23 April 2007
Nightwatch has received funding from Eastbourne’s Crime Reduction Partnership to purchase fifty high visibility vests for its member’s door teams that regularly supervise the town’s pubs and club premises.
The vests, which are black in colour in keeping with door supervisor’s uniforms, have reflective strips both back and front with a back panel printed with the reflective text ‘Nightwatch Safer Eastbourne’. By achieving a much more visible presence, the vests are another initiative to help meet the Nightwatch objective of reducing public place violent crime.
John Clark, Vice Chairman of Nightwatch and Regional Manager for Marc-One Security said, “The vests will present a united front within the town and will act as an additional tool to show the troublemakers that we will not stand for any nuisance behaviour, if we stand together these people will realise they are simply not welcome. We work hard alongside the police to keep our customers safe when they come to enjoy a night out”.
More than half of Nightwatch members are also linked via a sophisticated radio system that allows premises to communicate with one another, the Police and CCTV; the link provides a means for members to warn each other of nuisance customers and provide detailed descriptions of offenders.
Inspector Nick Porter of Sussex Police said, “Nightwatch provides an effective way for the police to work in partnership with night time businesses. The vests will not only help the public identify who are recognised licensed door staff but will also help police identify who are the perpetrators and who is trying to help”.
Security teams have also been encouraged to wear high visibility arm bands in which they can store their licenses, both inside and outside the premises.
