Luton has a residential population of 195,000, which is swollen by an additional 10,000 students in term time. Luton has varied night-time leisure activities, which attract students and people not just from Luton, but the whole of Bedfordshire and surrounding counties. Background to Nightsafe In 2003-2004, 40% of all violent assaults in Luton occurred within the square mile of the Town Centre and 47% of the offenders fell into the 18-25 age group. The majority of these incidents were directly linked to alcohol and binge drinking. Within the town centre there are over 40 licensed premises, with the majority of those being concentrated into four main streets. Their combined capacities mean that there is the potential for 12,000 people drinking in these areas at any one time. Luton Safer Communities Partnership, which consists of representatives from Police, Fire & Rescue, Primary Care Trust, Luton Borough Council identified that a multi agency initiative was needed to tackle the root cause of the problem by coordinating current police enforcement and partnership initiatives, as well as developing new schemes to reduce violence. The aims were fourfold: to improve the public perception of the town centre to encourage and support the night time economy to reduce alcohol-related crime and disorder to change the drinking culture through raising awareness through the local media, forums and education of the consequences of binge drinking. 

The Lutonsafe project was officially launched in November of 2004, it has since then initiated a number of projects by working in partnership with Licensees, Door Staff, CCTV, Police and other key stakeholders. 

The Nite Net radio system is controlled by the CCTV Control Centre and is available to all Licensee's upon becoming a member of Lutonsafe.  The Nite Net is available for use 24 hours a day and on Thursday, Friday and Saturday is carried by Police officers in the town centre, along with the Police licensing officer and Luton Borough Council enforcement officers.  The radios are a way for all licensees to inform each other of any incidents in the town and make a stand to prevent further disorder.  It is part of the partnership working together.

High Visibility Jackets are now being worn by all Door Staff and have caused people to stop and think about their safety!  The jackets are a means of improving the working relationships between the private and public sector and ensuring public safety. The jackets help in promoting a safe environment and people are already telling the partnership members how comfortable it makes them feel when they are in town.

Lutonsafe has supported Community Safety in their alcohol related anti-social behaviour campaign, along with Road Safety in actively discouraging drink driving.

What is Luton safe?