The Lancashire Violence Reduction Network (VRN) is helping to keep people safe across the county’s night-time economy.
The VRN will be joining forces with partners during national Spiking Intensification Week to raise awareness on preventing spiking and gain greater insight into spiking cases.
They have funded the deployment of ‘Ask for Angela’ training workbooks to be distributed among licensed premises, following a free-to-attend course for businesses. Licensing officers from Lancashire Constabulary, together with Preston BID, will be leading the training in Preston.
Ask for Angela is a national scheme that allows people to discreetly ask for help from a member of staff if they find themselves in an uncomfortable situation. The training workbooks will mean that staff in premises that operate Ask for Angela will be able to follow the right procedure to support people in these situations.
Director of the Lancashire Violence Reduction Network, Susannah Clarke said: “The VRN’s approach is based on principles of prevention and early intervention and the training being offered to licensed premises across the county is a great way of assisting in that goal.
We need all partners to be aware of the impacts of spiking and look out for vulnerable people in their venues. Whilst Lancashire does not have many spiking reports, we are pleased to be able to be doing our part in protecting vulnerable people and providing partners with the resources they need to support this.”
The VRN has also funded both uniformed and plain-clothed officers to visit nightspots across Lancashire to detect spiking offences and provide a safer environment for people on nights out. This comes as part of the wider Violence Against Women and Girls prevention strategy.
The training session is being funded by Preston’s Business Improvement District (BID) as part of their ongoing commitment to venues and patron safety.
BID’s Support Officer Mike Pixton said: “Preston city centre venues take the safety of their patrons and staff incredibly seriously. We are delighted to be able to offer free access to this course for venues, in order to provide additional information to them to ensure that visitors continue to feel confident in visiting the city’s award-winning venues”.
