Going out should be fun!
Fewer incidences of violence and disorder; fewer youngsters ending up in the emergency room during a night out; and a reduction in the associated costs. This is the goal of the new Centre for a Safer and Healthier Nightlife (CVGU) in supporting the local authorities in their aim to make the nightlife scene healthier and safer. The CVGU promotes an integrated approach to nightlife problems, focussing simultaneously on the health and the safety of nightlife participants. To date this combined approach had been lacking.
The Trimbos Institute has joined forces with the Dutch Centre for Crime Prevention and Safety (CCV) to set up the Centre for a Safer and Healthier Nightlife (CVGU). The aim of this joint venture is to support municipalities in tackling nightlife problems, both from a safety and a health perspective.
Municipalities have a vested interested in a thriving social scene: it generates activity and employment in the catering industry and contributes to a positive image of a community. The CCV report on nightlife violence reveals that 83% of the 73 municipalities surveyed are regularly afflicted by nightlife violence. This includes vandalism, disorderly behaviour and violent incidents. Drunkenness is often the main cause.
At the same time, dangerous alcohol and drug use can lead to health problems, such as intoxications and injuries. Heavy demands are placed on the emergency services, with numerous arrests and removals to hospital. Research has shown that municipal policy on alcohol is conducted separately from policy on public safety. This can be regarded as a missed opportunity, because for nightlife to be healthy and safe, an integrated approach is required.
Gains to be had with a safer and healthier nightlife
The CVGU wants to encourage municipalities and their social partners to adopt an integrated approach to problems in the social scene. There is added value to this approach, because it can contribute to resolving and combating nightlife problems on all fronts. Local policymakers can consult the CVGU to create a toolbox of combined health and safety approaches. Thus, use can made of the practical experience gained in the municipalities together with insights into various approaches.
What do we know and what works?
- Revellers will feel safer if an investment is made in the interior of the nightlife venue. This includes lighting, CCTV, waste disposal bins, toilets, etc.
- Collaboration within municipalities between public and private actors has been shown to have an effect on reducing the number of milder violent incidents.
- The use of polycarbonate glass in the catering industry can reduce the number of injuries and contribute to an feeling of greater safety among both personnel and guests.
- Training for bar staff is effective in reducing alcohol use among under-age drinkers (under 16), and in reducing aggression in venues.
Revellers will feel safer if an investment is made in the interior of the nightlife venue. This includes lighting, CCTV, waste disposal bins, toilets, etc.
An integrated approach where the measures are implemented and maintained, can be cost-effective.
In Sweden, it has been shown that every euro invested yielded a saving of 39 euros.
More information: Ninette van Hasselt
