ArcAngel

What is ArcAngel?

ArcAngel is the joint approach to tackling alcohol-related crime between Cheshire Police and a range of other agencies, including local councils, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and NHS trusts.

The brand name is derived from the acronym ARC – Alcohol-Related Crime and “Angels” who historically are strong cultural icons.

The brand represents a standards based approach adopted by all agencies working in partnership with the licensed trade to target the problem of alcohol-related crime and disorder as well as underage drinking and alcohol-related incidents.

Since it was launched five years ago, the ArcAngel logo has become a familiar sight in bars and licensed premises across the county.

We use a range of strategies and powers to deal with alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour.

We aim to:

  • encourage responsible drinking, discourage binge drinking and drinking in public places
  • target hotspot locations and prolific and persistent offenders of alcohol-related violent crime
  • help reduce the number of incidents of alcohol-related serious woundings, common assaults and Accident and Emergency admissions
  • improve the care and support for victims and witnesses of alcohol-related violent crime
  • help people feel safer during a night out
  • raise public awareness of the issues of alcohol-related violence and disorder and the penalties that will be imposed against offenders.

ArcAngel protected towns

The aim of making a town “ArcAngel protected” is to make it a place everyone can enjoy on a night on the town without the threat of alcohol-fuelled violence and behaviour.

Protected towns

  • Congleton
  • Sandbach
  • Macclesfield

Chester will become a ‘protected town’ soon.

The scheme was launched by inviting members of the licensing community to an ArcAngel protected town conference which resulted in premises signing up to the code of practice.

Many venues throughout Sandbach, Congleton and Macclesfield now have ArcAngel Accreditation which means, they follow the codes of practice to try to combat alcohol-related crime (including the sale of alcohol to people who are underage).

This means they will have stepped up to the mark to ensure that anyone who chooses to enjoy a night out in their town can do so safe in the knowledge that over the past few months public agencies have implemented a scheme aimed at influencing the behaviour of everyone who sells, buys or drinks alcohol.

In addition, a public code of conduct has been produced and is being promoted by officers who patrol the town centre during the evening. This alerts members of the public passing through the town, that they are expected to adhere to the ArcAngel standards of behaviour.

To become a protected town more than 50% of the establishments in the designated area must have satisfied the checks carried out to become accredited with ArcAngel status.

The scheme is ambitious and involves driving up standards within the night time economy both with the licensing trade and with members of the public who choose to socialise in the towns.

Benefits of being an ArcAngel protected towns

There are numerous benefits to being part of the ArcAngel initiative, both for licensees and also for their customers.

Licensees:

  • A closer working relationship and support of the partners throughout the scheme.
  • Promotion of standards and premises by partnerships in joint publicity.
  • A reassuring environment for you and your staff as part of the ArcAngel standards.
  • Enhanced training on licensing laws.
  • Trading standards of behaviour set for customers.

Customers:

  • Reassurance that statutory authorities and licensed trade working together to improve safety both on the streets and in the premises.
  • Safer environment as a result of the enforced standards.
  • A clear understanding of what is acceptable behaviour on their part.

Voluntary Code of Conduct

The ArcAngel standards are voluntarily adopted by the licensed trade to demonstrate that they are showing due diligence and operating as a responsible premises.

These are the minimum standards that premises that sign up to the ArcAngel standards have to adhere to and maintain. It outlines what people who want to enjoy the night time economy can expect from the premises, fundamentally reassuring them that alcohol related crime won’t be tolerated there.

  1. All premises to agree and strictly adhere to last entry times.
  2. No premises will undertake any promotions that encourage ‘binge drinking,’ including fixed price, short period and unlimited drinks promotions.
  3. All premises will be encouraged to adhere to a dress code for the customers.
  4. All premises to adopt and use the ArcAngel ‘due diligence’ books or documents of a similar standard.
  5. Non-alcoholic drinks, including drinking water, to be available at all times.
  6. All premises to conform with and meet requirements of Cheshire Police and Local Authority Licensing visit criteria.
  7. Noise levels – To comply with the ‘Noise at Work Regulations’ from April 2008 to protect both staff members and customers and to guard against oppressive noise levels both inside and outside the premises.
  8. All premises to manage the length, depth and direction of queues ensuring that they are maintained in an orderly fashion at agreed queuing points.
  9. All premises to calculate an ‘operational capacity’ linked to their Health and Safety Risk Assessment and to employ adequate staff to ensure that this capacity is not exceeded.
  10. All premises to review their CCTV system to ensure that it complies with the Cheshire Constabulary CCTV Operating Requirements Document. Sufficient staff shall be trained to enable the immediate review and downloading of images when necessary for the prevention and detection of crime.
  11. All door supervisors to wear an orange high-visibility waistcoat or jacket to the standard of those provided by the Crime and Disorder Partnership or better.
  12. All participants to be active members of PubWatch.
  13. Staff to wear readily identifiable uniforms whilst at work.

In the areas where the ArcAngel scheme is established it has had a positive impact on the town. Residents have commented that they have seen an increase in police presence in the town since its introduction and underage drinking has been dealt with effectively. Licensees reported that ArcAngel had brought together the community and licensed businesses in the town.