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Nottingham BID and Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner continue to support Nottingham’s Street Pastors

L-R: Andy Crawford of Nottingham BID, Richard Harvey, Ian Powell, Andy Harris, Lynda Blakeley, Paddy Tipping and in the foreground Theresa Jones

Nottingham Business Improvement District (BID) and Nottinghamshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping have agreed to continue to support the Street Pastors by providing £36,000 of funding.

The Street Pastors provide on-street support to visitors to the city on Friday and Saturday nights. Nottingham BID has been supporting them for a number of years as part of its activities to ensure a safer late night economy in the city centre, which is welcomed by its members as well as the general public.

“Our members that operate in the night time economy, really value the work of the Street Pastors,” said Andy Crawford, a director of Nottingham BID.  “They help to look after vulnerable people who are enjoying a night out in the city centre.  This helps to take the pressure off the police and the medical services, who can devote their time and resources to more serious incidents. ”

Paddy Tipping said he was pleased to be able to help fund the Street Pastors once again, who are volunteers playing a valuable role in helping to keep people safe.

He added: “Street Pastors are often the first port of call for those who for one reason or another can’t look after themselves and need help to get home safe and sound.  Nottinghamshire’s busy night life scene brings a great deal to the city and local economy and I want everyone to have a good time when they go out.  But, sometimes, things get a bit out of hand.

“I know that the Street Pastors help enormously towards retaining the city’s Purple Flag status, but most importantly, they help people to keep out of trouble and reduce the possibility that they, or others, may come to harm, which in turn reduces demand on other services such as the police.”

Ian Powell, a trustee of the Malt Cross Trust, where the street pastors are based, said: “We are so grateful for the continued funding of the Street Pastors by Nottingham BID and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Without their regular annual contribution the program would not be sustainable. The benefits to the safety of our night time economy are enormous. Thank you once again to them both.”

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