Crime Reduction and Community Safety: Violence in the Night Time Economy

Session Aims

  • Refresh on the night time economy (NTE)
  • Discuss the nature of violence in NTE
  • Examine major crime reduction approaches related to NTE

Understanding the Night Time Economy (NTE)

  • Definition: Services rendered from 6pm to 6am.
  • Subcategories:
    • Evening economy: Restaurants, theatres, concerts.
    • Late-night economy: More focused on drinking establishments and fast-food outlets.
  • Components:
  • Consumer Services:
    • Pubs, bars, clubs.
    • Cinemas, theatres, concerts, sporting events.
    • Late night shopping.
  • Support Services:
    • Policing.
    • Transport, street cleaning, health services, street safety wardens.
  • Demographics:
  • High cultural activity among young people in the hospitality industry.
  • Women make up a significant portion of the workforce (64% of part-time and 37% of full-time workers).
  • Major cities like Westminster, Birmingham, Manchester, and Leeds show high worker volumes.

Impact of COVID-19 on NTE

  • COVID lockdowns severely affected NTE, which couldn’t adapt to remote working.
  • Observed problems after reopening include:
  • Criminal damage to vehicles and establishments.
  • Issues like anti-social behavior (ASB) including littering, public intoxication, and theft.
  • Increase in drug distribution and use, alongside theft incidents.

Nature of Violence in NTE

  • Types of Violence:
  • Assaults and fights among patrons, often alcohol or drug-fueled.
  • Targeted violence against service staff and homeless individuals.
  • Coincidental violence not directly linked to NTE.
  • Measurement:
  • NTE violence not classified explicitly in crime data.
  • NTE violence discernible through general crime data, showing significant levels of alcohol and drug-related incidents.

Victimization Risks in NTE

  • Highest risks noted among 17-24 year olds for both victims and offenders.
  • Majority of victims and repeat offenders are male.
  • Violence commonly occurs among known acquaintances or strangers and often involves alcohol.

Alcohol-Related Violence Statistics

  • Alcohol Influence:
  • 56% of alcohol-related violence is among strangers, compared to 36% when no alcohol is involved.
  • Alcohol-related violence varies by location, with bars having higher instances compared to homes or work settings.
  • Notably, violence peaks during nighttime hours, especially weekends.

Environmental Factors in NTE Violence

  • Physical and Social Setting:
  • Poorly managed environments with dirty or overcrowded settings contribute to violence.
  • Venue characteristics:
  • Larger venues, young male-dominated crowds, and untrained staff increase violence risk.
  • Comfortable seating mitigates violence prevalence.

Crime Generators vs. Crime Attractors

  • Crime Generators: Places where crimes occur unintentionally due to opportunities.
  • Crime Attractors: Locations people go to with the intention of offending, particularly when victims are perceived as vulnerable.

Prevention Strategies

  • Various measures exist to reduce violence in NTE, including:
  • Increasing effort and risks for potential offenders.
  • Reducing provocation and rewards for violence.
  • Improving natural surveillance and controlling access to certain areas.
  • Licensing Act 2003:
  • Regulates late-night entertainment and alcohol sales to prevent crime and disorder.
  • Additional conditions can be imposed based on the venue’s history of violence.

Wider Situational Prevention Efforts

  • Strategies include street drinking regulations, taxi rank implementations, and high visibility policing in nightlife areas.
  • Future discussions will cover designing out violence, awareness campaigns, and safety schemes.

Key References

  • Donkin, S. and Birks, D.J., 2007. Victims and Offenders of Night-Time Economy Violence.
  • Graham, K. et al. 2006. Environmental Predictors of Aggression in Late-Night Bars and Clubs.
  • Office for National Statistics, 2023. The Night-Time Economy, UK: 2022.