Businesses team up to keep Cambridge safe this Christmas

Bars, clubs and venues across the city are joining forces this festive season to keep partygoers safe.

Keeping party-goers safe is the goal of city centre businesses and other organisations like Cambridge BID and the police.

- High visibility police patrols have now begun in the city at night time
- Venues have all had WAVE training (Welfare and Vulnerability training)
- Street Pastors and Taxi Marshalls are out every weekend.  (Street pastors identify people who may need help – Taxi Marshalls make sure any lone occupant in a taxi is logged with the taxi registration number)
- A radio link system connects all venues to each other, along with the Police, CAMBAC (Cambridge Business against Crime) and the city council’s CCTV operators.

Natalie Cargill, Project Manager at Cambridge Bid explains:

"Cambridge BID are funding the Taxi Marshall scheme every Friday and Saturday night through December, ensuring that from 2200-0400 there are people to ensure you get a licensed taxi from one of two locations in the city (Outside St Andrew the Great Church on St Andrew’s Street and the junction with Rose Crescent and Market Hill).

"Cambridge is a Purple Flag accredited city, celebrating its safe and diverse nightlife.  

"The city has held this status for the last four years, so whether you’re coming into the city for festive fun, a Christmas party or drinks and dinner with family – rest assured there’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes to keep everyone safe."

CAMBAC, Cambridge Business against Crime, looks to reduce crime and disorder and works alongside Cambridge BID.

One of their initiatives has been rolling out WAV (welfare and vulnerability training) and they’ve trained over 33 different venues and premises in the city to look out for anyone who may need assistance.  

All venues have been educated on the ‘Ask for Angela’ campaign which means customers can immediately access for discrete help.