Guildford Street Angels Celebrate 5 Years Street Angels, the flagship project of Guildford Town Centre Chaplaincy – is now 5 years old. The Street Angels first went out on the streets of the town on Friday 17th October 2008 and last Saturday they marked their 5th birthday with a celebration. Over 100 people gathered at St Saviour’s Church to witness the commissioning of the latest group of Street Angels, one of whom was quickly drafted in to fill a gap on the team heading out that night. Guests included Diana Lockyer-Nibbs, Mayor of Guildford; Lesley Myles, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Surrey; and Helen Collins, District Commander for Western Division of Surrey Police. The work of Street Angels was affirmed by all three speakers Helen Collins remarking that Street Angels need the police but, equally, the police need Street Angels and that they work in partnership. Entertainment on the night was provided by a modern and a traditional jazz band, an Irish folk singer and a rhythm and blues musician. Five years ago Street Angels, volunteers mainly from the many churches in the area, went out on Friday nights only and Guildford Town Centre was quite a different place at night compared with now. Now Street Angels cover Friday and Saturday nights each week plus some midweek nights such as A-Level results night. They have made a real difference in Guildford and are generally recognised as friendly faces who will help out when needed – and who carry an endless supply of lollies! There are currently some 75 Street Angels in Guildford who commit to spending one night a month from 10.30 pm until 4.00 am trying to ensure people are safe regardless of whether they are homeless or young people out enjoying the many leisure facilities the town offers. They aim to get them home safely, especially if they become vulnerable, which can happen for a variety of reasons, not just the over-consumption of alcohol. They are always looking for more volunteers who would like to be involved. If you are interested to know more, please visit the website, www.gtcc.org.uk or contact the Street Angels co-ordinator, Lin Haynes on 07717 876853 or at [email protected]. Congratulations to:
Woodbridge & Felixstowe Town Pastors for winning Suffolk Coastal Community Award for 'Making the Community Safer' Windsor Street Angels for winning the Award for Community Safety from Windsor Royal Borough & Windsor and Maidenhead Voluntary Action (this award was presented by Timmy Mallett!!!!) See press article. Welcome to the latest local project to become part of CNI Network Lichfield Late Night Listeners.
A few facts about Lichfield Late Night Listeners:
The Lichfield Late Night Listeners have an exciting initiative planned for Christmas: Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat so it must be time for Lichfield Mysteries to start working on a Nativity production! We are doing something completely different this year - well, the story's the same - obviously! - but we are doing 'pop-up' Nativities, in conjunction with Lichfield's Late Night Listeners. If you haven't encountered the Late Night Listeners then you obviously don't spend Friday and Saturday nights partying in Lichfield City Centre! They are a lovely bunch of people who set up a stall with tea and coffee and look out for people who may have had too much to drink, be in distress or just want a chat. They provide a sympathetic ear, point people in the direction of taxis and will even supply emergency flip-flops if your 7'' heels are proving a bit too much. We are going to put together a short, entertaining version of the Nativity and the weekend before Christmas we will be 'popping-up' outside some of the favourite pubs between 10.30 and midnight to entertain and generally add to the festive mood. If this appeals to you and you would like to get involved with the Nativity please get in touch via the Mysteries website Ho Ho Ho!!! Source
Haverhill Town Pastors were praised for the good work they do by the town council, with the mayor saying he is ‘humbled’ by their deeds. Captain Andrew Payne, who coordinates the scheme which sees members of Haverhill and District Churches Together take to the town centre of Haverhill on Friday nights/Saturday mornings to comfort and assist people out in the town, spoke to Haverhill Town Council at Tuesday’s (24) meeting at the arts centre to update them on how the initiative is going as it approaches its third year. “The figures don’t really tell the story but do give a little idea of where we are,” said Capt Payne. “A lot of what we do is just being there at particular moments, and we have used first aid in several incidents recently.” The pastors deputy chairman Ian Levett then spoke about his experiences volunteering under the scheme, explaining an incident where first aid was given to a girl having an epileptic fit as they waited for a first responder to arrive. “Without the first aid training I wouldn’t have attempted what we did,” he said. “This young lady was on the bench and had six seizures – it was ten minutes before a first responder arrived and 45 minutes before an ambulance arrived. There were five of us there – the two pastors, the special constable, the police constable, and the first responder – and of those five four were volunteers, so it shows the voluntary sector that we have in Haverhill.” He also said how he helped a drunken 17 year old boy and avoided him getting a criminal record. Cllr Ernie Goody said: “Instances like this are why I’m happy to support you as we’ve all been 17 and done silly things so he must be grateful to avoid a criminal record for making a mistake on a night out on the lash.” Town mayor Roger André said: “I’m personally humbled by the service the town pastors give with a whole dedicated team behind them and they have to do a lot of training and take on responsibility, so thank you for your contribution to the town.” Capt Payne said the pastors may seek financial support from the town council before entering its third year next June. Following our unsuccessful Lottery funding bid the Trustees of CNI Network are inviting local projects, friends, churches and businesses to become more involved in financing our work. The need for a Network and people working on this full time has been evident over the last month and has:
Ideally we are looking for around £4000 per month which would enable Paul and Jean to both work full time on CNI Network and enable us to develop some of the new ideas such as the accredited training, Club Angels, support for delivering the alcohol and safety education resource, organising further conferences, expansion into Europe, purchasing flip-flops centrally, etc. Please can we ask you to prayerfully consider how you stand with CNI Network - for more information: Local Projects CNI Corporate Angel Double a tenner! We also have the opportunity to match fund donations of up to £10 made via LocalGiving on 15th October. This also applies for monthly donations of £10 for 6 months set up via the site. Information is here and the LocalGiving web site is here. Please would you consider making a donation via LocalGiving towards the work of CNI network on 15th October. Many thanks Trevor, Steve, Sara and Andy - trustees CNI Network It is great to hear from many of those at the conference as to how they are increasing the work they do within local communities. From setting up the YourNight app, highlighting the need for polycarbonate over glass within local meetings, inviting vicars to join patrols, looking at Wash My Pink Jumper, beginning to look at street grooming issues and offering the 'Who are the Street Angels?' comic at freshers week - the conference is making big impacts UK wide! You can read more about the weekend with links to the organisations who presented on this page. The 'Street Angels - the amazing story from binge to better' eBook is selling well on Kindle and as a PDF. This eBook tells the exciting and powerful story of Street Angels as it has grown and expanded across the UK and Europe as well as the Dundee Street Chaplains and Belfast NightLight stories who have run for 13 and 19 years respectively. See more and purchase the book here. Over the last four weeks we have received several requests for media coverage of our work, these include: Songs of Praise BBC1; BBC Radio Leeds; BBC Radio Oxford; BBC Oxford TV; BBC Breakfast; ITV's Daybreak; BBC Yorkshire regional show; TV Production company for BBC3; TV Production company for Channel 5; Russian One TV; BBC Look North; BBC Radio 5 Live; BBC Radio Tees; BBC Radio Lincolnshire; Belgium RTBF channel; dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur; as well as several local and regional newspapers. Please pray for those involved in this (projects and the production team) and for the good news of changed communities and people through our work to continually be broadcast. The "drunk tank" idea offered us much publicity and media interest and we will join in this debate where we can. CNI Network has begun to map the work and opportunities for night-time mission across Europe - you can see more here. There is also opportunity for Rachel Scott from The Living Room to share to groups of ages 20-30 about mission work with The Living Room in Tenerife - more information andfor details on how to book Rachel between October and March are here. "Who are the Street Angels?" is a fantastic comic book now available free for local projects thanks to sponsorship of the printing from UCB. Designed by Steve Beckett - designer with The Beano comic and volunteer with Street Angels in North East Lincolnshire - the comic is great for giving away on the streets, at talks, at fresher events, etc. Each local CNI project can have 50 comics free (postage £4.00 for the bundle of 50) - email Paul to receive yours. If churches or organisations in your area are organising a Christmas Fair why not consider booking a stall to promote the work of your local project and sell the 'dudes with wings' products as a way of raising money? The range includes greetings cards, mugs, magnets, keyrings and posters and are also ideal for leaving out on a table if you carry out a talk on the work of your project to local churches, ladies luncheon groups, Rotary, etc. Your project purchases the items for half the suggested selling price. More information on here. Club Angels is now going strong in Leeds and in Croydon - and we'd love to be part of helping you set this up in a town where you are! Have a look at www.sa-cni.org.uk/starting-club-angels and www.clubangels.org.uk to spark the ideas! Do get in touch, we'd love to come and run some training for you and then support each other as we continue this ministry. [email protected] . Can we encourage you to sign the ePetition campaigning to change the law and introduce PET bottles and polycarbonate glasses in night-time economy. This is organised by POP Campaign who spoke at the conference. You can sign the petition here - it only takes a couple of minutes! Welcome to Sleaford Street Source - the newest CNI Network linked project - hear the BBC Radio Lincolnshire interview here. From our Blog: Windsor Express spend night with Street Angels Bridlington Street Angels in Bridlington Free Press report It's the safest it's ever been in Hull city centre / Help keep drinkers safe in Hull Mission opportunities for 20-30's in Tenerife DrinkAware call for evidence on binge drinking Bridlington Street Angels Spotlight on Bournemouth's Night Life Street Angels inspiring story goes digital Police and Crime Commissioner praises Oldham Street Angels Exciting things in Majorca and Ibiza Soroptomists holding coffee mornings to help revellers who have over-indulged on booze Welcome to YourNight mobile app Wash My Pink Jumper, Witney and Stockton Town Pastors! Diary for October: Tuesday 1st - Paul is speaking at Goole Ladies Luncheon Club on work of CNI Network. Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th - CNI Network is partnering with Wash My Pink Jumper to run a stall at the Midlands Christian Resources Exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham - information here. We are stand E15 - if you would like free tickets please email Paul (before Wednesday 2nd please) Saturday 12th - National Day of Prayer Saints in the Stadium event, St Helen's Saints Stadium - 11am - 4pm. Tickets and information at www.saintsinthestadium.co.uk Tuesday 15th - Local Giving Double Your Tenner day - please consider making a one off or monthly donation of £10 towards CNI Network (the one off donation will become £20 and the monthly donation doubled for 6 months) Wednesday 16th - Co-ordinators of CNI Network linked projects in West Yorkshire meeting with the Police and Crime Commissioner. Saturday 19th - Paul and Jean are visiting York Street and Bus Angels. Wednesday 23rd - 7.15pm (for 7.30pm start) Cleveland CNI Network Celebration Evening at Stockton Baptist Tabernacle, the Square, Stockton TS18 1TE. This is organised by Cleveland's Chief Constable and Police and Crime Commissioner as a way for them to thank personally the volunteers working in the District and will also launch the working protocol between the Police and CNI Network projects. A free buffet will follow at 8.30pm. Saturday 26th - Dundee Street Chaplains sponsored cycle ride to raise money to buy a vehicle to help the vulnerable and those enjoying the city's nightlife have somewhere they can sit and receive help. Street Chaplain volunteers are cycling from Dundee to Arbroath (16 miles) - sponsor them on-line here. Saturday 26th - Soroptomist International of Bolton present "Music for an Autumn Evening" with the LadyBridge Singers to raise money for Bolton Street Angels. St Andrew's/St George's Church, St George's Road, Bolton, BL1 2BS, tickets £8.50 from 01204 843162. Updated events, media interviews, etc are posted on our Facebook and Twitter pages. #CNIPrayer for month: Belfast Odyssey NightLight / Leeds Club Angels / Bedford, The Fountain / Norfolk Street Partnership - Norwich / Woodbridge Town Pastors, East Anglia / Hillingdon, Uxbridge Street Angels / Slough Street Angels / Woking Street Angels - see this page for detailed prayer points. Please also pray for those groups looking at starting Street Angels type projects including Tamworth, Richmond, Malton, Guisborough, Cookstown and Omagh (Northern Ireland) and for Sleaford Street Source which launched in September. Also pray for Watford, Sowerby Bridge and Dundee looking at running Club Angels. #StreetAngels tagboard for the month @Duttyo - Brilliant to hear about the work Street Angels and Pastors are doing all over the country. #saferstreets #morefun @LdsStreetAngels - Meeting new freshers today. Let's get the new volunteers flocking in! pic.twitter.com/BkTKR8Wb6b @dekota89 - @YSJSU singing society ditch the purple for orange tonight with york street angels #ysjpride pic.twitter.com/wq0RB7ubUo Busy , Hartlepool Town Pastors some really good conversations ,picked up lots of glass,handed out plenty of lollipops,Flip Flops,Water. Got free flip flops from The Street Angels. #godbless #comfyfeet #felipefalop @Sloughfoodbank - Street Angels are Christian volunteers who help the police to aid these people at weekends n cost nothing but time n love I love the street angels of cambo town @PAPYRUS_tweets - Just finished training with Blackpools @BF_StreetAngels giving suicide prevention advice and information to #saveyounglives #workingtogether the street angels have come to my aid with flip flops and lollipops before I won't deny it! @soperify thanks for your support and the work of the @cninet, essential role helping us to reduce #alcoholharm. See you all tonight! This a powerful moving story which supports the reason we volunteer on our streets at night - don't binge drink! @chicityangels - Charlie Alpha (Our Van) is all fixed and raring to get out on the streets again this Friday and Saturday with the Angels #makingadifference @clubangelsleeds - Back again at @TigerLeeds @TigerTuesdays tomorrow! Excited to see you all there. Be prepared for some extreme #chathelplistencare-ing alcohol misuse costing nhs dearly. Social costs more than £20bn. That's £900 a year for every UK household The Hull Tribune Trust is awarding £2500 to the Trinity Street Angels who check people are ok when they go drinking in Hull City centre. @sanktuary - Our website has testimonials from some of our volunteers http://www.sanktuary.org.uk/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=8&Itemid=123 … and some of the people we've helped http://www.sanktuary.org.uk/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=7&Itemid=122 … @LdsStreetAngels - SA equipment stock check: XL latex gloves, lollipops, anti bacterial gel, water bottles, space blankets. Only on Street Angels! we now have 16 organisations who are preparing their data for entry onto http://www.yournight.mobi That's #streetpastors and #streetangels! @BF_StreetAngels - Great to see so many people at ROC restore conversation. Redeeming Our Community in Blackpool let's do it. #rocblackpool Lollys off the street angels ahhhh #yesss Going to bed at 6.15am after an awesome night with @clubangelscroy. Feels like I'm back at home in Ibz with @247Ibiza <3 street angels to the rescue!!! #mortal pic.twitter.com/cDJpIB8ts5 Street angel flip flops pic.twitter.com/FrLAnKfRZS Street angels and their flip flops. Absolute stars. Perfect hangover cure...I miss the @FestivalAngels :( actual angels #hangover #festival #angels pic.twitter.com/4iyC1COHIZ The street angels were my heros last night. Sandles for everyone! pic.twitter.com/BTvY178yZi Proper chuffed I got flip flops from the street angels last night street angels helped him out lol! His face was grazed and bleeding n I made him stay out saying he'd die if he went to sleep Highlight of today was defs the rs teacher telling us she'd gone to this year's Leeds fest to work in the prayer tent So far this yr @247Ibiza 710 people helped home 50 volunteers come & gone 4574 volunteer hrs in the workers centre & on the streets. #comeon @BurtonStAngels - Who you gonna call? Street angels! First call I the night from camera control. One boy on way home
'Fill The Earth' premièred at the CNI Conference by Dave and Mandy Scott-Morgan and written for Street Angels - CNI Network is now available on this Prezi presentation... Best viewed as a full screen, click the mouse cursor on the picture frame you wish to view and the arrow buttons to navigate through the pictures. Move the mouse to the right hand side of the screen to go to home screen. Source
Wrapped up warm in their blue coats with a mug of hot coffee, the Windsor Street Angels prepare for another night on the town. The group of five volunteers will be patrolling the streets until at least 3.30am, keeping a watchful eye over the night-time revellers. Janet Wingrove, team leader, and her team kindly invited me (Express reporter Philip Dewey) out on their town centre patrol on Friday as part of Alcohol Harm Week, an initiative run by Thames Valley Police. Meeting at Windsor Baptist Church in Victoria Street at 10pm, the Angels made their way out into the night, visiting William Street, Peascod Street, Goswell Hill, Windsor Royal Station and Bachelors Acre. This journey is repeated three or four times a night, concentrating on Goswell Hill and William Street in the early hours when the main nightclubs close. On their travels the Angels spoke to a number of doormen and clubbers while handing out water, lollipops, 'Spikey' bottle stoppers to prevent drink spiking, and flip flops to appreciative girls in six-inch heels. Janet, who has been with the Angels since they formed in February 2012, said: "Since I started I have seen everything, but it is so satisfying. "When you come home to bed in the early hours of the morning knowing that you have helped a 16-year-old girl who has been in a state, called her parents and got her home safe, you feel good about yourself." The Angels are in constant contact with police, doormen and a taxi marshal through a radio system which they can use to call for back-up or assistance. They are trained to deal with a number of situations using first aid, drugs and alcohol awareness, observational skills, CCTV and radio communication and conflict resolution. Speaking of some of her experiences on patrol, Janet said: "We found a lad slumped in a phone box near Windsor Central train station on a night when it was minus seven celsius. "He had hypothermia coming on so we took him back to the church, wrapped him up in a blanket and arranged for a taxi to take him to Slough station in the morning to get a train back to Portsmouth." "I don’t think he would have made the night if we hadn't found him." She added: "Another night, a girl was so drunk that she managed to break a wine bottle and then fell on the glass cutting herself, but it turned out she was a haemophiliac. "We managed to treat her at the scene and called for an ambulance, but I dread to think what would have happened had we not been there." PCSO David Bullock, who formed the group with Churches Together in Windsor, praised the work of the Angels. "They are invaluable to the community and the group has gone from strength to strength," he said. "The town really couldn’t do without them because they provide such a valuable service." 'Fill The Earth' premièred at the CNI Conference by Dave and Mandy Scott-Morgan and written for Street Angels - CNI Network is now available on this Prezi presentation... Best viewed as a full screen, click the mouse cursor on the picture frame you wish to view and the arrow buttons to navigate through the pictures. Move the mouse to the right hand side of the screen to go to home screen. Street Angels Bridlington are featured in a Bridlington Free Press Special Report: Crime in Bridlington.
Download the PDF of the article - Street Angels piece below: Street Angels are also out helping Another group trying to deal with the busy weekend drinking sessions are the Bridlington Street Angels. Speaking to the Free Press on Saturday night, the group explain how they provide non threatening, non judgemental help to the town’s revellers. Formed earlier this summer, the Street Angels pick up broken glasses and bottles, offer water, flip-flops to girls with aching feet and a sympathetic ear. Peter Wilson, of the Street Angels, said: “Tonight has been fairly standard. We try and talk to people, and the response we get is almost entirely positive. “I think people realise that we are out volunteering and we are genuinely just trying to help. We try and talk to people who are having a bad time, we have dealt with those who have had their head bashed and need an ambulance, those who have had their drink spiked. Anyone.” The Street Angels will be training new recruits in October/November, with anyone interested in helping urged to visitwww.bridlingtonstreetangels.co.uk Sgt Mark Shingles, licensing officer for the East Riding, welcomes their support. He said: “Anyone is a help. I think it is unfortunate that we have to rely on volunteers to clear up in the town after people who have had too much to drink. It is a sad indictment. “But I cannot praise them enough. I think people realise that they are not in [police]* uniform, they are not us, and that makes it easier for them to provide welfare and support.” Humberside Inspector David Braysmith, lead on licensing and reducing alcohol related violence within the East Riding said, “The East Riding remains one of the safest places in the UK to live, work and visit, but we have to be conscious that alcohol crime and disorder is a national problem in all areas including ours, which we need to tackle.” Source
VOLUNTEERS are needed to help people who may be too drunk and have become vulnerable in the centre of Hull. Hull Street Angels Trinity has launched a recruitment drive to find people willing to patrol the Old and New Town areas of Hull. Operating from Holy Trinity Church, the volunteers walk the streets in twos and threes on Friday and Saturday nights and are on hand to offer practical help and support. They are armed with two-way radios, first-aid kits, bottles of water and flip-flops for women feeling a bit footsore in high heels. The service is funded by the NHS, Humberside Police and Hull City Council. Among the volunteers patrolling the streets on Friday night was 25-year-old Luke Cardwell. The team leader said: "I know from previous experience how many people find themselves as vulnerable. "They might not see themselves as vulnerable if intoxicated. "I know plenty of people who have got into situations. Sometimes, it can be as simple as calling a taxi or calming an individual down, or maybe even simple first aid." There are currently eight active volunteers. Mr Cardwell said: "We help girls in high heels, struggling to walk – we give them flip-flops. "We also help carry out first aid and support the homeless – giving them food parcels, a drink, a blanket or just talking to them. "An extreme case of helping someone was when a guy fell into the river near Hull College. A taxi driver flagged down a volunteer who radioed it over to the police. "The rescue wouldn't have happened as quickly had it not been for the Street Angels." For more information, visit www.hullstreetangelstrinity.org.uk or call Karen Thompson on 07580 032779. Source
BRAWLS in the streets, vomit on the pavement, and the odd drinker choosing to urinate in a doorway – all common sights in any city centre on a weekend night out. But these problems are becoming a thing of the past in Hull city centre, with alcohol-related violence continuing to reduce and police claiming the area is the safest it has even been. Just two years ago, Judge Jeremy Richardson QC criticised the "gratuitous violence" that plagues innocent people trying to enjoy a night out in Hull. Police Sergeant Ian Goode, of the public order and licensing department, strongly disagrees and says the police are winning the battle against the drunks. "I remember the story and totally disagreeing with it," he said. "At the time of his comments, we had decreased violent crime and disorder by 26 per cent compared with the previous year. "The judge was misguided in what he said. The case he heard was alcohol-related but the general picture is that we've been getting better. "I've been with the police here for 23 years and it's the safest it's ever been in Hull city centre. "There are problems with alcohol, there will always be problems with alcohol but, at the minute, Hull is a safe and vibrant place to visit. "We've got to understand there is less money out there, so not as many people are going out in Hull city centre. "But, most importantly, instead of everyone pulling in different directions, we work under the same banner – bar staff, operators, door staff, CCTV, street marshals, street angels, NHS and drug dependency agency working together to address the problems." The Mail was invited to join Humberside Police to see the problems faced by officers on the other side of the bar on Friday and Saturday evenings. Alcohol-related crimes can make up as much as 50 per cent of all crimes, according to Sgt Goode, and proves a big strain on police and NHS resources. "Without a doubt, drunken behaviour is a drain on resources," he said. "When people drink irresponsibly, somebody has to pick up the pieces and, generally, it is the police and the NHS. "Without a doubt, the way drinking has evolved in the last ten to 15 years has put a massive strain, not just on policing but the health service and the country in general. "No longer do people go out at 7pm at night and steadily have a few drinks and finish at 11pm. "Now, because of the cheaper pricing of alcohol unit, they will pre-load at home, drink far too much and then they'll drop into town when they are already drunk." At the police station, behind Sgt Goode, is a wall planner that has notes of all the events taking place in Hull city centre, along with several green and red dots. "The green dots are on pay days and the red dots are full moons," he said. "From my experience, when I worked in custody when a full moon is out, it does affect some people's behaviour." Sgt Goode talks passionately about the successful campaigns and the need to keep the foot on the gas in the battle against drunks looking to cause trouble in the city centre. Anyone drunk entering the city will be sent home and more than 115 city centre banning orders have been handed to troublemakers – more than any other city in the country. Last weekend there were also dogs brought in to sniff out drugs. Underage children were also sent out to bars as part of a test purchase operation. And these are just a few of the campaigns under way. But a major part of the battle is to also help the offenders change their ways and address their problems. "People know we take a zero- tolerance approach to alcohol- related crime and disorder in the city centre," he said. "There is no second chance. If someone comes out at 8.30pm and they're drunk and they're playing up, there are two ways that it is going to go. "They're the same person that, at 11.30pm, is either going to be picking on someone for a fight or they are so far drunk they're going to become a victim. "I think the major weapon that we have at the minute is the Section 27 notice from the Violent Crime Reduction Act that allows us to get to people early and prevent problems as soon as they start or if we think they are going to start. "We can use that power to get people out of the city centre." Anyone receiving the notice is given a red card and banned from the city centre for up to 48 hours. "Slowly but surely, the public of Hull know they can't come into the city and act like they did in the late 1980s and early 1990s," he said. "Overall, people are better behaved. "I go from old police officer stories who say it was a wild west town in the late 1980s. "Even when I joined in 1991, when the pubs shut at 11pm, at 10.30pm, we put all the patrols at the bus stop for the last bus because all hell used to break out." The partnership approach is evident on Friday evening, with two licensing enforcement officers from Hull City Council working with the police, checking taxis and people coming into the city centre. Within minutes of patrolling the city centre, one taxi driver is pulled over and his work is suspended for the weekend because he has two bald tyres. Despite his early finish, the taxi driver welcomes the police checks. He said: "I've been driving in Hull city centre for four years and I welcome these checks on taxis and the work of the police. Hull is safer. "I'm glad they've picked up on the tyres for my safety. I am surprised, though, as I'm always checking." He is one of 40 taxis stopped over the weekend. Twenty are found to have vehicle defects – with problems such as headlights out or brake lights out. Two have their weekend work suspended because of bald tyres. Taxi drivers are also given a special mobile phone number for the police on a Friday and Saturday night to report bogus taxis, fights and any crimes. Even revellers in the new town area of Hull are quick to praise the police's work. Katie Sansan, 21, of Anlaby Road, says she has noticed a difference and feels safer. "There are not as many fights around Hull city centre on a Friday and Saturday evening," she said. "I do see lots of police around and it does make me feel safer." The police do not rest on their laurels and are constantly looking for new ideas to keep visitors to the city centre safe and troublemakers out. "We're always trying new ideas," said Sgt Goode. "One we are looking at, at the minute is school-leavers. Each June and July, we get a new generation of school-leavers who think that just because they've left school they can come into town after drinking at home and go straight into clubs. "We are looking at how we can address that and let them know how they're lives can be affected. "We are always looking ahead of the game. As soon as you stop, you start losing." |
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ROC Angels - an initiative of ROC (Redeeming Our Communities)
Charity - 1139817 / Registered Company - 7327258 Postal Address: ROC Angels, c/o The King's Centre, Park Rd, Halifax, HX1 2TS E-Mail: [email protected] (founder / CEO) / Phone: 07725501465 |