Durham City Safety Information
Durham City Safety Hub
A Hub has been set up as a safe place to support anyone in vulnerable moments at St Nic’s Church in Durham Marketplace, which is open on weekends, bank holidays and student nights. The main opening hours are 9pm-3am on Wednesday (university term time), Friday and Saturdays.
The Hub is staffed by a team from Durham County Council, Security, Police, and support staff/volunteers.
It is a safe place for people to go for support which may include somewhere to go if you are lost, need a chat, charge your phone, wait for your lift/taxi to get home safely, a safe place to wait for friends or if a crime has occurred, a safe place to wait for the police.
Operation Lentil
The City of Durham Parish Council have funded two additional police officers to patrol key areas within Durham City Centre identified by partners within the parish wards based on crime data, policing priorities and general concerns directed to them from members of the public with a key focus on safety, vulnerability, anti-social behaviour, and disorder. The additional police officers patrol on a Wednesday (during university term time) Friday and Saturday evening from 22:00-03:00.
Durham City Light Night Time Routes
This is a new scheme whereby if floor sales staff witness someone who appears to become intoxicated, they will approach them and try offer and encourage the individual to consume water. The aim is to observe and monitor the welfare and safety of patrons within licensed premises.
Floor Sales Staff are most likely to be the first people to witness any form of illegal or anti-social behaviour such as drugs, violence and drunken vulnerability which is why they are key in this operation to help enforce a safe environment for customers to enjoy in licensed premises.
Operation Hydrate
#ASKFORANGELA
The safety initiative ‘Ask for Angela’ has been rolled out to bars, clubs, and other licensed businesses across Durham. People who feel unsafe, vulnerable, or threatened can discreetly seek help by approaching venue staff and asking them for ‘Angela’. This code-phrase will indicate to staff that they require help with their situation and a trained member of staff will then look to support and assist them. This might be through reuniting them with a friend, seeing them to a taxi, or by calling venue security and/or the police.
Street Friends
Street Friend volunteers patrol through Durham city centre on a Wednesday evening from 20:00-00:00 during university term time, Friday evening from 20:00-00:00 and Saturdays from 16:00-00:00 to offer help and support to people.
They are there to offer welfare support, basic first aid and direct people to the Safety Hub where volunteers and trained security staff can help with everything from charging phones and handing out water to calling loved ones and helping report a crime.
If you would like to get involved in volunteering, please email us on: streetfriends.safedurham@gmail.com
Do you feel safe in the City Centre?
We want to know if you feel unsafe in any venue or location within the City Centre! The PinPoint tool has been designed to aid a better understanding of anti-social behaviour issues within Durham, so that we can more effectively tackle and challenge this behaviour.
You can share your experiences on PinPoint by clicking the button below; whether you were the target of or witness to the incident, and regardless of if you have or intend to formally report it.
Please note: You will not be formally reporting the incident to any statutory bodies such as the police or emergency services. This should not replace you calling 999 if you need emergency assistance or 101 to log your complaint with the relevant authorities. Details of appropriate authorities and other support services are included with this tool.
Have you been spiked?
It can be difficult to tell if your drink has been spiked but if you notice any changes to the appearance or taste of your drink, stop drinking it and tell staff or security immediately. It can be difficult to spot the symptoms as they vary depending on what you have been spiked with and can be similar symptoms to having excess alcohol.
If you think you or a friend have been spiked, there are a range of things to look out for, including:
confusion
nausea or vomiting
hallucinations and paranoia
disorientation or poor coordination
loss of ability to communicate properly
unconsciousness
What to do if you think you have been spiked?
Alert a member of staff or security if you're at a venue.
Stay with your friend and keep talking to them.
Don’t let them go home on their own or leave with someone you don’t know.
Report to the police online, on 101 or, in an emergency, call 999.