'Everyone has the right to feel safe' – businesses call for conversations with campaigners of Inverness Night In
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Throughout the UK women have been reporting spiking by injection in nightclubs and bars.
And while there have been no reports of incidents in the Highlands, many business owners want to open up a dialouge with women with what would make it safer for them on a night out.
Scott Murray, director at Cru Holdings, which operates a number of Inverness venues, said: “The call for women to stay home on Friday night and similar events held around Scotland have highlighted the need for greater conversation around public safety, and a joined-up approach that ensures the community is tackling this important issue together.
“Everyone has the right to feel safe. At our Cru Holdings venues, we’re committed to creating a welcoming environment where women can feel safe to enjoy themselves by providing security staff and ensuring our bar teams have received relevant training, including in schemes like Ask for Angela and first aid.
“However, we are always open to conversation and making changes for the benefit of our customers. While we have never had a report of any incidents in our venues, we stand alongside anyone who has ever experienced any form of assault and would take any reports incredibly seriously.
“Feeling unsafe at night – whether walking home or in a venue – is a community issue, and there needs to be open and frank communication between all parties involved.
“We would welcome any conversations between women in our community, campaigners, police, Inverness BID, street pastors, bars, late-night food outlets, taxis and other transport providers to work together to find a solution that allows women to feel safe.”
A spokesman for Inverness Revolution, part of a chain of bars, said: “We take everyone’s safety in our bars seriously,” said a spokesman.
“This means ensuring our teams are vigilant, our guests know who to speak to if they feel unsafe or unwell, and we all work together to call out those who behave inappropriately or suspiciously.”
The venue protects guests with a series of procedures including searches, zero tolerance to abuse, training staff to spot vulnerable guests, employing the use of CCTV and the removal of unattended drinks.
