Criminal damage, drunken behaviour, stabbings, general anti social behaviour and even the occasional shooting are just some of the things you might witness on the streets of the UK, across Europe and the United States. So faced with potential trouble makers on their doorsteps on any given day or night of the year what can business owners do to protect their business in the fight against crime?
Well for owners of bars, restaurants, pubs and clubs or indeed any premises that sell alcohol their exposure to trouble is potentially increased as most of the anti social behaviour is caused by people of all ages who are drunk and out of control.
Whereas going out for a few drinks with friends might once have been just that a walk down the high street at a certain time of the evening could turn into a battle ground with drunken yobs abusing, threatening and in some cases using physical violence on innocent passers by.
Drunken behaviour, on street drinking, the throwing of glasses and bottles, shouting abuse at passes by, theft, drug taking, vandalism and assaults are some of the issues facing owners and door personnel of pubs, clubs, bars and other licensed trade establishments.
Whether this new epidemic of late night trouble, fighting and bottle throwing is new or not isn’t really the issue. The fact is in many parts of the UK, US and world it is common place.
The issue therefore is what is and can be done by owners of businesses including pubs, clubs and take away restaurants to make sure their premises are ones we all feel safe visiting?
What is pleasing is that many businesses are being proactive in the fight against trouble and crime with the sole aim of making your evening an enjoyable experience. Schemes currently in operation include:
Pub Watch
Pub Watch is a police approved scheme in which pubs, clubs, local CCTV providers and the police all work together to make sure our night time venues are safer places. Using CCTV and Two Way Radios like the Kenwood TK3201, trained door staff can spot potential trouble makers and communicate amongst each other to monitor and control them before the trouble get out of hand.
CCTV
There are now over 4.2 million CCTV cameras in the UK alone (or 1 camera for every 14 people). Closed circuit television systems can be used by business owners including pubs and clubs to not only view trouble happening but to also keep an eye on potential trouble makers. And with new talking CCTV technology verbal warnings can now also be issued by CCTV control rooms to deter potential trouble makers even further.
Two Way Radio
Schemes like Pub Watch are most successful when all those involved (pubs, clubs, door staff and the Police) keep in touch so they can identify and deal with potential trouble makers problems.
In modern society crime, criminal damage and anti social behaviour is a fact of life but steps are being taken to address the issue and solutions to the problem are available.
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