Corby Old Village pubs promise punters a safer night

The Safer Night initiative brings together Corby council’s Safer Corby Team, Corby Pubwatch and the Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) in a bid to reduce alcohol-related crime and disorder in the Corby Old Village.

PC Chris Vickers of the Corby Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "Corby NPT have been working closely with our partners for a number of years.

"This project culminates our goal for a safer night out in Corby, particularly over the festive period. These initiatives will promote protecting people from harm and having the confidence to report any issues."

The Safer Night scheme will provide pub goers with information on how to keep themselves safe and reduce the risk of being victim of crime or anti-social behaviour.

Suzanne Preston, Corby Council’s Safer Corby Partnerships Officer, said: “This project has materialised as a result of some great partnership working between Corby Council, licensed premises, Pubwatch, the Old Village community and the policing team.

"Anything that helps to ensure both residents and visitors to Corby have a safe night out is extremely positive.”

The project was developed in response to community concerns around the amount of anti-social behaviour affecting residents living in the Corby Old Village area.

Customers will be given a safety goodie bag, while licensed premises across Corby borough will receive new beer mats and bar runners promoting the Ask for Angela initiative.

The Ask for Angela campaign was created by to reduce incidents of violence and sexual assault in either bars or on nights out - customers use the coded phrase, to ask a member of staff for assistance to get out of a difficult situation where they may feel threatened or unsafe.

Corby Pubwatch was successful in obtaining funding from the Police Fire and Crime Commissioner Office.

Mick Willey, Pubwatch chairman, said: “With the funding we have been awarded from the Safer Northamptonshire Fund we will, through prevention, caring, informing and education, hopefully reduce the chance of people becoming vulnerable, or recognise those that are vulnerable and assist them at the time, or in some cases point them in a direction where they can seek help.”