London,
03
December
2009
|
23:00
Europe/London

“Hackney Say Relax” – and stay safe in Shoreditch

Hackney Council has launched(4 Dec) “Hackney Say Relax” on the streets of Shoreditch – a fun Christmas safety initiative.

Home to the hottest clubs in London and a magnet for all the better office parties, Shoreditch sees the number of visitors hitting its clubs and bars increase by almost a third (30 per cent) during December. That’s why the Council is launching its campaign to encourage visitors to relax and enjoy the unique Shoreditch scene responsibly and with respect for residents.

In the count-down to Christmas, clubbers, bar managers and residents should look out for new initiatives in Shoreditch.

- Shoreditch’s first marshalled taxi rank begun work this weekend. Positioned opposite Shoreditch Town Hall, clubbers will meet Tony Ellis who will help them into a safe, licensed cab home. This will be in place every Friday and Saturday from 10pm until 3am.

- Enter the “Hackney Hosts,” retro girls and guys on Vespa scooters, who will join the crowds at the busiest spots in Shoreditch on weekend nights (4-18 December, 9pm-2am, Fridays and Saturdays) to share local knowledge, hand out Shoreditch maps and information on safe transport home. In the wee small hours, the Hosts – clad in Hackney Say Relax t-shirts - will hand out Shhhhh lolly pops to encourage revellers to keep quiet and respect residents living in the area as they leave the clubs.

Cllr Alan Laing, Hackney Council Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods , said: “Hackney Say Relax is a fun Christmas drive to remind Londoners to stay safe as they party in Shoreditch and act responsibly when they’re out on the town. As part of this, we re highlighting what we do behind the scenes along with pub and bar managers, doormen, neighbourhood police and emergency services. The theme is retro, mainly just for fun but also because we want people to enjoy Hackney while keeping good old fashioned safety in mind.”

- Pubs and clubs are invited to sign up for a CCTV/Radio scheme where doormen – often the eyes and ears of the streets - can radio their concerns about vulnerable drunk people or trouble-makers, and the Council and Police use CCTV to keep track of any problems.*

- The Council also begins a push to encourage Shoreditch pubs to “go plastic”. Cargo in Rivington Street, which has already gone plastic in its busiest areas, is leading the way by serving drinks in cheaper and safer plastics that prevent accidents and can pass through the dishwasher five times more than glass.

- The Council and Police are also stepping up their efforts to target problem bars in Shoreditch. During December, a special crackforce team, called JEDI (Joint Enforcement Development Initiative) will visit six Hoxton bars which have had repeated problems. During the day the team will check the pubs for dirty kitchens, watered down liquor and correct paperwork. By night Police and noise pollution officers will crack down on anti-social behaviour and drug use.

Ends

NOTES TO EDITORS

Fact file: “Behind the scenes of a Shoreditch Night out”…


7-days per week from 5am, Hackney’s street sweeping crew clean beer and spills from off the Shoreditch Streets with a mechanical sweeper.

At 5am every day, a member of our cleansing staff washes the pavements free of grime and spills with a high powered hose.

Bin vans clear around 1,200 bags of waste every day from Shoreditch. Shoreditch produces six tonnes of rubbish within 24 hours.

Each day 208 kilometers of streets are swept in Hackney

Shoreditch attracts a third of extra visitors in December

* Examples of how doormen, Hackney Council s CCTV team and police work together:
1. If CCTV camera operators see a lone female being hassled by an unlicensed taxi driver, a police officer in the area can go and assist her, warn her of the dangers of getting into an unlicensed cab and point her to a licensed taxi.
2. If a group of trouble-makers are turned away from a particular bar or club, the doorman there can radio through their details to the CCTV team. The CCTV team can then watch where they re going and use the radio system to warn doormen at other venues not to admit them. If they are really causing problems, a police officer can go and move them out of the area.