'Bad behaviour will not be tolerated' in Middlesbrough this festive season
Middlesbrough Council say they're sending a clear message
Christmas revellers are being sent a clear message this festive season – bad behaviour will not be tolerated in Middlesbrough.
The Council is also turning the attention on perpetrators rather than victims by asking people to ‘Know Your Limit’ before they head out on the town.
It builds on existing work to promote Safehaven – a safe space in Middlesbrough Bus Station which supports people in the town centre into the early hours every weekend.
The festive message promotes a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to violence, abuse, threatening behaviour, harassment and spiking, all of which can be common at this time of year.
Key messages are being projected onto buildings in the town centre and feature in radio advertisements and on social media.
Many of Middlesbrough’s most popular bars and nightspots support the campaign, including the newly opened STACK development.
In particular, the ‘Know Your Limit’ campaign calls out bad behaviour towards everyone working in Middlesbrough’s night time economy.
That includes bar and security staff, taxi drivers, takeaway staff, volunteer groups such as Boro Angels and Women’s Street Watch and the emergency services, including CIPHER staff based at Safehaven, who patrol Middlesbrough’s busiest town centre spots ensuring party-goers are safe.
Cllr Janet Thompson, Executive Member for Neighbourhoods at Middlesbrough Council, said: “At this time of year, workers across the town centre can experience all manner of unacceptable behaviour.
“Christmas celebrations and work parties can sometimes take a sour turn and unfortunately it’s the very people who work to make their night special and safe that can experience the most abuse.
“The message this festive season is for people out in the town centre to know your limit. That way, everyone you come into contact with can have a safe and enjoyable night in our brilliant bars and restaurants, which include some great new additions.
“The message is that bad behaviour will not be tolerated and those causing it will be dealt with.”
Middlesbrough-based taxi firms Boro Taxis and Royal Cars are backing the campaign in a bid to crack down on abuse to drivers during the busy period.
A spokesperson for Royal Taxis said: “We support the work of Safehaven and this new message.
“Our drivers work 247 to make sure the people of Middlesbrough and beyond get home safe and our staff are usually the last person they see on their night out.
“They are just doing their job and also want to get home safe to their families like everyone else this Christmas.”
The campaign is led by Middlesbrough Council’s marketing and public protection teams, with support from Cleveland Police and is jointly funded by Cleveland’s Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
• Safehaven is open from 10pm - 3.30am on Fridays and 11pm - 4.30am Saturdays and Bank Holidays.
It can be accessed through the main bus station doors until 12am and after that access can be found via the side door of the bus station on Park Street behind the former Lloyds bar.
More details can be found on Middlesbrough Council’s website.