire alarms.
The Safety Thirst Scheme is open to all pubs and clubs operating
in the City of London. For an application form, please call
0207 456 9800.
Ends
Notes to editors
For further information contact: Rebecca Sandles at the City of
London Press Office on 020 7332 1906.
Email.
About the City of London Corporation:
The City of London provides local government services for the
Square Mile, the financial and commercial heart of Britain, and is
committed to maintaining and enhancing the status of the business
City as the world's leading international financial and business
centre through its policies and services. Its responsibilities also
extend far beyond the City boundaries and include management of the
Barbican Centre, Central Criminal Court at the Old Bailey, 10,000
acres of open space including Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest,
three wholesale food markets, as well as acting as the London Port
Health Authority.