New students arriving in Nottingham this September are being warmly welcomed by police, with officers on hand to provide safety advice and crime prevention tips.
With the city’s annual Freshers events occurring through September, officers will be on hand at various locations in the city to meet and engage with Nottingham’s newest residents.
Ahead of their arrival, Nottingham’s Night Time Economy Safety Group – comprising Nottinghamshire Police, the city’s two universities and student unions, Pub Watch, Nottingham City Council and Nottingham Business Improvement District (BID) – has also met to discuss and implement a range of initiatives designed to ensure the safety of students.
They include:
- Increased patrols during the night-time economy and transport network;
- Continuation of the Safety of Women at Night (SWAN) project, including designated safe spaces;
- Deployment of Operation Guardian – uniformed and plain-clothed officers undertaking regular proactive searches for drug dealers and knife-carriers.
Chief Inspector Amy English, who chairs Nottingham’s Night Time Economy Safety Group, said: “We are delighted to welcome both new and returning students to the city. Our officers will be on hand throughout September and the new academic year and we encourage students to say hello.
“We know new and returning students will be desperate to get out and take full advantage of Freshers Week. For many, this will be the first time they have lived away from home and we want to make sure that they enjoy the best of what our area has to offer, while staying safe and drinking responsibly.
“We would ask that when you are out, make sure you stay with friends and look out for each other. If you think someone has had too much to drink, please look after them and help them get home. If you feel like you need to go home, ask a friend to go with you.
“Make sure you always have your keys, money, phone and a plan to get home. That way, you can enjoy the best nightlife we have to offer without encountering any problems.
“Nottingham is a safe place to live and socialise, but we would always ask students to remain vigilant. We ask people to report any suspicious behaviour to us directly, or door and venue staff to ensure we can act upon it.”
Managing the night-time economy involves a huge amount of planning and Nottinghamshire Police works in partnership with many organisations including Pub Watch, Nottingham City Council, Nottingham BID, East Midlands Ambulance Service, the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University to keep people safe.
Police also work with door staff, pub managers, street pastors and community protection officers employed by the council.
With this partnership approach, Nottingham has been internationally recognised as a safe place to socialise by the Purple Flag accreditation scheme, which recognises excellence in the management of a safe town or city centre.
