A new town centre safe space is set to open this weekend to provide a safe haven for people on a night out who feel vulnerable, unwell or have been a victim of crime.
Number Forty, on Skinnergate, Darlington, will be open from 9pm to 3am on Friday and Saturday nights. It will be staffed by trained security staff and street paramedics will be on hand to provide first aid and medical support to those who need it.
Funding for the new initiative has come from the Home Office’s Safer Streets Fund and is supported by the Darlington Safer Streets partnership, which includes Darlington Borough Council and Durham Constabulary, and is one of several recent measures to increase safety, particularly among women and girls in the town centre.
Read more: Home Office cash delivering results in bid to clean up streets
Council leader Jonathan Dulston was at the facility on Thursday morning for its official launch before opening its doors for the first time to the public on Friday.
“People can be reassured there is a safe space in Darlington,” he said. “If we can create a safe space that’s not just supporting young girls and females but supporting the wider community that can only be a good thing.”
The team behind launching Number Forty have transformed a formerly vacant town centre building in a prominent location and Cllr Dulston hopes to implement similar work elsewhere in the town.
He added: “We’re always looking for different businesses to come to Darlington. Not only in the night will this facility be used but also during the day too.”
County Durham and Darlington Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen said the new centre will help to increase public confidence. “Just knowing this service exists will provide reassurance to local people, especially women and girls, and increase their enjoyment of the town, which is exactly what the ‘Safer People’ priority in my Police and Crime Plan aims to deliver,” said Ms Allen.
Assistant chief constable at Durham Police, Tonya Antonis, says the current facility in Durham city centre has helped the force understand how beneficial the facilities are.
“This really builds on all the work we’ve been doing throughout the safer streets projects," she said. "We’ve done a terrific amount of work that has made a difference – and the feedback we’ve received from people in the community is that they do feel safe.
“It really sends out a message to people that there is a safe space for people if they need it.”
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