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THE PEACEMAKERS

Residents and police want to make Bolton safer

Alcohol related disruptive behaviour is commonplace in many cities across the UK, but as Inside Out reveals, one North West town thinks it has the answer. We follow one of their 'peacemakers', as they set out to make the streets safer for us all.

Binge drinking is prevalent in many towns, and the general public are the ones who are suffering.

Many feel their streets are just not safe anymore, and the days of going out to town for a quiet meal are all but gone in some areas.

But Bolton residents and police have had enough. Inside Out North West heads out on the town to find out more.

Widespread issue

Alcohol plays a large part in the lives of many people.

The industry employs thousands of people in the North West and many initiatives in the area are sponsored by alcohol companies.

Those most likely to binge drink are the 16 to 24-year-old age group

And there's no doubting the attraction and popularity of having a relaxing drink or two to unwind.

But the problem is - some of us just don't know when to stop.

Studies carried out by the Centre for Public Health showed that, on average, people in the North West drink less frequently than in other areas, but when they do drink they are more likely to binge drink.

Younger drinkers are the most at risk, and they are the ones who are usually out on the streets at night.

With alcohol being easier than ever to buy, it's no wonder that the partying spills out onto the streets and into the paths of innocent bystanders.

Enough is enough

In response to the increasing anti-social behaviour caused by drinking, Bolton Townsafe Partnership Group devised a plan.

In August 2004, Laura Miseo became the country's first "night time manager".

Her job is to patrol the streets of Bolton and reduce the instances of alcohol related anti-social behaviour, thus making the town a safer place at night.

Laura Miseo's aim is to keep revellers safe in Bolton

Laura, 26, is no stranger to the nightlife in Bolton.

She is currently working as an assistant manager in one of the local pubs and has always worked in the industry.

"Having run a pub, I understand only too well the challenges licensees face with alcohol-related anti-social behaviour and violence.

" I hope this experience will help me develop initiatives that will suit their needs," Laura says.

As she heads into the town with Inside Out's Ana Boulter, Laura comments, "We're all working together to make Bolton a safer place and get more people into the town just by police presence and ambassadors on the street to deter problems."

The specially appointed ambassadors are in constant contact with Laura, police, the CCTV room and pubs that have signed up for the scheme.

Things are hotting up

It's only 10pm, yet the streets of Bolton are already getting busy.

The paramedics are being called upon, often to deal with people who have overindulged.

Paramedic Arthur Morris is no stranger to dealing with drunks but still finds it shocking when he sees a 12-year-old who is too drunk to stand.

Bolton Accident and Emergency typically treats 30 to 40 people every Friday night as a direct result of binge drinking.

Doctor Richard Jones from the A&E unit comments, "It's certainly getting worse year on year.

"We're seeing much more alcohol abuse and were seeing much younger people with it.

"We've had eight to 10-year-olds in here heavily intoxicated."

Back in Bolton town centre the streets start to swell with people as the pubs close and revellers move off to the nightclubs.

This can be the time the trouble begins, but many partygoers have found that just having an increased police presence is often enough to dampen any quarrels.

Get on the dance floor

It's past midnight and the nightclubs are heaving.

But what used to be a prime time for anti-social behaviour is now becoming much more controlled.

Many of the clubs in the area have signed up to the Townsafe scheme in an attempt to make their premises safer for everyone.

Nightclub staff are being educated in how to handle drunken behaviour

Laura and Ana enter one of the bigger clubs in the town, which was among the first to join the scheme.

Becoming part of Townsafe won't guarantee these clubs don't have problems, but it will certainly help.

As the evening comes to an end and people start leaving the clubs in the early hours of the morning, this is time for Laura and the ambassadors to be on the ball.

Police officers ensure they are patrolling the town centre to keep moving people on home.

As Laura watches a pair of officers talking to crowds on the pavement she comments, "Tonight they're not too bad."

Closing time

It's almost 3am and Bolton town centre is becoming peaceful once again. The night has been relatively quiet, although paramedics have been busy.

Certainly most people come out to have fun and enjoy themselves, not to cause trouble.

And so after another night trying to keep the streets of Bolton safe, the group reflect on their evening.

The ambassadors feel it has been a positive night. "I think it's gone pretty well tonight everyone's been on the link - police, cctv and the licensees at the various venues, it's gone really well," one of them comments.

But Arthur Morris still finds it frustrating that so much of the paramedic's time is taken up with drink related incidents.

"We've not used any equipment, not saved any lives, it can make you annoyed if you've been with a drunk and something more serious is happening," he says.

Laura looks upon the situation more positively. "I don't think anyone will ever stop that, we're here to reduce it and I think it's been a really good night."

Certainly it seems the Townsafe initiative is making a difference to Bolton, and with plans to spread the scheme throughout the UK we should all have safer places to go at night.