Success of plastic glasses at Batchwood

Fri 09 Mar 2007

Police and Luminar Leisure are declaring the introduction of plastic containers a big success at Batchwood Nightclub, following the recent trial period and Luminar have undertaken to continue to use plastic, in preference to glass, on a permanent basis.

Launched on 25th September, and running over Christmas and New Year, good quality plastic containers were substituted for glasses, both at under-18 events and at adult nights at the Nightclub. The management of Batchwood Nightclub have undertaken a review and say that feedback has been extremely positive, with the vast majority of customers interviewed saying that they felt the plastic containers are a good idea. Staff are also happy, saying that they felt their own and customer safety had increased and there were fewer glass-related incidents.

This is just one of a number of safety measures that have been implemented at Batchwood Hall, as a result of partnership working between Luminar Leisure, who operate the venue, the Police and the Council's Licensing and Anti-social Behaviour Teams. Other improvements include:-

• Investment by Luminar of approximately £35,000 in internal CCTV cameras and an additional external camera.
• The introduction of a banning policy which is enforced by the Police on behalf of Luminar Leisure and the Council. Average attendance at Batchwood is between 1,200 and 1,300 per event. To date 35 people have been banned and have not tried to re-enter the premises.
• There are increased numbers of door staff and all staff wear high visibility jackets, both inside and outside the venue, and have received additional training in licensing law, drug awareness and conflict management.
• A UK Club Culture Code of Conduct has been developed and posters promoting this are prominently displayed at the venue. Additionally, Clubscan has been introduced, with people's ID being scanned at the door. In the event of an incident occurring, this assists Police in identifying who was at the premises. It also enables Police to check whether people banned from other premises are trying to gain entry.
• For under 18's nights there is now a holding room where, if young people are suspected to have drunk alcohol before entering the premises, they are kept and their parents are called to collect them.
• Luminar have provided toilet attendants at the venue.
• The Council's Leisure Department has cut back trees to facilitate better CCTV coverage and the CCTV is now enhanced by a floodlight outside the building which can be operated by the District Council's CCTV operators should they identify a need, or if the door staff so request.
• Luminar are also providing taxi marshalls to make sure that orderly queues are maintained and that people get away quickly and safely from the venue. They also contribute to the funding of the taxi marshalls in the city centre.
• Lanyards have been distributed to club goers to secure their mobile phones and reduce opportunities for theft. Additionally visitors are given cards on which they can record their IMEI numbers so that, in case of loss or theft, they have a record at home, of the number to enable Police to trace the phone.
• St Albans Pubwatch, in partnership with the Council and the Police, ran a "drivers drink free" initiative in the run up to Christmas. Led by Luminar, ten venues signed up to participate and designated drivers handed over their car keys in exchange for free soft drink vouchers. The initiative started on Monday 18 December and ran for two weeks.

Rob Swain, Manager of Batchwood Hall, said: "I am very pleased that Luminar has been able to demonstrate its commitment to community safety in the St Albans District. We have invested a lot of time and money to ensure that everyone who visits the nightclub has a safe and enjoyable time and we would particularly like to thank the Police, Licensing and Anti-social Behaviour teams for their assistance in this respect."

Lesley Cameron, Principal Licensing Officer for St Albans City & District Council said: "This is an excellent example of partnership working from the trade and all the responsible authorities, in promoting the licensing objectives in addition to improving community safety."

For further information contact Chris Roach, Community Support Manager, St Albans City & District Council on 01727 819568 or Sgt Debbie O'Malley at St Albans Police Station on 01727 796054.

Davina Mansell, Press Officer
Email: d.mansell@stalbans.gov.uk www.stalbans.gov.ukk

Note for Editors:
St Albans Community Safety Partnership comprises:
St Albans City & District Council, Herts Constabulary, Herts County Council, Herts Fire & Rescue Service; West Herts Primary Care Trust, the Youth Offending Team, Herts Probation Service and various local voluntary groups.