Operation Safe Nights bring together officers from Westminster City Council, the Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police who work with licensed premises to give those visiting the West End advice on how to enjoy a safe night out, how to get home safely and to also intervene with any problems.
Safe Nights occur on designated weekend nights in Leicester Square and the immediate surrounding area. Large numbers of additional police officers flood the area, specifically targeting alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour.
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Additional Home Office funding has been secured for Safe Nights in 2010.
Additional Safe Nights have been confirmed throughout the four weeks of the 2010 FIFA World Cup to ensure that the area remains safe and welcoming.
The dates of these Safe Nights are:
- Friday 18th - Saturday 19th June
- Friday 25th - Saturday 26th June
- Friday 2nd - Saturday 3rd July
- Friday 9th - Saturday 10th July
The West End and China Town Safer Neighbourhood Team will be conducting a number of street briefings for Door Supervisors on the evenings when Safe Night Operations are taking place.
The street briefings will be held on the North Terrace of Leicester Square on the dates and times shown below.
- 18th June - 7.30pm to 7.45pm
- 19th June - 9.30pm to 9.45pm
- 25th June - 9.30pm to 9.45pm
- 26th June - 7.30pm to 7.45pm
- 2nd July - 7.30pm to 7.45pm
- 3rd July - 3pm to 3.15pm
- 9th July - 9.30pm to 9.45pm
- 10th July - 9.30pm to 9.45pm
The purpose of the briefings is to update your staff on any current information that may affect their duties that night.
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Four Home Office-funded Safe Night operations were held in Leicester Square by the West End & Chinatown Safer Neighbourhood team during the quarter October-December 2009. During these high-visibility operations, the following positive results were achieved:
- 241 Officers were deployed
- Crime prevention messages were displayed on a Digital Media Van
- 640 people had alcohol seized
- 48 people were arrested for offences including Drunk and Disorderly
- 448 people were stopped
- 26 illegal street traders were prosecuted
- 60 Anti-Social Dispersal Orders were issued*
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We welcome any feedback you have regarding Safe Nights.
Please contact our Operations Manager, Dave Fereday on 020 7839 3409 or email david.fereday@heartoflondonbid.co.uk
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* Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 - The Camden & Westminster Group Dispersal Zone was granted a six-month renewal effective from 17th July 2010. Key areas have been highlighted where anti-social behaviour is a significant and persistent problem. Heart of London Business Alliance supported the application to encourage our area to be classified as one of these areas, which was successful. Uniformed constables and Police Community Officers have the power to disperse groups where an officer has reasonable grounds for believing that their presence or behaviour has resulted, or is likely to result, in a member of the public from being harassed intimidated, alarmed or distressed. Individuals can be directed to leave the locality and may be excluded from the area for up to 24 hours.
Click here to download further information on the current Group Dispersal Zone (443.95KB)