City centre nightlife safety haven in £200k boost

Measures to protect people at night in Wolverhampton city centre have been extended thanks to a £200,000 boost.

The Safe Haven, which operates in Queen Square, will now be open every weekend instead of just payday weekends, the council has said.

Visitors can charge their phones, have a glass of water, access free WiFi, get flip flops and report any concerns they may have, as well as receive support to arrange transport home.

From Friday, it will be open every Friday and Saturday between 22:30 and 03:30 GMT.

Other measures will include the Night Guardians scheme, a visible, uniformed team who deter anti-social behaviour, now operating every Friday and Saturday night.

The extra funding will also be used to enhance CCTV monitoring, increase police patrols, and brighten lighting on key routes between venues, transport hubs and car parks.

Councillor Obaida Ahmed said: "The Safe Haven is a hugely valued service and making it available every Friday and Saturday night will not only support those who need help and support but also contribute to a safe and thriving city centre for everyone."

The funding has been provided from partners including the council, Enjoy Wolverhampton BID, Wolverhampton Police and the West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership.

Cherry Shine from the BID said: "Hospitality businesses have been hit hard in recent years by the cost of doing business, so anything we can do to make our city centre even more vibrant will be a big boost to our fantastic pubs, clubs and eateries."

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