Risky parties:
Information for venue owners,
managers and staff
Social media advertised parties have been an increasing issue of concern for police, and the community as a whole. This information sheet has been prepared to raise awareness for you and your staff in relation to the issue of risky parties. It also provides practical tips and information to help reduce your risks in relation to these events, and their getting out of control at your venue. Produced by the Drug
and Alcohol
Coordination Unit
For further information contact:
Drug and Alcohol Coordination Unit
Police Headquarters
200 Roma Street
BRISBANE QLD 4000
Background
The occurrence of high risk youth parties is not a new one for the community. However, social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter now provide the means for members to create events and invite guests at rates never seen before. With smartphones having 24 hour access to social media, and the vast networks of friends that exist on these sites, now means that news of a party can reach thousands in a matter of moments. T: 07 3364 4601
F: 07 3364 6931
E: [email protected]
With 12‐17 olds having on average 506 Facebook friends (18‐24 year olds, 510) it doesn’t take long for the numbers to rack up. If one teenager invited all their friends to a party, and 20% of those friends invited all their friends, even if we assume that 80% of their friends are shared, the guest list has already grown to over 10,000 potential guests. If only 20% turn up to the event, that’s still a party of over 2,000 people. With the ability to make events open to the public, i.e. open to any Facebook user, there is real potential for things to go wrong in a big way. You only have to look at a Sydney teen’s Sweet 16 party that had to be cancelled after the Facebook invite ended up getting 200,000 ‘attending’ RSVPs within 24 hours. What can you do before the event?
Experience has shown that the best means of managing these high risk parties is to ensure that harm minimisation strategies are employed before the party has even started. This includes ensuring that police are aware of these events before they occur. Set out below is information and practical tips that can be employed at your venue to limit the risks associated with these parties. ƒ
Register with Party Safe Consider making it a condition of your venue hire that all parties are registered as a Queensland Police Service Party Safe party. Registration of a Party Safe party will ensure that police are aware of the party, and if things do go wrong on the night, police have the information necessary to effectively deal with issues. If police know an event is going on they may also make arrangements to monitor the event and ensure that it is proceeding safely. Last updated 2 May 2013
www.police.qld.gov.au
Of real concern is that police are increasingly seeing these social media networks being used by rogue operators to promote commercial events aimed at young people, including underaged teens. These events often endorse youth drinking, through BYO alcohol, and encourage anti‐social behaviour. Due to the nature of these one off private events, where no liquor license or permit is required, operators have limited responsibility regarding the consumption of alcohol and subsequent injury and damage to property. Parties can be registered in person at your local police station, on the phone to Policelink on 131 444 or online through the Queensland Police Service Party Safe webpage www.police.qld.gov.au/party. FOR EXTERNAL DISTRIBUTION
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security; how many crowd controllers will be working;
what their instructions are for the night (e.g. in relation to alcohol and intoxicated and disorderly patrons). Be cautious of BYO events
The risk of an event getting out of hand increases significantly when alcohol is involved. BYO events do not require a liquor licence or permit and there is no legal obligation on the event organiser to ensure the responsible consumption of alcohol by patrons. Consider excluding BYO events, particularly if the target audience for the event are young people. However, your venue’s excluding BYO events is not in itself enough. The event organiser has to have systems in place to deal with BYO alcohol, i.e. crowd controllers searching patrons and confiscating BYO alcohol. Get the event organiser to confirm what arrangements have been made to ensure there is no BYO alcohol and make sure signs are up at the entrance points spelling out to patrons that BYO alcohol is not permitted. ƒ
Where appropriate, Policelink can forward relevant information to your local police station; who may contact you directly to discuss. ƒ
Ask for details •
Who is the target audience? •
How many people are expected to attend the event? •
Will alcohol be at the event? •
What security arrangements have been made? •
Do they have public liability insurance? •
Has the party been registered with police? •
Have they consulted with police? •
How will they deal with patrons who are unduly intoxicated or disorderly? •
How has the event been advertised? •
What arrangements have been made if the event is over attended? •
Will food and water be available? •
How are they going to move patrons from the venue, and areas in the vicinity of the venue, after the event? •
Have any arrangements for patron transport to and from the event been made? Be suspicious of last minute bookings Be suspicious of last minute bookings. Meet the event organiser face to face There is nothing like a face to face meeting to allow you to ask questions and get to the heart of relevant matters. It also means you know who you are dealing with. Get a bond A venue bond guards against damages to the venue should they occur as a consequence of the event. The venue bond should be determined in accordance with the relevant risk. Do not be put off requesting a higher bond for events that are high risk. ƒ
If you have concerns about an event at your venue contact police and let them know. You can contact Policelink by phoning 131 444 or attend your local police station. Discuss with potential venue hirers the dangers of social media advertising. If the event is going to be advertised on social media ask them to invite you to the event so that you can track event numbers. Police are increasingly seeing rogue operators holding off on organising and publicising their event venue in order to avoid police detection. ƒ
Contact police Ask the event organiser lots of questions: If you still have concerns contact your local police immediately; and be prepared to cancel the event at your venue. ƒ
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Warn on social media If things look as if they have the potential to get out of control get in contact with the event organiser immediately to discuss how these risks are going to be managed. You may also request that the event organiser get local police involved. ƒ
Get the name of the security providers and contact them to confirm what arrangements have been made. Confirm security arrangements Ask the event organiser to confirm what security arrangements have been made: who is providing the Last updated 2 May 2013
After the event has started
If you, or the event organiser, have been in contact with police before the event, you may have a police contact number that you can call. However, always remember, if a crime is happening now, life threatening or there is a likelihood of the suspected offenders in the area, call 000 immediately. FOR EXTERNAL DISTRIBUTION
Last updated 2 May 2013
FOR EXTERNAL DISTRIBUTION