Working together for a safe night out in town

An Operation to drive out thugs and drugs from Peterborough city centre seems to be hitting the mark.
Measures including extra bobbies on the beat, dozens of CCTV cameras, metal detectors in bars, and the occasional use of police sniffer dogs to hunt out drugs have succeeded in making the city a much safer place than it was a few years ago.

The question for many bar and club owners now, however, seems to be – so why are people still staying away?

Five years ago, repeated incidents of trouble prompted pub, club and bar managers to put their heads together in a desperate attempt to stamp out late night crime and claw back the city's reputation.

Now they say their hard work has paid off and the place is miles safer – but many people still perceive it to be a no-go zone. This has resulted in barely 6,000 people visiting the city centre on weekend nights, compared to 14,000 over a Friday and Saturday night three years ago.

Vice-chairman of City Safe, a group that represents 28 eating, drinking and dancing venues across the city, Stewart Wright said: "We have not heard about any major violent incidents kicking off in the city centre for a while now.

"In 2002, that wasn't the case. Peterborough had a terrible reputation, and we thought something needed to be done about it and set up City Safe.

"Now things are so much better, but people need to know it."

Mr Wright said metal detectors at the doors of nightspots deter people from carrying knives, and offbeat initiatives like giving lollipops out to revellers leaving clubs, takes their mind off violence, while high visibility policing is making an impact.

Pub staff also communicate problems through a radio alert system, and the CCTV network constantly monitors the streets.

Longer opening hours have also stopped the problem of people binge drinking to get as drunk as possible in the shortest available time. Also, bar staff are now aware that they are personally liable if caught serving someone under age, and this has made them extra vigilant.

Mr Wright added: "We also really welcome extra police walking the streets. This is something we had been pushing for."

Police also believe Operation Sentinal, which involves extra patrols on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, has helped.

Pc Lee Crane said: "I do think these patrols are having an effect."

Reveller James Coe (25), from Woodston, agreed: "I don't come out in Peterborough much, but I must say that you do feel safer with all these police about."

City centre director Annette Joyce said: "The whole perception of Peterborough city centre at night needs to be changed. A lot is being done to make sure it is safe, and we need to encourage more people to enjoy it now.

"We have some great restaurants, bars and clubs. You can have either a quiet, or a wilder night out in Peterborough. But we must use it or we will lose it."

She said the city council is planning to produce a brochure at Christmas, not only promoting the things Peterborough has to offer by day, but also promoting the nightlife.

Peterborough Today