Plans to keep pubs and bars yob-free, with the help of government cash, include:

• Airport style portable metal detectors – to check for bladed instruments


• The introduction of volunteer "Street Angels" to look after revellers.


• City Watch – a mobile phone information system


• Drugs dogs


• A media awareness van

Incidents of violence in Scarborough town centre are already down 21 per cent between February and July this year, compared with the same period in 2007 – and the intention is to keep it that way.

Barry Graham, crime reduction and anti-social behaviour co-ordinator of Scarborough Safer Communities Partnership, said: "This is about trying to prevent crime and being proactive.

"Scarborough is a relatively safe area and is certainly a lot safer than other areas of the country. From time to time we do have problems which is why we are launching this initiative.

"The scheme is about reducing violence in the night time economy, problems with alcohol related violence and domestic violence."

Mr Graham said it was hoped the "Street Angel" initiative would be up and running by the first week in December.

He said: "They are volunteers who will patrol the town centre areas around licensed premises, normally on a Friday and Saturday nights and bank holidays. They will patrol a set route which is covered by CCTV. They support vulnerable people – they don't become involved but their sheer presence is proved to reduce incidents dramatically."

Similar schemes already operate in a number of cities and towns including Halifax and Bradford.

Mr Graham said: "Since the Street Angels have been in operation in Halifax, they have seen a 47 per cent decrease in crime and disorder in the town centre. In Bradford they have seen a 22 per cent decrease." The partnership is also aiming to introduce one or more £8,000 portable metal detectors which will check for knives or other weapons.

Mr Graham said: "They can be assembled in five minutes and can be used outside licensed premises or on loan to pubs and clubs. Some areas even have them in the streets."

However, he stressed the number of bladed weapons found on people in Scarborough was very low, adding: "Again this is about trying to prevent problems."

Mr Graham said the detectors could also be taken up to schools should they be requested. The City Watch initiative will be an extension of the current Pub Watch scheme which allows landlords and pub managers to alert others should there be an incident on their premises.

It is based on a mobile phone information system where landlords will be encouraged to take a picture of an offender and send it to others in the scheme. Other moves include the passive drug dogs, which will be used to patrol the town centre and a media awareness van which will raise awareness about drinking safely and sensibly.

Mr Graham said, if the scheme was successful in Scarborough, it would be rolled out across the borough.

The Safer Communities Partnership is looking for volunteers who would like to become a Street Angel. For more information contact Mr Graham or Sandra Rees on (01723) 232326.

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