Partnership urges Birmingham club goers - ‘avoid a nightmare before Christmas’
‘AVOID a nightmare before Christmas – don’t leave valuables unattended’ is the strap line used in a new campaign launched by the Birmingham Community Safety Partnership.
The campaign, aimed at everyone out and about enjoying Birmingham's nightlife at Christmas, encourages people to look after their valuables, especially handbags and mobile phones.
The initiative has been created due to a rise in the theft of valuables and is aimed at reducing the number of incidents of theft where items are stolen because they have been left unattended on tables, in pubs and bars.
The campaign involves close partnership working between Birmingham City Council licensing officers, West Midlands Police and licensees.
The scheme was launched at Reflex in the Arcadian centre, with a number of licensees attending a short briefing conducted by Chief Inspector Sean Russell.
All attendees were also able to collect a number of crime prevention table stickers, posters and mirror stickers. It is hoped that pub and club goers will take note of these and keep their valuables safe.
Cllr Khan, cabinet member for local services and community safety comments: "Even though it is mainly women who are known to leave their valuables unattended, the partnership wants to urge everyone to protect their property and pass the message on to friends and family.
“We are working with partner agencies to ensure we can reduce the opportunity for any more of these crimes to occur.”
Chief Inspector Sean Russell, responsible for local policing in Birmingham city centre, said: "We hope that this initiative will help remind people to keep their belongings safe.
“All too often we receive reports of phones being lost or stolen along with handbags that can contain credit cards, driving licenses and even passports.
“The crime prevention items handed out to licensees should prove extremely helpful and they were snapped up by all of the big venues in attendance.
“Our officers will continue to patrol the city centre throughout the Christmas period and we hope that pub goers will help us to reduce crime by following our simple advice.”
The campaign is being delivered through:
- High visibility poster boards around the city
- Sponsorship of local radio station BRMB's drive time
- Posters and vinyl stickers in pubs and clubs
- Adverts on digital screens in pubs and clubs
- Internal messages to partner agency staff
Licensing officers from West Midlands Police will be visiting licensed premises to encourage the use of the publicity material.
