Brighton & Hove is one of only four areas across the country awarded Beacon Status by the government as a national centre of excellence for managing the night time economy.

A national launch of the new Beacon authorities, being held in York, will put the spotlight on work being carried out and give other councils an opportunity to share ideas and experiences.

Keynote speakers include Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe MP, who has responsibility for licensing.

In Brighton & Hove the city council, police, Business Crime Reduction Partnership and others won Beacon Status for a package of innovative measures to manage drinking and licensed premises in the city centre, including firm enforcement, providing alternative activities to drinking, working with young people, and improving late night public transport.

• Action which helped to earn Brighton & Hove Beacon Status includes:
• Closing rowdy pubs and banning troublemakers from bars
• The BCRP’s football-style red and yellow warning cards for troublemakers
• The BCRP’s Night-Safe radio system allowing licensed premises to share live intelligence which is monitored by the police CCTV control room.
• Creating a central zone where new bars can be turned down where there are too many - the largest so-called Cumulative Impact Area outside London
• High-profile policing; Operation Marble sees the police and police community support officers in high-visibility jackets in city centre hot-spots from 8pm
• Staggered closing times for venues, meaning fewer people on the streets at once
• Special all-night buses to disperse crowds quickly
• Safe Space - a drop-in centre in West Street for distressed young people
• Setting the right tone: this has included using street performers dressed as lollipop patrols at taxi ranks

If you would like more details of the BCRP phone Lisas Perretta on 01273 733393 or lisa.perretta@btconnect.com