People on their Christmas parties or out for festive drinks in Wellingborough are being urged to think ‘safety’ as part of a town-wide campaign.
The Stay SAFE initiative has been launched in partnership with the Wellingborough Business Improvement District (BID) and Sanjai Tailor, who runs three busy venues in the town centre.
Together Wellingborough Council, Northants Police, the Wellingborough Taxi Association and the town’s Community Safety Partnership are calling on festive revellers to ensure they drink within their limits and stay together throughout the night.
A warning about only using licensed taxi cabs has also been issued, along with reminding people there are door supervisors, police and street pastors present at weekends should they need further assistance.
Mr Tailor, who owns Raff’s Bar, Temple and The Kingfisher, said: “The communication and commitment to keep the night time economy safe is ongoing and this campaign demonstrates how we can further promote that to the people who drink within the town.
“We take the safety of our customers extremely seriously and we want to remind people that we want everyone to have a good time, but it’s important they take care of themselves when out.”
Posters promoting the campaign will be distributed to venues within the town and taxi drivers will receive pocket-sized cards to keep within their vehicles.
John Cable, manager of the BID, said: “Wellingborough has a thriving nightlife, which is why it gets so busy at the weekends, particularly at this time of the year, but we want to make sure everyone has a good time and stays safe.
“Although we have put as many measures in place to protect party goers, we want to remind everyone that they have an individual responsibility to look after themselves and their friends.”
The BID is paid for by businesses and through its Discover Wellingborough campaign stages events and activities aimed at encouraging people into the town centre.
Gill Chapman, Principal Community Support Manager at Wellingborough Council, said: “The communication and commitment to keep the night time economy safe is ongoing and this campaign demonstrates how we can further promote that through the Community Safety Partnership to the people who drink within the town.”