Sarnia Hotels has become the first group of venues to engage with local charity SafetyNet to help make nights out safer.
The group – consisting of Moores Hotel, Hotel de Havelet and Les Rocquettes Hotel – arranged for SafetyNet to deliver a presentation to its staff on Monday 8th January, in support of the charity’s efforts to tackle sexual assault, harassment, and drink spiking in Guernsey’s night-time economy.
Sarnia Hotels Operations Director, Calum Le Noury, said the group was keen to support the charity: “After being invited to the night time economy, stakeholders event in November, we (Sarnia hotels) believed in the message that Poppy and her team were wanting to deliver to us as a business.
“We felt today was the next step, making sure our team’s understood the primary aim of the charity, as well as making sure that they understood the support that could be offered to them when dealing with a possible situation, or if they themselves had fallen victim to unwanted, harassment, drink, spiking, or sexual assault.
“We look forward to developing our relationship with safety net and other partner venues around the island.”
SafetyNet Chair, Poppy Murray, SafetyNet Trustee and Director of Pingquay, Simon Allum, and Willow House Manager, Charlie Cox, presented to the group of Sarnia Hotels staff to explain the aims of the charity and what support is available for victims locally. Attendees were also given eco-friendly, reusable DrinkSeals at the event.
Miss Murray said she was delighted with the engagement from Sarnia Hotels: “As a charity, it is absolutely essential that we work in partnership with night-time economy venues. To have received such a positive response from Sarnia Hotels, and to be invited to present to their staff is a testament to how seriously Calum takes the safety of his customers and staff. As well as explaining how staff can support the public, it’s also really important for industry workers to know where they can get support if they are victims of, or witnesses to, these offences. I hope that other venues will look to arrange training for their staff and that together we can create a safer night-time economy for everyone.”
SafetyNet has three partnership levels for venues and the charity’s website and social media is updated regularly to keep the public up to date. Level 1 venues are ones which have received a SafetyNet starter pack containing posters, StopTopp drink covers and an information booklet. Venues can progress to Level 2 by engaging with SafetyNet to train staff and implement best practice policies. The third and final level will see venues named as a SafetyNet Partner Venue.
Licensed venues can attain partnership status by consistently adhering to best practice guidelines, including being able to signpost victims to appropriate services and supporting Guernsey Police in any investigations.
Miss Murray added: “We want to do all that we can to promote venues which are taking positive steps in improving safety for their customers and their staff. Perpetrators are the only ones to blame for committing an offence, and a crime may potentially be committed in any venue, notwithstanding the effort of the venue itself.
“We cannot guarantee that an offence will not happen in a venue, but what we can do is ensure that any Level 3 Partner Venue is equipped to respond appropriately if a victim seeks supports. The ultimate goal is to see consistency in all license venues, so that victims know what to expect if they approach staff for help.
“We are absolutely thrilled that Sarnia Hotels has become the first group of venues to reach Level 2 status and we look forward to working with Calum and his team going forward.”
