Kent Police Scoop Top National Award for Nightlife Safety Scheme
Kent Police have struck gold at the first ever National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing awards in London on 6 September 2023. They were honoured for successfully rolling out the ‘Best Bar None’ accreditation scheme across Kent’s licensed venues.
Double Win for Best Bar None
The scheme isn’t new to the limelight. Earlier this year, it nabbed the ‘Best New Scheme for 2022’ award at a prestigious event at the House of Lords. The initiative aims to boost standards in Kent’s buzzing night-time economy by ensuring pubs, bars and clubs meet high benchmarks in venue management, staff training, and customer safety.
Proven Impact on Crime and Safety
Licensed venues have to prove they build trust, put victims first, and tackle offenders head-on to earn accreditation. The judging panel included police forces, domestic abuse charities like SafeLives, the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, Karma Nirvana, and the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, Nicole Jacobs.
Detective Superintendent Mark Weller of Kent’s Protecting Vulnerable People Command said: “This recognition is a massive boost for our officers and a testament to strong partnership working. We know violent crime disproportionately affects women and girls, so we’re committed to making night-time venues safer.”
Fighting Crime, Protecting the Night-Time Economy
Kent Police are cracking down hard. Dedicated officers and PCSOs patrol pubs and clubs, working closely with door staff, CCTV teams, taxi firms, and volunteers like Street Pastors. Recent figures show a sharp 42% drop in arrests for drunken and disorderly behaviour—down from 716 in 2018 to just 415 in 2022.
Weller added: “Best Bar None and proactive venue efforts have played a big role in this decline. We regularly offer advice and anti-spiking kits during special walk-and-talk events with women and girls to boost their safety. No one should feel at risk on a night out, and we remain vigilant against anyone intent on causing harm.”
