El sector industrial privado: ¿hacia dónde se dirige?

The Nightsafe campaign was launched in July 2010 by the INIA. The campaign is aimed at raising standards in nightclubs across Ireland. The Minister for Justice and Law Reform, Dermot Ahern, welcomed the campaign, ‘I very much welcome the Nightsafe initiative. Its introduction will contribute to the safety and enjoyment of its members’ customers’ (Horan 2010:8).

Nightsafe is a national best-practice initiative and awards scheme for the Irish nightclub industry. It was developed and is managed by the INIA. ‘Nightsafe includes various policy documents, best-practice guidelines, reference documents, new and existing

training initiatives, as well as regulatory compliance guidance to help nightclub operators achieve the standards set by Nightsafe’ (www.nightsafe.ie 2012).

Nightsafe promotes social responsibility among nightclub owners, operators and management. It rewards good management of discouraging binge drinking, helping prevent alcohol related crime, and promoting safe social nights out.

The ultimate aim and benefit of Nightsafe is to improve the night-time experience for nightclub customers and indeed all people out socialising late at night, local residents and business communities, and all other stakeholders in the day, evening and night-time economies (www.nightsafe.ie 2012).

The goals of Nightsafe are:

• Set and raise standards in the nightclub industry • Promote sensible, safe and sociable nights out

• Reduce alcohol related harm issues such as binge drinking and public disorder • Ultimately improve the late night experience in Ireland (www.nightsafe.ie

2012).

Nightsafe identifies a number of benefits offered to the business and operator. It helps the management team comply with regulations governing the sector and best-practices in the industry. It sends a clear message to the local Gardaí and judiciary that you run a safe and responsible nightclub. It also sends a clear message to customers about the nightclub and what the nightclub expects of their customers behaviour. In addition, nightclubs that achieve the Nightsafe award can access an insurance scheme, specifically tailored for Nightsafe operators.

Nightsafe evaluates nightclubs under four distinct headings:

• Prevention of crime and disorder – this heading is sub-divided into further headings including crowd control, security, drunkenness, drugs, theft/burglary and disorder.

• Public safety – this heading is sub-divided into further headings including capacity management, fire safety, first aid, special events, glass collection, building safety and transport information.

• Prevention of public nuisance – this heading is sub-divided into further headings including noise, nuisance and litter/waste.

• Protection of children from harm – this heading is sub-divided into further headings including sale of alcohol and online activity (www.nightsafe.ie 2012).

Under each of these headings there are a number of essential criteria that must be completed in order to achieve the Nightsafe standard. Each venue that applies for Nightsafe will be independently audited against the criteria listed. The criteria must be met before the award is accredited.

To be accredited the Nightsafe standard; it is a requirement to have written documents to support the following:

• Drugs policy – The policy guideline covers developing a drugs policy for the venue. The policy should include training staff on awareness of drugs and drug use. Signage to the effect of preventing drug use and drug dealing. Proper supervision to deal with drug use and drug dealing. Emergency protocols in dealing with drug use and drug dealing.

• Fire and emergency procedures – In line with the Code of Practice for the management of Fire Safety in places of assembly, the procedures should include: management duties, staff training, fire prevention, fire and evacuation drills, informing the public, escape routes, assisting the fire brigade and keeping records to this effect. To achieve Nightsafe requires more than compliance, best- practice is expected.

• Security manual/handbook – This policy document will include codes of conduct guidelines. The document will also cover communications and reporting, opening and closing procedures, positioning and duties, dealing with customers, conflict management and resolution, physical intervention, CCTV and first aid and emergency procedures.

• Crowd control policy – Guidance is offered in covering a wide range of elements which affect effective crowd control. The policy document should cover environmental issues such as design and layout of the venue, lighting, CCTV, noise control and ventilation. Other operational issues include capacity management and control, staffing, incident management, communication, crowd control such as congregation and dispersal policy.

• Risk, incident and claims management policy – This policy document helps identify risk and outlines steps to reduce and minimise the probability of risk taking place. It outlines the steps necessary when that risk does take place. It will outline how you deal with the incident, the follow up procedures and any claims arising from the incident.

• Noise control – This document must outline an overview of noise, the risks, the exposure levels, your responsibilities, noise risk assessments, control measures,

• Responsible serving of alcohol policy – This policy document will cover the key provisions of the Responsible Serving of Alcohol policy. The document will include training in the control measures required by security, bar staff and management. The document will include the responsible marketing, promotion and serving of alcohol (www.nightsafe.ie 2012).

Nightsafe aims to improve the night-time experience for nightclubs, customers and publics impacted by the industry. ‘Through improved safety, reduced crime, and reduced alcohol abuse, Nightsafe benefits those involved in law enforcement, and also those dealing with the after effects of alcohol abuse and alcohol related crimes’ (www.nightsafe.ie 2012). Since the launch of Nightsafe there are currently five venues out of 300 in Ireland that have achieved the award. This is a low figure of awards. This may be due to the various different criteria and time that is needed to meet the standards required to achieve the award. It may also be due to the lethargy of nightclubs to meet the criteria required in achieving the award. This will be discussed further in the following chapters. Additionally, interviews show that Nightsafe is broadly unknown by non-affiliates of the industry and this is also discussed in the following chapters. Nightsafe does demonstrate that the industry are taking action on some of it’s more concerning issues.