Hackney nightlife venues will have to apply for a new licence to “prove they are safe spaces for women” under a new scheme.
The Hackney Nights scheme was announced by Hackney Council last Thursday as part of the UN’s 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.
The accreditation looks to educate frontline staff by delivering courses about the prevention of gender based violence. It is free to complete online, and venues receive a toolkit which includes a certification and a window sticker.
Violence and sexual offences are the most common crimes in Hackney with 8,223 offences in 2020. This is a 2% increase from 2019 making Hackney the third most dangerous borough in London.
At the in-person panel, Cllr Susan Fajana-Thomas, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: “These are not just statistics, these are individuals and families grieving for their loved ones.”
The accreditation scheme is also seen as a response to the murders of Sabina Nessa, Sarah Everard and sisters Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman in the Greater London area.
Venues must also nominate a women’s champion within their organisation and sign up to the Mayor of London’s Women’s Night Safety Charter.
Craig, the manager of The Three Compasses in Dalston welcomed the scheme: “This is something we are definitely willing to get behind. All our staff are trained well and know what to look out for.”
