Improving late-night safety in Whitley Bay

02-DEC-09

Issued by: Duncan Bennett

New measures aim to improve night-time safety in Whitley Bay town centre over the busy Christmas and New Year holiday period.

Taxi marshals, polycarbonate drinking glasses and high visibility arm bands for door supervisors are being introduced following residents' concerns about anti-social behaviour and violence caused by drunkenness.

In addition, a media van, will display digital messages that promote safe drinking and backs the regional police campaign, "Short word, long sentence" to raise awareness of the issue of rape and promote personal safety.

North Tyneside Strategic Partnership (NTSP) has used £30,000 from the Home Office's alcohol strategy unit for the project, which will start on 4 December.

Residents, businesses and visitors will be interviewed before and after the initiative, which will help the partnership assess its impact and decide whether any elements should continue in the future.

North Tyneside elected mayor Linda Arkley, who is also chair of the NTSP, said: "I want Whitley Bay to regain its reputation for family-friendly fun.

"However, we know there are currently concerns about drink-related disorder in the town centre.

"This initiative, which involves partner organisations working together, aims to make the town centre a safer place for everyone to enjoy late at night.

"We will be looking closely at its impact and then exploring whether all or part of the initiative should continue in the future."

Chief Superintendent Gary Calvert, North Tyneside Area Commander, said: "All partner agencies are working to promote public safety and to reinforce the message that Whitley Bay is a safe place to live in and visit.

"Crime and disorder has reduced significantly in Whitley Bay and our officers are carrying out extra patrols in the town centre during the festive period to reassure the public.

"This new raft of practical measures supported by the partnership will help people to enjoy our town and it's amenities during the festive period. This initiative shows that we listen to the concerns of residents and respond to the issues they raise."

Michael Farwell, chairman of Whitley Bay Pubwatch and owner of the Avalon Hotel and the Trojan Rooms, said: "Anything that makes people realise South Parade is a safe place to drink and have fun, has to be welcomed.

"I believe the taxi marshals, in particular, will help increase feelings of public safety."

Dr Meng Khaw, director of public health for North Tyneside Primary Care trust (PCT) said: "For many people, having a drink over the festive period is often an important part of socialising. But along with serious health effects, alcohol use and misuse also impacts heavily on families, communities, culture, tourism, business, accidents and crime.

"The vast majority of people don't think they have a drink problem but many are harming themselves and others through the anti social behaviour and violence caused by excessive drinking.

"We hope that by working together to bring in these measures we will enable people to cut down to drink within the recommended alcohol limits, still enjoy themselves and not put themselves and others at risk."

The initiative includes:

Taxi marshals - Three taxi marshals will operate at the designated taxi rank on South Parade to provide greater crowd control, reducing opportunities for anti-social behaviour and disorder

Polycarbonate drinking glasses - Thousands of polycarbonate drinking glasses will be distributed to licensed premises on South and East Parade. Unlike cheaper plastic glasses they feel like real glass but don't shatter into dangerous shards

High visibility clothing for door supervisors - Door supervisors will wear high visibility arm bands so that they are more easily identifiable

Media van - A media van, staffed by police officers, will display digital messages that promote safe drinking and support the police's rape awareness campaign, 'Rape, short word, long sentence'. The messages include advice for women not to walk home alone, to use licensed taxis or public transport and generally how to stay safe after a night out.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

North Tyneside Strategic Partnership includes representatives from North Tyneside Council, Northumbria Police, North Tyneside Primary Care Trust, learning organisations, and the voluntary and community sector.

Last year members of the North Tyneside Strategic Partnership Executive took part in a late-night tour to see the issues in Whitley Bay for themselves. The tour took in Whitley Bay town centre including South Parade, Whitley Bay police station, North Tyneside General Hospital A&E department and North Shields police station custody suite.