Wolverhampton Keep It Safe Campaign –

A step towards a safer night-time economy

Ros Jervis Jayne Freeman-Evans

Consultant in Public Health Principal EHO

Wolverhampton City PCT Wolverhampton City Council

18th September 2009

Keep It Safe - Background• PCT Board approved funding October 2008

• Multi-agency project

• The ‘Keep It Safe’ Partnership established:– reduction in the number of alcohol-fuelled violent assaults– reduction in the number of alcohol-related ambulance call-outs– reduction in the number of alcohol-related A&E attendances

• Outcome measures and evaluation

• Four weeks of intense activity

• ‘Keep It Safe’ launched on 5 December 2008

Keep It Safe – Campaign Initiatives

Phase 1: 5 Dec to 3 Jan

• Marketing campaign inc. DVD production and distribution of merchandise

• Increased police presence• Safe Havens/Street

Pastors• Temporary medical centre

and roving ambulance• Multi-agency enforcement

team• Domestic Violence

Enforcement Campaign (DVEC) team

Phase 2: 9 Jan to 21 March

• Distribution of Keep It Safe merchandise

• Increased police presence

• Enforcement activity for licensed businesses

• DVEC teams and Crisis Intervention Service

• Trading standards under-age/proxy sales research project

• Evaluation

Keep It Safe Images

Keep It Safe – Marketing Campaign

• Communications led by WCC• Washroom posters• Beer mats• Freebies - survival kits/key rings/flip-flops/

spikeys• Press statements/media enquiries• Briefings • Stills• DVD

Poster

Artwork

Beer mat Artwork

Keep It Safe – Key Findings

Phase 1: 5 Dec to 3 Jan

• 37% drop in violent crime across the City (41% G1; 35% G2)

• A&E – dropped by 7.4%, and 36% on New Years Eve

• Ambulance call-outs fell by 13.6% and by 28% on New Years Eve

Phase 2: 9 Jan to 21 March

• 12% reduction in violent crime

• 8.5% fall in A&E attendance

• 5% increase in ambulance call-out

Keep It Safe - Highlights• The bringing together of partner agencies in a co-ordinated approach; now

considered sustainable• Communication between partners was well co-ordinated • Businesses and licensed premises were engaged and overall very positive• Night time multi-agency visits enabled appropriate follow up and

enforcement action – and continuing…….. • High visibility police especially at fixed security points deterred criminal

activity and promoted public reassurance • The merchandise was well received• Within budget – estimated savings greater• Shortlisted for prestigious CMO Public Health award

Keep It Safe - Enforcement

• Development of a multi agency inspection team• Carried out ‘mini’ inspections and a licence information gathering

exercise• Use of check sheets very worthwhile• Trade welcomed visits and the presence of more enforcement

officers within the city• Increased Responsible Authorities officers knowledge of licensing

legislation• Gave Responsible Authorities opportunity to do inspections of

licensed premises trading in the early hours of the morning• Able to direct covert surveillance into most problematic areas • As well as enforcement issues officers became multi operational

including assisting at the safe haven, undertaking customer survey

Keep It Safe - Enforcement

• Action taken since December• One PLH was prosecuted for trading after

permitted hours• Police used expedited review procedures and

closure powers under the Licensing Act• 10 Premises Licence Reviews have been

applied for and heard by the Licensing Sub-Committee

• Multi agency enforcement work is ongoing and a memorandum of understanding between Responsible Authorities has been developed

Keep It Safe - Enforcement

Lessons learnt

Develop an enforcement outcome plan at the planning stage – we were a little to eager in taking action without informing relevant people as to what we were trying to achieve

Think carefully what you want to achieve, don’t presume all have the same ideas as you, especially Members and solicitors!!

Keeping Wolverhampton Safer?

• Evaluation report shared with partner agencies particularly the lessons learned

• Successful bid for SWP funding (£75,000) for 2009/2010

• Planning meetings now underway for Keep It Safe II

• Share experience and learning regionally and nationally

Please see www.wolvespct.nhs.uk