The main bar at the House of Commons is set to reopen within weeks after allegations of a drink being spiked.
But a review has ordered CCTV to be installed in Strangers’ Bar, and staff will get awareness training.
The venue has been closed since January 20 for a ‘security and safety’ probe after reports of an incident.
A woman researcher alerted staff to her drink having been tampered with on January 7.
After a meeting of the House of Commons commission last night, a statement said: ‘Following careful consideration of the recommendations, the Commission agreed that Strangers’ Bar would reopen following the February recess subject to a number of enhanced measures to manage security, safety and access being put in place.’
Strangers’ Bar will be closed for a ‘security and safety review’ after reports of an incident on January 7 (file picture)
The statement said there would be ‘enhanced staff training and qualifications, including MPS Vulnerability Engagement Training and Home Office Spiking Awareness Training’.
Covers for glasses will also be available on request, with ‘clear information’ on display regarding drink safety and schemes such as Active Bystander and Ask for Angela.
The commission has also agreed to ‘increased presence of security and access operatives in the vicinity, to help manage access and ensure appropriate capacity is maintained’.
Confirming that CCTV will be installed, the statement added: ‘This will be managed as a standalone system, accessed only in the event of an incident.’
There has long been resistance to putting CCTV cameras in private areas of Parliament, with concerns that MPs’ work could be compromised.
The FDA union, which represents civil servants and public sector professionals, has urged parliamentary authorities to ‘assess the risks and take immediate action to prevent this happening again’.
Downing Street previously described the spiking reports as ‘incredibly concerning’.
‘Women have a right to feel safe everywhere… everyone on the parliamentary state should feel safe in their workplace,’ the PM’s spokesman said.
He pointed to the Government’s commitment to crack down on spiking by making it a specific offence – and launching specialist training for up to 10,000 bar staff nationwide.
A UK Parliament spokesman said last month: ‘We are aware of an incident which took place on the parliamentary estate in early January, which was reported to parliamentary security and is now being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Service.’
Strangers’ is the main bar in the House of Commons (file picture)
