Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council has received more than £30,000 to support the town’s growing night time economy.
Funding of £32,208.68 comes from Cleveland’s first violence reduction partnership CURV, based in the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner
The money will support Stockton’s Night Time Economy (NTE) Crime Prevention Plan. It will help to pay for the following:
- The NTE Safety Campaign. Based around the Ask for Angela initiative, there will be funding to help improve awareness of the campaign.
- Equipment for licensed premises including glass and bottle covers, spiking test strips, hand-held metal detectors and bleed control kits to keep revellers safe
- Extra staff in Stockton’s CCTV Control Room to cover peak times.
- Additional security measures at pub/diner Hope & Union and The Wasp’s Nest in Stockton’s cultural quarter. Funding for the new CCTV came from a £10K discretionary fund awarded to the council. The fund enables the council to support smaller premises, who may not benefit from the same resources enjoyed by pubs and clubs in bigger chains.
- Violence Prevention Measures in the wider community. Funding will support additional activities in NTE areas other than those directly affected by crime. That’s to make sure businesses can support police if crime is diverted from the areas directly targeted by the NTE Crime Prevention Plan.
Protecting investment
Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Steve Turner said: “A lot of money has been invested recently in Stockton town centre.
“This funding will help to protect that investment and make sure the night time economy – and the cultural quarter in particular – go from strength to strength.”
Ryan Dearlove, Licensee of Hope and Union, is one of the businesses to benefit from increased investment.
He said: “Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s vision for the town’s future as a leader in hospitality and entertainment doesn’t come without its challenges.”
His premises have broken into a number of times over the past few years. Offenders have caused thousands of pounds-worth of damage each time.
Councillor Norma Stephenson, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Access, Communities and Community Safety, said: “We’re very pleased to secure this funding. It gives us the opportunity to further improve community safety around our evening economy in Stockton.
“The money will go towards a host of crime prevention measures. They include safety equipment and CCTV for some of the smaller bars and micropubs and extra CCTV centre staff at peak times. In addition, it will support awareness raising of the ‘Ask for Angela’ safety initiative.
“The borough remains one of the safest areas in the Tees Valley. These measures, along with our joint partnership work, will ensure it stays that way.”
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council has used the investment to kick start a range of initiatives to support the NTE longer-term.
Funding covers the four-month period from the December 2022 to the end of March 2023.