Preventing sexual harassment on a licensed premises is essential to creating a safe and respectful environment for both staff and patrons. Licensing Professionals have the key strategies for preventing sexual harassment:
1. Clear Policies and Procedures
Zero Tolerance Policy: Establish and enforce a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment, ensuring staff and customers are aware that such behaviour is not acceptable.
Visible Signage: Display signs around the premises stating that sexual harassment is not tolerated, and providing information on how patrons can report incidents.
Reporting Procedures: Create clear and confidential procedures for reporting harassment. Ensure both staff and patrons know who to approach if they experience or witness inappropriate behaviour.
2. Staff Training
Awareness Training: Train staff to recognize the signs of sexual harassment and how to intervene safely. This includes educating them on what constitutes harassment and why it's important to address it.
Handling Complaints: Staff should know how to respond to complaints from patrons regarding harassment, including how to escalate serious issues to management or the authorities.
Bystander Training: Teach staff how to intervene if they witness sexual harassment, using non-confrontational methods to de-escalate situations or remove individuals if necessary.
3. Proactive Venue Management
Sufficient Lighting: Ensure all areas, particularly secluded or less visible spaces, are well-lit to discourage inappropriate behaviour.
CCTV Surveillance: Install and maintain working CCTV cameras in key areas (e.g., entrances, bar, outdoor areas) to monitor the premises and act as a deterrent.
Patrols by Staff: Have security or door supervisors patrol the premises regularly, focusing on areas where harassment might occur, such as crowded dance floors or outdoor smoking areas.
Gender-Sensitive Spaces: Ensure there are safe, comfortable spaces for women and other vulnerable patrons if they feel uncomfortable.
4. Door Supervision and Entry Control
Deny Entry to Troublemakers: Train door supervisors to refuse entry to individuals who show signs of aggressive or inappropriate behaviour (e.g., overly intoxicated or harassing people in the queue).
Managing Intoxication: Overly intoxicated individuals are more likely to engage in inappropriate behaviour. Door staff should monitor the premises for overly drunk patrons and remove them if necessary.
5. Supporting Victims
Safe Spaces: Designate a private area where patrons who feel harassed can speak to staff or receive assistance away from the crowd.
Response Team: Ensure a manager or designated staff member is available to handle serious complaints and, if necessary, assist with contacting authorities.
Follow-Up: Offer to assist victims in reporting incidents to the police and provide support, including contacting friends or family members for them.
6. Engagement with Patrons
Promote a Safe Atmosphere: Encourage respectful behaviour and create an environment where patrons understand that harassment will be dealt with swiftly.
Encourage Reporting: Let patrons know they can report harassment anonymously if they feel uncomfortable doing so publicly. Provide QR codes or phone numbers for easy reporting.
Support Campaigns: Get involved with initiatives such as the “Ask for Angela” campaign, which discreetly signals staff that someone is feeling unsafe or harassed and needs assistance.
7. Partner with Local Authorities
Work with Police: Engage with local law enforcement to create protocols for dealing with sexual harassment incidents and ensure they are aware of your venue's policies.
Licensing Authority: Ensure your premises complies with licensing regulations, and work with the licensing authority to address any issues related to sexual harassment.
8. Encourage Responsible Drinking
Monitor Alcohol Consumption: Excessive drinking can lead to inappropriate behavior. Train staff to recognize when to stop serving patrons who are becoming overly intoxicated.
Promote Non-Alcoholic Options: Offer a variety of non-alcoholic drinks to encourage moderate consumption and reduce the chances of alcohol-fueled harassment.
9. Evaluate and Improve
Regular Reviews: Continuously review your harassment prevention policies, procedures, and staff training. Take feedback from staff and patrons seriously and adjust practices as necessary.
Incident Tracking: Keep a log of any harassment incidents to track patterns, assess risk areas, and improve your response and prevention measures.
Preventing sexual harassment on a licensed premises- A summary
By proactively implementing these strategies, you can create a safer, more respectful environment on your licensed premises, protecting both staff and customers from the risks of sexual harassment.
Licensing professionals provide advice and training on all aspects of the licensed premises- contact us to arrange a FREE consultation.
Comments