Drunks targeted in festive crackdown
A crackdown on drunken violence is being launched in Preston city centre in time for the festive period.
Taxi stewards will return to the city following a successful trial last Christmas by Preston police.
From December 3 and for 20 weeks, four stewards will patrol outside Yates's on Church Street every Friday and Saturday night between 11pm and 3am.
The aim of the scheme, managed by the police, is to allow people to queue for taxis in a safer and more orderly manner, instead of spilling out on to Church Street and competing for the first available cab.
In the past, statistics indicate trouble flares when groups of young males congregate at taxi ranks or takeaways, becoming agitated and sometimes aggressive.
Existing barriers outside Yates's will form the start of the queue and portable barriers will be added at the weekend to increase the length to around 12 metres.
PC Alisa Rutter, community beat manager for the city centre, who is driving the scheme, said: "The stewards will be wearing high visibility jackets so they are instantly recognisable on the street.
"They will act as an extra pair of eyes and ears for the police and ensure that people leave the city centre quickly and safely. The initiative will also help taxi drivers feel more secure.
"Anyone too drunk to travel will be assessed by the stewards and the driver will be able to see just who is getting into their cab and how many passengers there are."
Similar taxi stewarding schemes across the country have been shown to reduce violent crime and make pub and club goers feel safer.
Anne-Marie Flynn, marketing manager for the Preston City Centre Management and co-ordinator of the PROUD partnership, said: "It has taken 12 months to secure the funding in order to get the scheme fully functioning throughout the city's busiest period. Thanks to the Community Safety Partnership, permanent barriers have been erected on Church Street and we can now provide trained security staff to marshal the initiative for 20 weeks."
e-mail:
emma.broom@lep.co.uk
29 November 2004
regards
Captain Cab