CLIENT: London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham
PROJECT: Problem Premises Study
What were MAKE asked to do?
The London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham asked MAKE to provide objective and impartial evidence about a late night venue in Fulham Road that the police wanted to review the licence of. The council wanted to know the extent of any problems, externally and internally at the venue.
How did MAKE do it?
MAKE went undercover, covertly observing the operations of the bar.
We examined all aspects of the operation: door supervision (approach, refusal techniques for drunks, if at all, managing conflict) as well as server policy (were drunks served, how were they refused), glass removal, type and condition of customers (e.g. were they intoxicated, aggressive or relaxed, well behaved etc?) and compliance with the venues other licensing conditions.
MAKE used photographic evidence of the impacts of the bar internally and externally to document its impact on the public realm We also observed and mapped the behaviour of patrons as they left the bar – where did they go, did any incidents of noise, urination or vomiting occur on the way home or to transport nodes which would affect residents’ quality of life?
What happened next?
The council was able to use the evidence from MAKE to cross-reference against that already received by the police and from the bar operators. The MAKE evidence clearly showed the premises was much more problematic than even the police considered it to be, and its licence was brought back from 3am to 1am and many other conditions imposed. So solid was the evidence, the decision was not appealed by the bar owners, which is unusual in itself and saved the council considerable further legal fees.
What unique value did MAKE bring to this project?
This was the first example of recording and mapping patron behaviour by covertly observing customers as they left the venue.