Specialist teams of police officers and staff are taking to the streets to help reduce harm and keep people safe in Nottingham’s vibrant night-time economy.
Nottinghamshire Police launched Operation Luminary earlier this month as the festive season approaches.
Officers and staff from teams including crime prevention, offender management, children in care, substance misuse, and licensing will be engaging with members of the public and businesses on Friday evenings between October and December.
They will be speaking with people about drug and alcohol harm reduction, one-punch assaults, our winter drink-drive campaign, and violence against women and girls in Nottingham city centre, Mansfield, Newark, West Bridgford, and Worksop.
This is in addition to regular uniformed high-visibility and plain-clothes patrols conducted by neighbourhood and response officers across the county, who are available to respond to emergency calls.
Operation Luminary aims to help ensure that everyone enjoying a night out is kept safe and that further support is available to more vulnerable groups.
The operation launched with two teams on 10 October, which involved foot patrols in the predominantly student area around Derby Road and Lenton Boulevard.
Officers and university staff knocked on doors and spoke with 89 households of both students and permanent residents about personal safety and how to enhance home security to deter being targeted by criminals.
This included straightforward tips such as ensuring doors and windows are securely locked and removing valuables from view.
A second team was stationed outside the Motorpoint Arena and National Ice Centre to engage with visitors and young people in the area about their concerns and provide appropriate advice and support.
Officers from the force’s offender management team, who are specially trained to identify the signs that someone has criminal intentions, will be conducting plain-clothes patrols to ensure known offenders are adhering to any conditions, such as area restrictions or a curfew.
Licensing teams will also be making spot checks to pubs, clubs, bars, and restaurants during the winter period to ensure venues are following the licensing objectives – ensuring public safety, preventing crime and disorder, preventing public nuisance, and protecting children from harm.
Operation Cognition, the force’s dedicated work to increase awareness of and tackle the harms caused by consuming alcohol and cocaine together, will continue to run alongside this new initiative.
The force’s children in care and youth justice team will also be safeguarding vulnerable boys and girls who may require more specialist support and, where appropriate, ensuring they are returned home safely.
Sergeant Josh Lee-Taylor, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Nottinghamshire has a vibrant night-time economy and Nottingham is a destination city.
“Whether people are visiting the theatre, popping out for drinks at a bar, or taking advantage of the city’s hospitality, we want everyone to feel safe and able to enjoy themselves.
“Operation Luminary embeds preventative policing at the heart of our approach to ensure there are fewer victims, fewer offences, and a reduced demand on policing.
“While this can include reuniting friends who have become separated on a night out or ensuring people have a suitable way of getting home, it also goes further to support individuals who may go unseen amongst the bustle of our night-time economy.
“There are groups of vulnerable individuals who are at a greater risk of harm and exploitation, and our specialist teams are trained to utilise a variety of tactics to prevent offending and protect the most at risk by providing appropriate help and referrals to support services.”
