ACC Liverpool Group Joins Licensing SAVI
ACC Liverpool Group demonstrates its commitment to staff and customer safety by achieving a Policing Award for Safety.
The organisation, operators of the M&S Bank Arena, ACC Liverpool, and Exhibition Centre Liverpool, received the five‑star accolade after successfully taking part in a police-led initiative to improve the safety and security of its premises.
The Licensing Security & Vulnerability Initiative (Licensing SAVI) brings together information that licensed premises need to ensure they comply with the licensing objectives, to achieve a star-rating and have the opportunity to apply for Licensing SAVI accreditation and an award.
Situated overlooking the River Mersey in the heart of the city, ACC Liverpool features a 1,350-seater auditorium, a versatile, multi-purpose event and exhibition space suitable for exhibitions and gala dinners, a galleria which offers offices and boardroom spaces for event organisers, and 21 meeting spaces across the site. Many of the venue’s spaces are designed with contemporary modularity, to enable flexibility of use across each area.
The 11,000-capacity M&S Bank Arena has seen a wide variety of high-profile events, including awards shows, sporting competitions, comedy events and performances from world-renowned musical acts. It also features the luxury Sodexo Live! Lounge and 22 VIP boxes. In addition, the event campus is home to Exhibition Centre Liverpool, a purpose-built exhibition, live events and dinner space and connected 4-star hotel, Pullman Liverpool.
Eddie dos Santos, Assistant Director of Operations and Facilities Management at The ACC Liverpool Group, explained why the Licensing SAVI accreditation is so important to the venue operators. He said: “We are pleased to have been awarded Licensing SAVI accreditation. We are committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all our customers and staff and this is another step to ensuring we have rigorous licensing objectives to adhere to.
“This accreditation is a collaboration between the police, local authorities and Fire and Rescue service, so we are confident that we have a joined-up approach in continually enhancing our operational measures in hospitality areas across our campus, providing the best possible experience for everyone.”
Licensing SAVI Business Manager, Mark Morgan, commented: “We at Licensing SAVI are delighted that The ACC Liverpool Group has undertaken our assessment and accreditation. Owing to our previous long-standing working relationship with The ACC Liverpool Group team, we were in absolutely no doubt that a five-star score would be achieved. This is a reflection on the excellent working practices and procedures that the venue has in place to maximise the safety and security of their customers and staff across a wide variety of events. We know that a huge amount of work is undertaken by the venue and partners to ensure a safe and enjoyable time is had by all using the venue - well done”.
Licensing SAVI was developed at the request of the Home Office by Police Crime Prevention Initiatives (Police CPI), which works alongside the Police Service to prevent and reduce crime. As well as provide safer and more secure venues for managers, staff, customers, and local communities, it also seeks to reduce demand on Police Forces, NHS Ambulance Services and Accident & Emergency Departments.
A YouGov survey of 5,050 adults aged 18-45 in England and Wales commissioned by Police CPI last year found that two out of every three adults want improved safety measures in stadiums and arenas following recent national publicity around the safety of women and girls.
The survey also revealed that 26% of respondents would have visited stadiums and arenas more if they felt safer and 29% are more likely to have visited if it had been granted a Police Safety Award.
Licensing SAVI covers critical issues like responsible drinking, drugs misuse, violent behaviour and safeguarding vulnerable customers through to preventing opportunist theft and improving physical security, such as lighting and CCTV.
Most measures included in Licensing SAVI can be introduced quickly and at little or no cost.
The first police award of its kind, Licensing SAVI aims to support the licensing trade and is backed by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and Project Servator, a police-led vigilance scheme to deter terrorist attacks at crowded-places, which is habitually used at or near the ACC Liverpool.
