Bath Safe Bus aims to reduce burden on emergency services
A new ‘Safe Bus’ has been launched in Bath to improve safety across the night-time economy.
The initiative aims to reduce pressure on local emergency services by providing first aid, psychological support and a safe place for anyone in the city centre on Friday and Saturday nights.
The practice is already established in other cities around the UK, where Safe Buses successfully operate as mobile welfare units, providing additional support at busy times.
Brought to the city by the Bath Business Improvement District (BID), the Safe Bus will be staffed by a combination of medical specialists, volunteers and security staff, launching on Friday 31st March.
The service will also be available on additional busy dates throughout the year such as Bank Holidays, Party in the City, Freshers Week and Bath Rugby home games.
As well as keeping visitors safe, a 2017 study commissioned by the Portman Group found that areas with a Safe Space save up to £9.31 for every £1 invested through reduced admissions to A&E and by easing pressure on police and ambulance services.
The Bath Safe Bus project is part of a nationally funded programme, The Safer Streets Fund. Funding was granted by the Home Office in 2022 to be used across different initiatives in Bath, including projects and activities designed to make people feel safer in the city.
The partnership delivering the projects includes Bath and North East Somerset Council, Avon and Somerset Police, Youth Connect South West, Project 24 and the Bath BID.
Bath BID CEO, Allison Herbert, said, “It has been a long process between having the idea and assembling the funding to make it happen, and we are delighted to see this partnership project come to fruition, supporting one of our key objectives, which is making Bath a welcoming city.”
Police Sergeant 4531 Jonathan Raisey, Bath City Centre Neighbourhood Team, added, “Bath Safe Bus is an excellent initiative and will help people using the night-time economy to have a place of safety should they need it. The resource will take a lot of pressure off Police and Ambulance services, and will be a location where people will know they can access support.”
