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Important Notice: Closure of Licensing SAVI

Since our launch, Licensing SAVI has been proud to support thousands of venues across England and Wales in raising safety standards and reducing vulnerability within the night-time economy.

The initiative has operated for five years however, after review, is to close with effect from 30 April 2026.

·       Effective closure date: 30 April 2026

·       Existing accreditations: If a venue is currently accredited their Licensing SAVI accreditation status remains active for the remainder of their one-year accreditation period, with access to all assets. However they will not be able to renew their accreditation once it expires

·       New applications: We will not be accepting new accreditation applications from venues

Who to Contact Now:

·       For Licensing SAVI specific queries: Please contact 

·       For licensing advice & safety concerns: Please contact your local Police Alcohol Licensing Officer (PALO)

·       For regulatory or statutory enquiries: Please contact your Local Authority Licensing Team

Preparing for University Freshers Weeks 2025

Licensed premises are being urged to make preparations to keep students safe during the forthcoming Freshers Weeks across the UK.

The advice comes from Mark Morgan of Licensing SAVI, the police-led, national initiative which works to support licensees in keeping venues such as bars, pubs and clubs safer and more secure for customers and staff.

Mark said: “Having been involved in the policing of Freshers Weeks and student safety for many years, we know that the coming weeks will bring challenges to the towns and cities who have further and higher education establishments.

“Student vulnerability and Freshers Weeks remain a major concern. Many venues will be employing new students as staff, so venue operators should review their practices around sensible drinking and efforts to reduce vulnerability. It is important venues strike the right balance between ensuring students have the fantastic, fun experience they crave whilst also making sure they are safe and free from harm.”

Mark encourages managers of venues on-campus and in towns and cities with colleges and universities to:

Prepare in advance

Planning is key. Seek help from your local police and council licensing teams to problem-solve reasonably anticipated risks. This will allow for appropriate support if necessary and for your venue to be included in response plans for the wider local area. It will also help ensure you are ready to adapt to other events nearby which could impact upon you.

You should also:

  • Check Premises Licence conditions to ensure plans are compliant, especially if you intend to use space differently (such as outside areas not previously used)

  • Submit Temporary Event Notices where necessary as early as possible

  • For busy events, 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

Update staff on procedures and management practices, which could include:

  • Raise awareness of measures which you can introduce to prevent Violence Against Women & Girls. We have new materials to support you on our Free Resources page.

  • 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 one)

  • Emergency procedures, such as how to respond to alarms, the location of fire exits, keeping them uncongested, and how to act in the event of tension or disorder (stop serving, utilise security staff, and consider calling the police if needed)
  • Remind staff about the risks of spiking, how to prevent it, and how to respond if it happens. Free venue resources are available here.

  • How to manage customer numbers to avoid exceeding venue capacity, and how large crowds could influence safe departure or incident response

  • Ensure nominated staff know how to use your CCTV system, that it is fully operational, and that they are able to download footage if required

  • Plan early for safe and controlled dispersal from your venue when events finish. Free ‘plan your journey’ resources are available here

  • Make sure staff are aware of the named Designated Premises Supervisor or appropriate manager

  • Explain the different types of vulnerability and how vulnerable people can be supported, for example, by contacting friends or family on their behalf, rather than asking them to leave where they may be at greater risk

  • Raise awareness of measures which you can introduce to prevent Sexual Abuse of Men & Boys. We have new materials to support you here

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

  • Consider providing suitable drink covers/tops to help prevent spiking, such as SBD-accredited StopTopps

  • Clear empty glasses and rubbish quickly and remove them to secure storage

  • Display numbers for reputable taxi companies and signpost customers to nearby transport hubs

  • Visit the Police.uk spiking information page

Licensing SAVI 

Licensing SAVI is focused on supporting those who manage and work in licensed premises to be able to undertake a ‘health check’ in relation to their operating practices and security measures, providing feedback to help improve where necessary and to accredit venues with a Police Safety Award to reflect the efforts they’ve made. Find out more at: https://www.licensingsavi.com/

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