Valuable training to help make streets and NTE safer delivered in Chippenham

Important training to help make our streets and the nighttime economy safer was delivered for Chippenham and District Pubwatch last Thursday (23/01).

Two speakers from the Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement (WAVE) course and the Licensing Security and Vulnerability Initiative (LSAVI) hosted the event at Chippenham Town Football Club.

Venues that are part of Chippenham and District Pubwatch were encouraged to attend, along with as many of their staff as possible to receive valuable advice on WAVE and LSAVI.

WAVE focuses on topics like sexual harassment at work, understanding vulnerability, challenging behaviours, spiking awareness and implementing ‘Ask for Angela’ – a safety initiative where people who feel unsafe can discreetly seek help by approaching venue staff and asking them for ‘Angela’.

LSAVI is a nationally recognised accreditation for venues covering topics ranging from door staff to safe rooms. On receiving 4.5* rating venues are issued with certification and easily identifiable displayed proof of this safety award.

They are Government-supported initiatives as part of the fight to combat Violence Against Woman and Girls (VAWG), aiming to make our streets, and particularly the nighttime economy, safer.

Licensing officer Rich Tottle said: “It was fantastic to see the members of our relatively new Pubwatch attend and engage with the two speakers.

“The feedback from our Pubwatch has been very positive. They all felt that this morning out of their busy workday was extremely worthwhile and would be feeding it back to the staff that couldn’t make it.

“It’s sessions like this that are a valuable part of spreading the word to all that Chippenham is a safe place to enjoy an evening out.

“This is on top of the excellent work our Town Council have achieved in obtaining the Purple Flag status.

“A big thank you as well to Pete and Tina at the Football Club for hosting us – come on The Bluebirds.”

Chippenham PCs Swanborough and Wright were also in attendance.

PC Wright said: “This session was incredible informative and beneficial and I was pleased to see so many of the Pubwatch scheme taking part.

“Education for local venues and their staff in particular is vital to help create a safe evening out for all.”

These sessions are free and funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and Safer Streets funding.

The training sits within the Police and Crime Commissioner's priority to create safer streets in Wiltshire, which has already seen Home Office money invested to fund night-time economy wardens in Trowbridge and Salisbury on Friday and Saturday nights, as well as providing funding for four deployable CCTV cameras in Salisbury, additional CCTV in Chippenham town centre and improved lighting and CCTV in Swindon.