Crackdown on festive night-time violence
A CAMPAIGN will be launched on Friday December 19 to tackle violent crime in the county, with an emphasis on night-time alcohol-related violence.
The Wiltshire Community Safety Partnership Christmas campaign ‘Who’s Taking You Home Tonight?’ involves staff from the County Council, Ambulance Service and Police, working together to reduce violent crime specifically within the night-time economy.
Although Wiltshire is one of the safest counties to live and work in, the Wiltshire Community Safety Partnership is committed to reducing violence and making our communities safer.
Within Wiltshire, violent crime accounts for approximately one-fifth of all crime and while the trend across the county shows a reduction it is still recognised that continued pro-active steps need to be taken to help tackle this form of crime.
Alcohol and violent crime are perceived to be inextricably linked and alcohol is identified as an aggravating factor in a considerable number of offences.
Tackling violent crime and most serious violence are priorities identified by the Government.
This has been expressed to local Partnerships and the public through the Government's three-year action plan called Saving Lives, Reducing Harm, Protecting the Public.
The partnership will address the causes of violence and provide services for victims through targeted interventions over the Christmas and New Year period, which is mid December until early January.
Hot spot locations for violent crime in Chippenham, Trowbridge and Salisbury will be targeted with the following:
- A ‘Who’s taking you home tonight’ poster campaign in licensed premises to identify the risks of binge drinking and raise awareness of all those involved, including revellers, licensees and door supervisors;
- Expansion of the taxi marshalling scheme from Chippenham to include both Salisbury and Trowbridge, as it is acknowledged that the sudden increase in numbers of people on the streets at closing times increases demand for public transport and taxis; and
- Joint patrols of Police and Emergency Care Practitioners (ECP)/paramedics to provide street triage to deal with minor injuries and prompt support for victims, as well as police visibility in hot spot areas at key times to prevent and reduce crime and disorder.
Chief Superintendent Julian Kirby, Chair of the Wiltshire Community Safety Partnership Executive, said: “At what should be a happy and enjoyable time of the year it is a great shame that many people come into contact with the public services as a consequence of alcohol-fuelled violence.
"The partnership will be putting a great deal of effort into ensuring our communities are safe and feel safe whilst out and about enjoying themselves this Christmas.
"Our message is that we want people to enjoy the festive period, but to think really hard about the consequences of drinking to excess."
To review the effectiveness of the taxi marshal scheme a voting button has been placed on both the Police website, www.wiltshire.police.uk, and the County Council website, www.wiltshire.gov.uk.
This will allow people to provide a small amount of feedback about their experiences of taxi marshals.
A text number will also be promoted to which people can text whether they feel the taxi marshal service was good or not so good.
To assist with publication of the text number a number of small stickers giving the text number will be provided to taxi drivers who can use them on the inside of their passenger side windows for the duration of the campaign.
The text number is 81400 and people are asked to text TAXI GOOD or TAXI NOT GOOD to the number to register their experience.