Birmingham Colmore is committed to creating a safe, welcoming environment for everyone visiting or working in the District. Our Safer Hospitality initiatives help ensure that venues, workers, and visitors can enjoy the vibrant food, drink, and leisure scene with confidence.

The Safer Colmore working group [link to Safer Colmore working group page]. leads this work, driving projects that make the District secure while supporting hospitality businesses and promoting a positive experience for customers.

Key Initiatives

We focus on practical measures that improve safety, build awareness, and support businesses across the District. These include:

• Partnership working: Collaborating with West Midlands Police and partner agencies to provide guidance, share intelligence, and connect businesses with key safety resources.
• Safer venues: Supporting hospitality operators with initiatives such as Licensing SAVI, Ask for Angela, and anti-spiking measures. These programs help venues meet high safety standards while reducing crime and protecting customers.
• Community support: Our dedicated Community Support Team provides visible, friendly assistance across the District, helping people feel safe while visiting or working.
• Women’s safety initiatives: Projects like the Colmore Women’s Safety Forum champion safety and support for women, in partnership with organisations such as the Hollie Gazzard Trust.
• Training & awareness: Personal safety workshops and guidance empower workers and visitors to recognise risks and act confidently in challenging situations.

Staying Safe

Even in the safest Districts, it’s important to remain vigilant, especially in hospitality settings. Helpful guidance includes:

• Preventing drink spiking: Keep an eye on your drink and avoid leaving it unattended. Learn more from Drinkaware.
• Vape spiking: Vaping is growing in popularity, therefore it’s important those who vape understand the risks posed by vape spiking and how they can avoid victimisation. Read more here.
• Supporting friends: If someone appears unwell or disoriented, contact venue staff or emergency services, stay with them, and seek professional help if needed.
• Reporting concerns: Always report crimes or unsafe behaviour to the police or relevant support organisations, including Victim Support for confidential advice.

Safer Hospitality in Action

Birmingham Colmore venues actively demonstrate their commitment to safety. Several have achieved 5-star National Police Safety Awards through Licensing SAVI, showing excellence in:

• Crime and disorder prevention
• Protection of children and vulnerable visitors
• Public safety and responsible management practices

These initiatives reinforce that Colmore is one of the safest commercial districts in Birmingham, while creating a welcoming environment for workers, residents, and visitors.

Get Involved

Whether you’re a business operator or a visitor, you can play a part in keeping Colmore safe. From adopting Safer Hospitality best practices to reporting concerns or attending awareness workshops, everyone contributes to a secure and enjoyable District.

Find out more about the Safer Colmore working group here.

If you would like any more information about Safer Hospitality initiatives in the District, please contact us.