Covid-19 Arrangements and Enforcement in Licenced Premises in Folkestone and Hythe District

I've been asked by a number of local residents and licencees what checking was being made of Covid-19 arrangements such as Track and Trace, distancing and 10pm closure in pubs, bars, clubs, restaurants locally.

I received over the weekend the helpful update below on what the requirements being tested are, and what work is going on in those areas, and thought it would be useful to pass on!

From the Folkestone and Hythe District Licencing Team

The new Track and Trace work requires us to look at 3 main areas during Covid:

• QR codes to be displayed in all pubs, bars, Restaurants, Cafes and any other premise selling food and drink for consumption on or in their land / premises
  • Alternative ways of obtaining visitors contact details must be in place for visitors who do not have access to a mobile phone
• Maximum of 6 people to be together at any time (and seated)
  • No mingling of other parties to come together, they must be at least 1 meter apart back to back or 2 meters anywhere else
• 10pm Closure of all hospitality venues - Pubs, clubs, bars, restaurants etc,.
  • Visitors must have left the premise by 10pm regardless of food or drink being unfinished

F&HDC Enforcement, Community Safety and Area Officers are all working together visiting approximately 1,000 premises to ensure they are aware of the rules, are complying or advice is given if they are failing to do so. A 3 stage approach is taking place to deal with any enforcement. This is to ensure that the maximum amount of support can be given to businesses to guide, support and educate in respect of Covid 19 legislation.

Step 1 - Guidance and support - this is to educate and encourage to ensure the rules are being followed - support will be given to upload mobile apps and visit websites to guide through the legislation.

Step 2 - Advisory - this is to ensure that a date has been given to ensure they are compliant - this could be a number of days or immediately if a premise still has visitors after 10pm.

Step 3 - Failure to adhere to the advice given, will result in a Fixed Penalty Notice being issued to the proprietor. This is repeated on each occasion the breach the legislation and double in price each time.

There has been over 100 premises visited by Officers so far and the majority of them are compliant. There are a handful that are at stage 1 with only 1 receiving a warning from the Police for failure to follow advice around closure times.

Kent Police are working in partnership with our Licencing team, Community Safety Unit and Enforcement to do joint visits from 10pm onwards and these started last weekend and will be repeated this weekend. Our officers have helped businesses with showing them where to upload the QR code maker, advice where to display them, how to keep records manually and to ensure they are GDPR compliant and to let them know that we are here to support them through this time and we will continue with this support where needed.