Burnley BID teams up with Lancashire Police to put safety first

Burnley Business Improvement District (BID) has teamed up with Lancashire Police to add to the feeling of safety people experience when visiting the town in the evening.

They’ve purchased 500 anti-spiking kits and 500 personal alarms which the Police will carry a stock of when patrolling Burnley.

Anybody who has any safety concerns, or is interested in getting hold of one of the kits or alarms, can simply approach a PC or PCSO in Burnley town centre and request one.

The purpose of the anti-spiking kits is to prevent pills and illicit substances being slipped into drinks, while the personal alarms can be used to create a distraction or draw the attention of others by emitting a loud siren noise coupled with emergency lighting.

This initiative, delivered by the Burnley BID team in partnership with Lancashire Police, is part of the organisation’s goal to create a safer and more secure town centre both night and day as outlined under theme three of their business plan.

It also helps towards their endeavours of achieving Purple Flag status in Burnley; an accreditation that allows members of the public to identify town and city centres that offer an entertaining, diverse, safe and enjoyable night out.

Speaking about this collaborative project, Burnley BID Project Manager Andrew Dean said: “We want everybody who comes into Burnley to feel safe and at ease and to ultimately have a great time.

 “That’s why we’ve worked together with Lancashire Police to help people access that extra layer of security and peace of mind should they feel they want it. We’re looking forward to working with the police on other initiatives going forward to benefit Burnley.”

PC Paul Marsden added: “This is a great example of how town centre organisations can work together to deliver positive projects to improve the visitor experience.

“I would urge anyone in Burnley to approach me or a member of our team if they would like to know more about the kits or alarms and pick one up.”

Want to know more about Burnley BID’s work and their objectives? Then check out their official website: https://burnleybid.co.uk/.