The Safer Newport Partnership is urging party goes visiting Newport this Christmas, to be responsible while out celebrating.
A range of initiatives have been introduced to make sure that anyone visiting Newport during the festive period has a time to remember for all the right reasons.
Inspector Bob Thompson, of Newport Local Policing Unit, explains:
“If you’re visiting Newport this Christmas, we want you to have a safe and enjoyable time – this means keeping you safe and making you feel safe too.
“We’ll be out and about in the City Centre throughout December, to protect and reassure but we would also urge visitors to think about their own safety, by being aware of their actions and how much they’re drinking”.
Councillor William Routley, Newport City Council’s cabinet member for environment and community safety, added:
“Together, with our partners we have a range of initiatives aimed at reducing crime and disorder to try and ensure everyone has an enjoyable, but safe, time.”
These inititaives are:
- Increased levels of dedicated Police Officers patrolling the city centre as part of ‘City Safe’
- Gwent Police will be in constant communication with door staff, CCTV operators, street pastors and taxi marshals to ensure officers are in the right place at the right time, keeping visitors safe.
- A mobile Police Station will be based in Westgate Street, providing a stationary presence and contact point.
- Street pastors (local church member volunteers) will be helping the emergency services by providing a friendly, non-threatening presence to prevent people under the influence of alcohol causing trouble or hurting themselves.
- City Centre CCTV suite will be utilising 46 cameras, which are operational 24 hours a day 365 days a year, to help detect and prevent crime. A mobile CCTV unit will also be used for the first time this Christmas to provide further information on what’s happening ‘on the ground’.
- Cab Safe, which is a locally based scheme where anyone in need of a taxi can text CAB to 83222 to receive a text back with the numbers of three randomly-picked and regulated private hire/hackney carriages closest to their location
- Welsh Ambulance Service are providing a roving triage with support from St John’s Ambulance.
- Taxi marshals will also be in the city centre to help people get home safely. Their presence had reduced incidents of disorder and violence.
- Additional temporary WC facilities for men located in Carpenter’s Lane
And whilst the Safer Newport Partnership is doing everything possible to ensure visitors have a safe and merry Christmas, they are also keen to remind people of their responsibility. Sara Garland Accident and Emergency Manager at Royal Gwent Hospital said:
“Accident and Emergency Departments are for acute serious illnesses or injuries that require immediate attention. For all other health-related problems members of the public are urged to contact their own GP/Dentist, NHS Direct, local Pharmacy or Out of Hours GP as this will prevent unnecessary attendances and avoid prolonged waiting times.
“Redirection to these services will be considered for any cases that present at the Accident and Emergency Department but are not suitable for emergency care. Our Accident & Emergency Departments are always extremely busy during the winter months so you can really help us by celebrating Christmas and New Year in moderation and ensuring you stay safe throughout the holiday period”.
