A free training session has been delivered to pub and bar staff in Wiltshire and Swindon in an effort to keep customers safe.

It is the first of 10 face-to-face sessions of Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement (WAVE) and Licensing SAVI training which are being funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner,

Further online sessions and 1,000 e-courses are also available.

Staff from the night-time economy around Trowbridge were invited to join the session at the Civic Centre.

They were educated on how to identify vulnerable customers and make suitable interventions.

Attendees also learnt about drink spiking and the ‘Ask for Angela’ scheme implemented across various Wiltshire and Swindon venues.

The course is run by the Safer Business Network and Licensing SAVI, which operates a star rating style system, similar to the food hygiene stars.

Eren Bessem, from the Safer Business Network, said: "WAVE training is about giving businesses the knowledge and skills to tackle vulnerability in their organisations, both inside and outside.

"The training is beneficial because it's all about creating safer places, safer towns and safer cities."

Data gathered by Licensing SAVI shows that in Northampton, violent crime has reduced by 60 per cent and criminal damage by 40 per cent in the night-time economy since the course was delivered.

Carl Phillips, the head of public protection for Telford and Wrekin Council, reported a 30 per cent reduction in all police incidents in venues that adopted the Licensing SAVI process.

Tori Jordan, co-owner of Still Sisters gin distillery and bar, said: "The training has been super valuable to us as an organisation.

"We're going to go away and review some of our policies and procedures after learning some key pieces of information that we can implement, which is fantastic.

"It's great to have the police and other licensees here today, as it felt like a real coming together of the businesses and agencies and hopefully, we can all move forwards together to make the streets safer in Trowbridge."

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner's priority is to create safer streets in Wiltshire, which has already seen Home Office money invested to fund night-time economy wardens in Trowbridge and Salisbury on Friday and Saturday nights.

Funding has also been provided for four deployable CCTV cameras in Salisbury, additional CCTV in Chippenham town centre and improved lighting and CCTV in Swindon.