BII to put Best Bar None on national stage

A new move to put the Best Bar None (BBN) scheme on a national stage is being spearheaded by the BII.

Together with the Home Office and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) - which set up the first BBN initiative - the BII has agreed to take the scheme forward in a joint approach over the next six months.

BBN schemes, which encourage pubs and bars to meet responsible retailing standards, are already being run in town and city centres across the country.

But the new initiative will bring a common set of standards to the schemes, while permitting BBN to still operate on a local level - and encourage more to be put in place.

A new national steering committee, drawn from across the licensed retail industry, the police and local authorities, is being set up while the hunt has begun for a national figure to become the honorary chair of the new group.

A new limited company, Best Bar None Ltd, is being set up to co-ordinate the enterprise.

Describing it as "great news for the industry", BII chief executive John McNamara said: "We are delighted to be associated with the Best Bar None initiative which is a major success story in areas adopting this as part of wider strategies to raise standards.

"Many of our members have been closely involved with a number of schemes across the country and they are a shining example of good partnership between the industry, police and local authorities in improving our night-time economy."

Paul Evans, from the Home Office's police and crime standards directorate, said: "By further extending and promoting the scheme, in partnership with the licensed retail trade at a national level, Best Bar None will be instrumental in helping to improve the night time economy in the UK."

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison, the ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) lead on licensing, added: "GMP created an excellent initiative with Best Bar None which has delivered real results.

"This new partnership gives us the opportunity to develop the scheme even further at a national level, while ensuring that the underlying principles remain a part of it and ACPO will be fully engaged in the work. Anything that helps to reduce crime and disorder and improve standards is a worthwhile investment."

Transition to the new strucuture is expected to take place over the next six months - in the meantime, areas wishing to adopt the BBN standard can access guidance from the Home Office Crime & Disorder website.

This material will be going live shortly on www.crimereduction.gov.uk