Plans revealed to make nights out in Southampton safer

Funding secured from the Home Office Safer Streets 4 project will help tackle neighbourhood crime, anti-social behaviour, and violence against women and girls.

A key aspect of the plans is making nights out safer.

This includes continuing to fund security guards to support the police, increasing security presence, having an extra CCTV operator on duty at weekends, and more.

This comes after two security guards were introduced to patrol the city centre during dark hours earlier this year as part of additional safety measures.

'Determined to make it a safe place'

Councillor Matt Renyard, cabinet member for a Safer City said: “With these additional measures, we hope that new and returning students, residents, and those from further afield who come into our city at night to enjoy the varied and vibrant nightlife that Southampton has to offer, will feel safer while doing so.

Photo by Ryan Stanikk (Image: Ryan Stanikk)

“Survey data has told us that women particularly enjoying a night out can feel vulnerable and having professional people on hand to assist when things don’t quite go to plan is an important part of what we provide as a city.

READ MORE: Extra security guards brought in to patrol Southampton after dark

“Southampton is a great place to visit, and we are determined to also make it a safe place.”

The council works in conjunction with the city’s two universities, the city’s BID (GO! Southampton) and Southampton Street Pastors to ensure the city is safe.

The 140 volunteers from the Street Pastors have “been a constant” in Southampton’s night-time economy for the last 13 years, and that’s not going to change.

Mike Sarson from the organisation said: “Our volunteers are passionate about people and keeping them safe.

“Our uniformed and trained patrols are out until at least 4am every Friday and Saturday night and we have dealt with thousands of people who are in need of help, from intoxication, mental health, fear of assault through to suicidal thoughts.

“We will always stay with a person whilst they are vulnerable until the situation is resolved and they are safe.”

The full list of measures:

• Equipping entertainment venues with relevant training and toolkits to spot vulnerability, target perpetrators and prevent harassment.
• Continuing to fund security staff from GO! Southampton to carry out additional patrols to support the police
• Increasing security presence through Safe and Well Monitors (female security staff who will specifically help women who may have become separated from friends or who may be otherwise vulnerable) and Southampton Street Pastors
• Providing a regular ‘Safe Zone’ from St John Ambulance to support those who may be vulnerable on a night out or in need of minor medical treatment, reducing demand on the NHS
• Having an extra CCTV operator on duty at weekends to spot suspicious, predatory behaviour.

'Safe Zones' help all

Additional safety and support is also available from St John Ambulance which provides a ‘Pop Up Safe Zone’.

This safe zone offers a safe space and first aid in the city centre.

READ NEXT: Two women 'sexually assaulted by man asking for directions' near park

Thanks to the Safer Streets funding, this will return for a further 60 weekend nights opposite the Cenotaph between September 2022 and September 2023.

Last year alone 90 clinical cases were treated at the zone, of which 55 incidents would have otherwise needed an ambulance to be called.

This in turn reduced pressure on the ambulance service.

A spokesperson said: “University is often the first time most people have lived away from home and can often be the first time many have gone out too.

“We want everyone to have an amazing time but to look out for one another. Friends are really important.”

'A wraparound approach'

Speaking on the additional funding, police and crime commissioner Donna Jones said: "Issues such as anti-social behaviour, violence against women and girls and feelings of safety cannot be resolved by police alone, they require cross-sector partnership working involving a number of different agencies. 

PCC Donna Jones (Image: Supplied)

“The initiatives in Southampton aim to provide a wraparound approach to these issues to make sure those who need help, assistance or protection on a night out have access to it.

READ MORE: 'Not enough' police to tackle violence against women, says commissioner

“The implementation of ‘Safe Zones,’ more female security staff, extra CCTV and targeted police patrols wouldn’t be enough on their own but working together they can make Southampton safer.”

A history of concern

Earlier this year the Echo reported on women in the city carrying weapons because they do not feel safe.

In a special report, we spoke to a number of women who called for more police on the streets.

Rape alarm and knuckleduster (Image: Shivalika Puri, Newsquest)

Speaking at the time, Bitterne resident Eva Paldamova said: “I carry my keys in between my fingers like a weapon, and a year ago I started carrying ultraviolet pepper spray.

READ MORE: Women are arming themselves with weapons in fear of sexual assault

"Sometimes I’ll be in situations where I forget them and I have to walk home without them, and it just doesn’t feel safe."

A few months later, a spiking victim called for an end to "lad culture" and more "emphasis on the perpetrators."

Emily Seymour-Dale told the Echo: "My case was severe enough to warrant a hospital visit.

"I believe a shift in focus from victims to perpetrators is what will eventually reduce the rates of spiking."

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