Safety advice for Whitley Bay pub-goers

15-DEC-09

Issued by: Duncan Bennett

Whitley Bay pub-goers are being given advice to make their evenings out safer this festive season.

North Tyneside Strategic Partnership (NTSP) is working with the town's pubs and clubs to promote safe drinking and encourage party-goers to look after their friends and make sure no-one is left alone at the end of the evening.

Special promotional beer mats bearing safety messages have been provided by the NTSP. Northumbria Police will also be transmitting safety messages to revellers via Bluetooth in the South Parade area.

Meanwhile, officers have been visiting bars and speaking to Pub Watch members. They have been asking their staff to be extra vigilant, and look out for drinkers who are looking vulnerable.

It supports the regional police campaign "Short word, long sentence", which is aimed at increasing awareness of rape and promoting personal safety over the festive season.

The NTSP has already launched a series of measures in Whitley Bay town centre following residents' concerns about anti-social behaviour and violence caused by drunkenness.

Taxi marshals, polycarbonate drinking glasses, high visibility arm bands for door supervisors and a media van, which displays digital safety messages, have all been introduced for the festive period. The NTSP used £30,000 from the Home Office's alcohol strategy unit to fund the measures.

Detective Chief Inspector Mick Paterson, of North Tyneside Area Command, said: "Bar staff and door supervisors are well placed to keep an extra eye out for people who perhaps are starting to look vulnerable.

"If they see someone who has been drinking left on their own, they can speak to them and try to help them find their group of friends to make sure they're not left alone.

"Our message to people is make sure your entire group is accounted for and you don't leave people behind. This is now the party season and lots of people will be out socialising and we want everyone to have an enjoyable and safe time.

"Officers will also be visiting pubs and clubs, checking the premises to make sure that high spirits don't spill over into disorder."

Cllr Glynis Barrie, cabinet member for Community Services and Safer Neighbourhoods, said: "We want people to have an enjoyable but safe experience in Whitley Bay this Christmas and New Year.

"We've introduced a variety of measures this year to help prevent disorder in Whitley Bay town centre, ranging from taxi marshals to polycarbonate drinking glasses.

"However, some drinkers may also end up in a vulnerable state and this particular scheme aims to help protect their personal safety."

Extra police officers will be on patrol in Whitley Bay over the busier evenings. They will also be monitoring crowds and looking out for individuals who may need help. Officers will additionally be on hand to intervene quickly if revellers are at risk of becoming disorderly and violent.

For futher information visit the NTSP website.

Victims of sexual assault are also advised to contact REACH on 0191 221 9222 for confidential advice.

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.