How to protect customers during the World Cups

October 13, 2022

The 2021 Rugby League World Cup is being held in England from 15 October 2022 to 19 November 2022, followed by the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar from 20 November to 18 December 2022.

This article summarises how licensed premises’ managers and staff can manage their customers safely during the events.

Prepare in advance
Planning is key and you can seek help from your local police and council licensing teams to problem solve reasonably anticipated risk. This will allow for appropriate support if necessary and for your venue to be included in response plans for the wider local area.

This should also ensure you are able to adapt to other events nearby which could impact upon you. Also:

Check Premises Licence conditions to ensure plans are compliant, especially when considering using space differently, such as outside areas which may not have been used before
Submit Temporary Event Notices where necessary as early as possible
Be aware of key match dates, particularly those of the home nations, so you can match staffing levels against expected customer demand
On key match days, consider ticket-only access and whether you need the additional support of Security Industry Authority (SIA) registered Door Supervisors
Review your policies and risk assessments to ensure they are fit for purpose
Record changes to operating practices in risk assessments and audit trails

Brief your staff
The World Cups are a timely opportunity to remind staff of procedures and management practices. These may be staff who have been recruited to replace those who have left or earning extra money to support their time at University. Staff briefings are important and could include:

Challenge 21/25 age-identification schemes to manage underage drinkers and remind staff it is an offence to serve a drunk person (or on behalf of drunk person)
Emergency procedures, such as how to respond to alarms and the location of fire exits and the need to keep them uncongested; and to stop serving and call police in the event of any tension or disorder
How to manage the number of customers to avoid exceeding venue capacity and how large numbers could influence departure in response to critical incidents
Ensure nominated staff know how to use your CCTV system to ensure it is fully operational and are able to download footage
Position TV match screens to avoid potential congestion, especially avoiding emergency exits
Consider safe and controlled dispersal from your venue when matches finish – respect your neighbours
Inform staff of the named Designated Premises Supervisor or appropriate manager
Explain the different types of vulnerability and how vulnerable people can be supported, such as by contacting friends or family on their behalf, as opposed to asking them to leave a venue where they could then become at greater risk
Brief staff on the ‘Ask for Angela’ and ‘Ask for Clive’ campaigns to assist customers who feel unsafe, vulnerable or threatened

Additional tips:

Run sensible drinking promotions and make free water available
Use polycarbonate or similar drinking vessels and decant any bottles to reduce risk of injury or harm, that could result from disorder
Clear empty glasses and rubbish quickly and remove to secure storage
Display numbers for reputable taxi companies, signposting to nearby transport hubs.

Terrorist threat

The terrorist threat is ‘substantial’ which means an attack is ‘likely’. Crowded places are particularly at risk. Managers and staff will need to be vigilant for anything out of the ordinary or that doesn’t feel right no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. Call your local police on 101 or in an emergency 999.

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