The Chief Constable took to the streets of Birmingham city centre last night to showcase to Government Ministers the work Police are doing to keep festive party-goers safe.
He was joined by Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson, and Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips, who is Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, as well as PCC Simon Foster.
After a briefing on the work Birmingham officers do to keep the night time economy safe from threats including predatory male behaviour and fake taxi drivers, Mr Guildford led the Ministers from Digbeth to the German market to see the policing operation in action.
The group observed a Project Servator deployment at the market. Project Servator deploys regularly at the Christmas market and at other events and in city centres across the force. Officers are specially trained to spot the tell tale signs that someone is preparing to commit a crime.
Project Servator officers work with local businesses and members of the public to encourage them to report suspicious behaviour.
Dame Diana said: “The local police are very well aware of what needs to go on in the lead up to Christmas. Officers know this weekend before Christmas is a very busy time.
“People are out, having a drink, having fun.
“It’s good that there is this police presence. They’ve obviously been doing this for many years.
“It’s great to talk to people and hear them say it’s really good to see police officers about. It’s just such a nice atmosphere in the centre of Birmingham to on a night before Christmas when people are out and about.”
Jess Phillips spoke about the partnership working with licences premises and CCTV operators to keep people safe, in Birmingham.
She said: “The police can’t just police this on their own, there needs to be a community response. As a Home Office Minister, what I know is that we are working absolutely at pace to make sure they have the extra officers that they may need.”
Asked if she thought Birmingham was safe late at night for women, she said: “I’m a woman who is in the city centre, sometimes on my own because I don’t finish work until very late.
“I think that Birmingham city centre like all big cities or busy environments has threat. Yes, I think it’s safe.”
Mr Guildford added: “We want people to have a decent night out, but a safe night out. What you’ve seen this evening is more cops on patrol – we’ve got officers in uniform and plain clothes. The idea is to try and nip things in the bud early doors, but we police all the way through 24/7 in Britain’s Second City.
“We’re trying to people safe and help them celebrate in a good way at Christmas.”
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