By Hayley Crawford
New Plans to Revitalise Britain’s High Streets
Andy Burnham’s announcements for initiatives to ‘save Britain’s High Street’ are coming in thick and fast this week.
Having worked as a police inspector and in community safety teams, I applaud his efforts to give local authorities more powers to crack down on illegal activity in our town and cities. We know that councils have very few sanctions against traders who use barbershops, vape shops and even sweet shops as a legitimate front to trade in illegal goods. Counterfeit and illegal products are linked to other forms of crime including human trafficking, exploitation, drugs and money laundering. No one wants this in our communities and it’s right that more of these shops should be closed down.
Does a Busier Night-Time Economy Mean a Safer One?
Andy Burnham also wants to bring more people into town centres later into the night to support bars and pubs – thousands of which have closed over the last decade. Part of the argument is that with more people in town centres late at night, these areas will be safer.
But I disagree with our Prime Minister on this point. Simply making places busier does not make them safer.
There are multiple reasons why many bars and clubs are struggling to attract and keep their patrons. Undoubtedly the economic climate has not helped, but also the world has moved on. Particularly for women.
Safety Is Changing the Way People Socialise
We still live in a country where around 800,000 women are sexually assaulted every year. And women are increasingly rejecting the ‘big night out’ where they don’t feel safe.
There’s been much commentary about new trends, especially for younger people in how they use their leisure time. Whether that’s dry clubs and alcohol free bars or the rise of craft and activity clubs, reading groups and the well-being economy. More and more, young people would rather go to the gym or a yoga class, learn something new or meet in a café than spend the night in a dingy club.
People still want to go to city centres and enjoy a night out- with or without alcohol. They’re happy to pay for a great experience when it comes to music, entertainment, food and drink. But they also want safe, well-managed spaces. And we now see a real rejection of average nights out with poor customer service and unsafe venues.
Amazingly, research by consultants NTES shows that spend by consumers in the nighttime cultural economy is actually growing. It hasn’t depleted. It’s shifted.
And I believe safety issues are at the heart of these changing habits.
Ask For Angela and Safer Nights Out
Ten years ago, I founded Ask for Angela- the safety scheme that anyone can use. Venues that support and promote the initiative make it clear they prioritise safety of their customers. If someone asks staff for ‘Angela’ they know it’s a code word and that person needs help getting out of a difficult situation. The fact so many places around the world now use the scheme shows how much it was needed in 2016. And how much it still is.
Safer High Streets Need More Than Bigger Crowds
There’s much to welcome when it comes to efforts to make our High Streets vibrant and welcoming places. But venues have to prioritise safety if we want to achieve this. And businesses that have already recognised this, are thriving.