A safe passage for revellers (From Echo)

A safe passage for revellers

1:54pm Tuesday 19th December 2006 in News By James Oxley

A safety route through Southend High Street could be created to give pedestrians greater protection at night.

The route, which could stretch from the seafront to the north end of the High Street, would boast CCTV cameras, improved lighting and more patrolling police officers.

The path is one of a number of ideas mooted for next year by the Southend Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, which aims to make the town centre a safer place.

The organisation, made up of representatives from the police, council, fire service and primary care trust, will discuss the measures in the coming weeks and months.

Simon Ford, who has just been appointed the partnership's community safety manager, said: "We are looking at targeting some of the problems we have in the town centre.

"It is well known our crime statistics in the borough are highest in the town centre, because of the drinking and criminal damage.

"We are looking at introducing a safety route through the High Street from the seafront.

People will know it is under CCTV surveillance and there will be lighting."

Mr Ford suggested police community support officers and PCs could patrol the route, which may also take in the SOS bus - a double-decker where late-night revellers go to get help and advice on weekend nights.

He said he would also like to see town centre pubs and clubs sign up to a scheme where they would provide "places of safety" for people in difficulty.

And spotlights could be installed on or near CCTV cameras so control room operators could shine a light on people fighting or causing a nuisance.

Mr Ford was also keen to encourage street cleaners to work at night, like they do in cities such as Sheffield and Brighton, to create a "buzz of activity".

He said of those cities: "There are lots of lights on and you do not feel like you have walked out into an empty night, as there are so many people around.

"This promotes a safer environment and drives down the fear of crime."