By Peter Makossah
Nottingham is the latest city in the United Kingdom to be awarded the prestigious Purple Flag accreditation for the night-time economy.
Mojatu Online understands that this comes as a recognition of the city’s vibrant and diverse mix of dining, entertainment, and culture, while promoting the safety and wellbeing of visitors and residents.
Nottingham plays host to a good number of black Africans and other minority ethnic groups who have their own restaurants, pubs, clubs and bars in the city.
Patrice Musarurwa, a business proprietor and managing director of Braii King Delights, an African themed cuisine restaurant and mini bar on Aspley Lane in Nottingham, originally from Zimbabwe, said:
“The promoting a safe, secure and diverse nightlife is a big deal as it borders on the city’s night-time economy business’s pride and it critical to Nottingham’s national reputation.
“As a night-time economy businessperson, this award gives me hope that we are doing things the right way and for the city to be awarded the purple flag is evidence that our restaurants, venues, bars and clubs in Nottingham are not only respected but also valued.”
Similar to the Blue Flag for beaches, the Purple Flag aims to raise the standard and broaden the appeal of town and city centres between the hours of 5pm and 5am.
In awarding the Purple Flag to Nottingham, governing body Association of Town and City Management (ATCM) highlighted the work being done through Nottingham’s Safe Space Pledge, which delivers practical solutions to reduce the vulnerability of women visiting the city’s night-time economy.
The Safe Space Pledge, which was developed by the Consent Coalition in partnership with Nottingham Business Improvement District (BID), and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, provides eight clear actions and commitments Nottingham venues can take to improve the safety of women and girls within their premises.
Also recognised was Nottingham’s investment in first aid measures for the evening and night-time economy, and the high standard of transport in the city, including the focus on environmentally conscious transport methods.
Councillor Neghat Khan, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods, Safety, and Inclusion at Nottingham City Council, said: “I’m pleased that we’ve secured Purple Flag status in Nottingham once again. It is great to see us recognised for what local people know: our city centre is a safe, fun, and well-looked after place to spend time.
“This is a result of continued partnership working between the Council, Nottingham BID, Nottinghamshire Police and others who put so much effort into making Nottingham such a welcoming destination. Being awarded another Purple Flag is a fantastic achievement for our city.”
Alex Flint, CEO of Nottingham BID said: “We are delighted that Nottingham BID has once again achieved Purple Flag status for the city and maintained its reputation as a safe, vibrant destination.
“The success of this project is a testament to effective partnership working in Nottingham. I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all those who have contributed their time and energy to support this worthwhile initiative for the city.
“Promoting a safe and diverse nightlife is key to celebrating Nottingham’s national reputation and it’s inspiring to see our restaurants, venues, bars and clubs at the heart of Nottingham’s well-respected culture.”
Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry said: “Nottingham’s accreditation as a Purple Flag city means it has been independently benchmarked as being a safe and enjoyable place to have a night out.
“It is fantastic to get the recognition for the incredible work that goes on behind the scenes to make that happen. It is not by accident. Far from it. It takes dedication, careful planning, teamwork, and determination to ensure people can visit such a busy place, have a great time, and go home safely.
“Nottinghamshire Police, Nottingham City Council, Nottingham BID, all of the licensed venues and many, many other partners play a part in this.
“I’m really proud that Nottingham’s Safe Space Pledge has been praised as part of this award, for its efforts to safeguard women and girls. This is just one example of one of the many partnership initiatives that make Nottingham the city it is.”
It is great to see us recognised for what local people know: our city centre is a safe, fun, and well-looked after place to spend time.
Councillor Neghat Khan
Chief Inspector Amy English, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “I am delighted and very proud that Nottingham retained its Purple Flag status. It’s an impressive achievement and shows that police and partners are working well to ensure the city centre is an attractive and safe destination.
“We are fortunate to have strong partnerships with the Nottingham BID and Nottingham City Council and we work closely with them to understand what issues are affecting the communities in the city and how best to tackle them.
“The Purple Flag accreditation is testament to the hard work of a number of agencies and I am pleased that we have played our part to ensure that we kept that status as a city.
“This status obviously does not mean we are crime free but partnership working, and relentless efforts mean we have made significant reductions of 22.7% when compared with pre-pandemic levels in the city centre.
“All I would ask from the public is they continue to report incidents to us so we can understand any issues occurring in the city as they occur so we can take appropriate action.”
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