A series of new measures to improve safety and reduce violence, including bleed cabinets, ID scanners and anti-spiking kits have been unveiled.
Cleveland Unit for the Reduction of Violence (CURV), working with local partners and councils have introduced several new interventions to support safety during the day and night-time economy.
Four emergency bleed control cabinets have been installed across Stockton-on-Tees, in an attempt to reduce blood loss sustained through serious injuries, for example, from car accidents, falls, dog bites and knife wounds.
The cabinets each hold several pieces of equipment and instructions on how to control heavy bleeding. The cabinets are accessible 24 hours a day using a code provided by calling the Borough Security Centre number on the front of the unit.
A further eight cabinets are due to be installed in Middlesbrough and Hartlepool.
Four cabinets have already been installed in Redcar and Cleveland locations through previous CURV funding as well as 210 handheld metal detector wands for door staff to be able to detect weapons across all four boroughs.
The programme of work has also introduced Scannet machines – a system that scans someone’s identification and checks if it’s genuine.
Should an incident occur the Scannet system can help identify those involved, providing photographic evidence.
Other interventions include Eemits radios used by venues to alert Stockton-on-Tees’ Security Centre to focus CCTV onto potential incidents and relay images onto the police control room and anti-spiking equipment, including bottle toppers, and foil drink covers.
A total of 25 body worn cameras have also been distributed to staff in licensed premises across Redcar and Cleveland.
Funding Distribution
The funding has been distributed across the four Boroughs as follows:
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council allocated £20,725.10 to fund:
- 4 bleed cabinets installed outside Yarm Town Hall, The Bank in Norton, The Shambles and Ku Bar in Stockton Town Centre.
- 1 Scannet machine to be installed at a licensed premise.
- 13 Eemits radios to be distributed to licensed premises.
- Anti-spiking resources.
Redcar and Cleveland Council allocated £18,084.00 to fund:
- 25 Apex radios to be distributed to licensed premises.
- 1 Scannet machine to be installed at a licensed premise.
- 25 bodycams for staff at licensed premises.
Middlesbrough Borough Council allocated £12,965.00 to fund:
- 4 bleed cabinets plus 4 kits for replenishment to be installed in night-time economy hotspot areas.
- 30 Apex radios to be distributed to licensed premises.
- Anti-spiking resources.
Hartlepool Borough Council allocated £14,087.15 to fund:
- 4 bleed cabinets to be installed at the Central Hub, Civic Centre Concourse, Station Approach CCTV Camera Column and OrangeBox.
- 25 Apex radios to be distributed to licensed premises.
- Anti-spiking resources.
Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey said: “I want residents and visitors to Cleveland’s bustling towns to feel safe at all times, so I am very proud of CURV’s preventative approach to tackling serious violence.
“These safety measures will support the area’s day and night-time economy and will play a part in making our Boroughs safer and even more welcoming places for everyone.”
Councillor Norma Stephenson, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Access, Communities and Community Safety, added: “Having these new measures available in Yarm, Norton and Stockton will improve safety for residents and visitors, providing reassurance for people so that they can fully relax and enjoy all that our town centres can have to offer.”