Safety measures rolled out to licensed premises

Published Thursday, 9th March 2023

Safety measures are being rolled out to licensed premises in Hartlepool as part of a drive to make the town centre even safer for visitors and employees.

The multi-agency Hartlepool Community Safety Team is distributing a number of items, including anti-spiking bottle stoppers and glass covers, drink spiking testing kits, hand-held metal detector wands and first aid kits, to 39 bars and pubs.

The premises have also been provided with posters promoting the national “Ask for Angela” where anyone feeling unsafe in a licensed premises can discreetly approach venue staff and seek help by asking to speak to “Angela”.

The safety initiative follows a successful bid for almost £41,000 of one-off grant funding to the Cleveland Unit for the Reduction of Violence (CURV).

The Hartlepool Community Safety Team which comprises staff from Hartlepool Borough Council, Cleveland Police and Cleveland Fire Brigade, is working closely with the Office of Cleveland’s Police and Crime Commissioner, the Hartlepool Licensees Association and the Hartlepool Town Pastors, a charity run by volunteers which operates weekend evening and night-time patrols to ensure revellers get home safely.

Photo caption: (left-right): Supt Martin Hopps; Sylvia Pinkney, Hartlepool Borough Council Assistant Director (Regulatory Services); Terry Hegarty from Hartlepool Street Pastors; Darab Rezai, Chair of Hartlepool Licensees Association; Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Steve Turner and Nicholas Stone, Hartlepool Borough Council Neighbourhood Safety Team Leader; with some of the items purchased with the CURV funding.

Councillor Shane Moore, Chair of the Safer Hartlepool Partnership and Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, said: “Fortunately, we don’t have a major problem with crime in the night-time economy in Hartlepool and this is all about proactively taking action to ensure that continues to be the case.

“We were delighted to get the funding from CURV and it is great to see the practical safety measures that the money is funding now being rolled out.”

Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Steve Turner said: “The very aim of CURV is to prevent crime before it occurs, by implementing interventions and safety measures to reduce the risk of criminal behaviour.

“Hartlepool has a great night-time economy and it’s important that it remains that way. I’m delighted to see the range of measures being put in place by Hartlepool Community Safety Team to ensure everyone can enjoy a safe night out.”  

Superintendent Martin Hopps, District Commander for Hartlepool, said: “These additional measures will complement the huge amount of work already undertaken to ensure the safety of those enjoying the nightlife of Hartlepool Town Centre.  In addition to these proactive measures, Cleveland Police officers will be conducting additional high visibility patrols as part of our campaign to tackle violence against women and girls, and I would encourage any members of the public to interact with those officers regarding any concerns they may have.

“We are determined to create a positive environment where everyone is treated with respect and is able to have a good night out free from harassment and violence.”

The current safety campaign is one of a number planned for 2023, all of which will focus on the Hartlepool town centre night-time economy.