York BID's Night Safe Officers To Keep City Centre Safe

Ever been out in York on a Friday or Saturday night? The city is properly buzzing. The pubs are full, the restaurants are lively, and the streets have that brilliant energy you only get on a weekend. But let’s be honest, you also want to feel completely safe while you’re having a good time, right? Whether you’re a resident, one of our many welcome visitors, or work in one of the local businesses, feeling secure is a big deal. Well, great news is on the horizon.

The York BID has just announced a fantastic new plan to make sure our city’s vibrant nighttime scene stays friendly, safe, and welcoming for absolutely everyone.

So, what’s the big idea?

Get ready to meet the new Night Safe Officers! Think of them as friendly guardians of the night, dedicated to keeping the York city centre fun and orderly. Starting from Friday 25th July, and running right through to early January 2026, two of these highly visible officers will be patrolling the streets. You’ll see them every Friday and Saturday night between 8pm and 2am – exactly when the city is at its busiest.

The whole point is to have a reassuring presence on the streets. They’re not there to spoil the fun; they’re there to make sure it doesn’t get spoiled by other things. It's a proactive step by the York BID to enhance community safety and support the city’s brilliant evening and night-time economy. It’s all about making sure that the atmosphere in our historic city remains as amazing after dark as it is during the day. This initiative shows a real commitment to making York a place where everyone feels comfortable and looked after.

What will they actually be doing?

Good question. Their job is pretty varied, but it all boils down to one thing: keeping people safe. Picture this: a group gets a bit too rowdy on the corner, or the noise levels outside a venue start creeping up. Before it becomes a proper problem, the Night Safe Officers can step in, have a quiet word, and calm things down. They’re trained to de-escalate situations before they get out of hand.

Here’s a quick look at what they’ll be up to:

• Tackling anti-social behaviour: They’ll be on the lookout for any trouble and will intervene to prevent things like public arguments or loutish behaviour. This helps keep the streets pleasant for everyone.
• Managing noise levels: They’ll help make sure that the fun of the nighttime scene doesn’t disturb residents trying to get some sleep.
• Being a friendly face: Lost your friends? Not sure where the nearest taxi rank is? They can help. They’re there to be a helpful, approachable point of contact.
• Supporting emergency services: By handling smaller issues, they free up the police and ambulance crews to deal with more serious incidents. They are a direct link between the public, door staff, and the emergency services, making communication much smoother.

Basically, they are the calm presence that helps ensure a night out in York doesn’t turn into a headache for anyone. They keep things orderly without being intimidating, which is a perfect balance for a lively city centre.

Who's making this happen?

This brilliant programme isn't just happening on its own. It’s a joint effort, proudly funded by the York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority Policing, Fire and Crime Directorate. That’s a bit of a mouthful, but it means the people in charge of our local safety are putting a real investment into making York better. The investment is a solid £14,473 from the Community Safety Serious Violence Fund, which shows how seriously this is being taken.

Carl Alsop, the Operations Manager at York BID, is clearly buzzing about it:

“We’re thrilled to launch the Night Safe Officers programme as part of our ongoing commitment to a safer and more enjoyable York. It’s a fantastic way to support the city’s Purple Flag status and provide that extra level of care for York's thriving nighttime economy.”

And he’s not the only one. Jo Coles, the York and North Yorkshire Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime, added her support:

"Everyone has the right to be safe and feel safe when visiting York and North Yorkshire, and as Deputy Mayor for Policing Fire and Crime I am delighted we’ve been able to support York BID in deterring crime and anti-social behaviour while making York even safer for residents, businesses and visitors.

“David Skaith's vision as Mayor is to deliver safer communities for all, and our £14,473* investment in the Night Marshalls project will help to establish a visible, reassuring presence for people who are enjoying York's amazing nightlife, and further enhance the welcoming environment that visitors have come to expect from our city. "

What on earth is a purple flag?

You might have heard the term 'Purple Flag' mentioned. It’s a bit like the Blue Flag award you see at top-quality beaches, but for a city’s evening and night-time economy. It’s a prestigious international accreditation that shows a town or city is a safe, welcoming, and well-managed place to be after 5pm.

Achieving Purple Flag accreditation isn’t easy. It means the city has passed a whole load of checks covering everything from the quality of policing to the cleanliness of the streets. It requires excellent management processes and a commitment to good practice. For York, this status is a massive badge of honour. It tells the world that our city is one of the best places for a night out. The York BID manages this and works hard to keep the standard high through projects like street cleaning, the beautiful Colour & Light installations, and now, the Night Safe Officers. They're a key part of the ongoing effort to maintain this standard of excellence.

A bigger team for a safer city

The new Night Safe Officers aren’t working alone. They’re joining an existing team of helpers who already do a fantastic job in the city centre. You might have already seen the Riverside and Taxi Marshals, who have collectively put in an incredible 1,760 hours making sure people get home safely and that our riverside areas are secure.

Together, all these teams form a network of support that makes a huge difference. It’s a coordinated effort to boost community safety across the board. This kind of thoughtful investment ensures that York continues to be a city that looks after its residents, supports its local businesses, and gives all visitors the best possible experience. So next time you’re enjoying York’s amazing nighttime scene, you can feel that little bit more relaxed knowing there’s a whole team working behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly and safely.