A new mobile phone app has been launched for night-time safety in Chelmsford. The ‘Best Bar None Chelmsford’ app was launched at a Pub Watch meeting today at Walkabout in Essex’s county town. It features the pubs, bars, restaurants and venues which are accredited under the scheme with ‘stay safe and support’ details.
Best Bar None is a nationally accredited scheme encouraging best practice from licenced premises to promote objectives under the Licensing Act, which includes crime and disorder. Chelmsford launched its scheme in July 2016 with 13 licenced premises in the city signing up for accreditation.
In that time reports of crime reported within the area of those premises has reduced by 18 percent compared to the same period in the previous year.
The app advises how to stay safe, how to report crime, transport info, where to go for domestic abuse and drug and alcohol support, and the proof of age ID requirements of the premises in the scheme.
Best Bar None in Chelmsford was also re-launched at the meeting and will now be extended into restaurants with the aim of 40 premises signing up for accreditation.
District Commander for Chelmsford and Maldon, Chief Insp Ronnie Egan, said: “The Best Bar None scheme in Chelmsford has had a really positive impact on the city and its night-time economy, as shown by the reduction of crime related near or to those premises involved.”
The co-ordinator of the scheme and Essex Police Licensing Officer, Nigel Dermott, said: “Responsible management of our city’s pubs, bars, restaurants, and other licensed venues is key in keeping people safe while enjoying a night out in Chelmsford, and accreditation under this scheme seeks to raise the bar on those standards.
“This new app will provide further useful information to the community to help keep them stay safe and point them in the direction of any help and support they might need. Chelmsford has a thriving night-time economy and it is something we at Essex Police are happy to support. This new app will be a great information tool – particularly for our many students – and compliments the scheme to further improve on what is already a really safe City to visit.”
Spencer Clarke, Public Protection Manager at Chelmsford City Council said: “Chelmsford Pubwatch has progressed really well in the last year with the introduction of Best Bar None and the new app. These will help promote the city as a top-notch destination, ensuring that our customers remain safe.
“It is a real credit to the licensed trade who have embraced these changes and are working with partners to ensure that Chelmsford remains a safe, lively city. It complements existing interventions such as CCTV, Street Pastors, Taxi Marshals and the Chelmsford SOS Project, all of which come under the Purple Flag accreditation which the city rightfully deserves.”
Brett Sanders, Chair of Pubwatch in Chelmsford, is Chair of the Best Bar None Steering Group. He said: “Chelmsford Pubwatch is extremely pleased with the first year’s success of Best Bar None. It has shown it works within the accredited venues that it reduces night-time economy crime. We were very pleased with the number of participants in the first year and we look forward to expanding the scheme year with not only more of our members but more of the licence trade as a whole.
“The app is an exciting new feature and we really hope people download it and make best use of it.”
The Best Bar None Chelmsford App is available from the Apple and Play stores.
