Vale of White Horse District Council
Abbey House, Abbey Close,
Abingdon, OX14 3JE
Email: comments@whitehorsedc.gov.uk
Telephone: 01235 520202

Vale of White Horse District Council

Nightsafe

Nightsafe is a multi-agency which aims to reduce alcohol related crime and change the binge drinking culture in our towns and cities. Due to its impact it has been rolled out across the country.

Vale Nightsafe involves officers from Thames Valley Police, Vale of White Horse District Council, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, and Oxfordshire County Council.

The project has been created so that partners work together to tackle:

• violent crime
• binge drinking
• drug issues
• licensing enforcement
• reduction of the fear of crime

Licensing charter and drugs prevention initiative         

Members of Nightsafe are required to sign up to a charter of good conduct. This follows the good practice of schemes in areas such as Oxford and Witney.  The purpose of the charter is to enforce the campaign and improve links with licensed premises.

In addition designated premises supervisors are asked to sign up to the “Drugs Prevention” initiative.  A private security firm is employed periodically throughout the year to deploy drug dogs in and around the town centres and inside the licensed premises.

Multi-agency inspections

Vale Nightsafe conducts multi-agency inspections periodically on all premises, not just those who have signed up to the charter. Inspections are conducted by the Nightsafe Coordinator, a Fire Officer, an Environmental Health Officer, a Police Officer and a Police Licensing Officer. The purpose of the inspections is to check Door Supervisor badges, fire exits, emergency lighting, staff training files and underage drinking.

Corporate Search handler Phil Munt with Benson the drugs dog out on a nightsafe initiative