REPRESENTATIVES from over a dozen bars and pubs from Wokingham Pubwatch met at Den 42 Sports Bar for their monthly meeting where topics discussed included the importance of training frontline staff and security in the procedures the national Ask for Angela campaign to protect vulnerable women and girls.
Pubwatch is an opt-in initiative which sees venues and organisations collaborate on keeping customers safe and venues to a high standard in the nighttime economy.
Key stakeholders such as Wokingham Borough Council, Thames Valley Police, and Security Industry Authority work with venues, owners, and staff to maintain standards of safety, reduce crime, and to promote best practise for businesses.
Officers from Thames valley Police gave brief details of their Operation Vigilance that has been conducted throughout the region to identify and prevent predators that prey on vulnerable victims in the evening and night-time economy.
The Licensing Officer from Wokingham Borough Council also discussed the key points that are covered on a formal licensing inspection.
This included having all pages of Part B of the premises on display, a Section 57 notice, countersigned authorisation to sell alcohol forms, Part A available and the correct notifications or permits for AWP fruit machines in place, and the importance of having documented staff training and refresher training completed.
Bill Donne, Chair of Wokingham Pubwatch, gave a short presentation on the imminent changes in employment law including national minimum pay rates, measurement of salaried employees working hours, and the proposed day one rights.
