CLIENT: London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames

PROJECT: Night-Time Economy & Licensing Study

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What were MAKE asked to do?

The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames was considering implementing what is called, in legal licensing jargon, a Cumulative Impact Policy (CIP). This is a tool to help towns resist the opening of new pubs, bars and clubs if crime and disorder already results from the ‘cumulative impact’ of too many existing licensed premises. However, to introduce such a policy, a firm evidence base of the problem is required, otherwise there is the possibility of a legal challenge which if lost leads to costs and negative publicity for the council.

How did MAKE do it?

  • MAKE developed an observational research study that ran through the evening and the night and a questionnaire was drafted for residents and businesses.

  • To carry out the observation element, MAKE recruited a team of 15 researchers and trained them in observation techniques, and then deployed them in the borough’s night-time economies.

  • To carry out the questionnaire MAKE used GIS mapping to create a catchment that included the proposed CIP zone and an additional 400m buffer. We then mailed the questionnaire to all residential and business addresses in this area.

  • We brought both elements together in a report that was based purely on facts rather than interpretation or policy recommendation so that councillors could make a decision whether to introduce a cumulative impact policy or not (they did).

What happened next?

The results were genuinely unexpected. Despite Richmond being the safest borough in London, a large number of (particularly low-level disorder) incidents were recorded. It was these low level incidents that were not being captured by calls to the police and which were causing the community concern and it was MAKE’s evidence that gave councillors the confidence to introduce the policy.

What unique value did MAKE bring to this project?

This was the first time and observational study like this had been undertaken in the UK and it remains the benchmark methodology for other locations.

Update: MAKE’s work for Richmond has now been repeated in 2007, 2009 and 2011. Overall crime and disorder in the NTE has fallen although it remains above what councillors and the community consider acceptable. However, Richmond’s CIP remains, to our knowledge, the only one of around 280 such policies in England or Wales that has NOT been breached. The client believes this is predominantly down to the strength of MAKE’s evidence.