Drink-Related Violence Falls In Southampton

Heart's been told there's been a big drop in drunken trouble on the streets of Southampton.

Cases have fallen by 27% in the City compared to last year, after the council introduced a Yellow Card scheme.

Anyone caught being involved in violence is given a card - if they get another they're banned from all the city's pubs and clubs for a year.

The Yellow Card scheme was launched on June 1 this year to combat drink related anti-social behaviour and disorder in the city. The Safe City Partnership is behind this scheme, which is run by the city’s Night Time Economy Manager Chris Caesar. Since the launch 399 single yellow cards have been given and 20 people have been given two yellow cards and are banned from participating city centre pubs and bars for 12 months.

Councillor Phil Williams, Cabinet Member for Local Services and Community Safety said:

“Alcohol related crime is falling and I’m pleased to see that our continued investment in night time economy initiatives is paying off.

Keeping residents safe in Southampton is our main priority and we will continuously work close with the police and other partners to keep crime down.”

The number of drink related offences has fallen from 401 between the beginning of June and end of September 2009 to 291 in the same period this year. Overall crime has fallen by 14 per cent in the city between 2009/2010.

Chair of Southampton’s Safe City Partnership, Chief Superintendent Matthew Greening, said:

“The Yellow Card scheme is just one of the many initiatives we have successfully launched in Southampton, helping to reduce incidents of violence and alcohol-fuelled crime which have a huge impact on our police resources.

“We all have a part to play in ensuring Southampton is a safe city, where people of all ages can come and enjoy a night out. I’m very pleased that the yellow card initiative is continuing to send out a very clear and strong message - if you misbehave then you will be banned!”

Other night time economy initiatives include The In Case of Emergency Bus, based in the Cenotaph from 10pm-4am every Saturday night, Street Pastors and taxi marshals.