Christmas Safety Campaign
‘Better for businesses’: licensee launches Christmas safety campaign
Sanjai Tailor, owner of the Temple Bar, Raffs Bar and the Kingfisher in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, has set up the Stay SAFE campaign for the first time to ensure people avoid trouble when out drinking.
Drinkers have been warned to use only licensed taxis and to drink within their limits.
The campaign has also urged people to stay out of trouble with the police and avoid isolating themselves from large groups.
‘Know your limits’
The operator has worked in partnership with the Wellingborough Business Improvement District (BID), the council, Northants Police, the Wellingborough Taxi Association and the town’s Community Safety Partnership to encourage drinkers take general safety precautions, especially in the festive season.
He told The Morning Advertiser: “This campaign is about people looking after themselves, knowing what their limits are and not getting into any trouble.
“We want people to have a good night out and not have any consequences.”
Helping vulnerable people
Posters displaying safety precautions have been distributed in venues around the town, while volunteers, such as street-pastors, and doormen will provide further assistance to those in need.
Tailor said: “Alcohol affects people differently and some may feel vulnerable once they've had one too many, so the street-pastors have quite an important role.”
He added: “They spread a feel-good message across the night, they do a great job.”
Taxi drivers have also been issued cards with the same message to give out to customers throughout the night.
Tailor said: “Wellingborough is a safe place, but there's nothing worse for a town to have a bad reputation, I think what we're doing with this campaign is to promote safety on a night out. That's the key message.
“It's important for my businesses to be in a town that is considered safe. The more comfortable people feel on a night out, the more they come out and the better it is for businesses.”
A ‘thriving’ nightlife
BID manager John Cable said: “Wellingborough has a thriving nightlife, which is why it gets so busy at the weekends, particularly at this time of the year. 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 as we can, we want to remind everyone that they have an individual responsibility to look after themselves and their friends.”
Wellingborough council principal community support manager Gill Chapman said: “The communication and commitment to keep the night-time economy safe is ongoing.
"This campaign demonstrates how we can further promote that through the community safety partnership to the people who drink within the town.”
