Night Marshals to patrol Chelmsford city centre on Friday nights in new safety drive

Night Marshals will begin patrolling Chelmsford city centre on Friday nights as part of an expanded programme aimed at reducing violence, disorder and knife crime.

From Friday, September 25, Chelmsford's Night Marshals will operate in the city centre every Friday and Saturday night between 10pm and 4am.

The marshals, who can be identified by their purple high-visibility clothing, have previously been operating regular Saturday night patrols.

The expansion follows funding secured by Chelmsford City Council from the Home Office's Knife Crime Concentration Fund.

Chelmsford included in national knife crime programme

Chelmsford was identified by the Home Office as one of 230 areas most affected by knife crime in England and Wales.

Chelmsford City Council and Essex Police subsequently worked together on a programme designed to address factors associated with violence and weapons-related offences, with Chelmsford High Street identified as a local hotspot.

The council says police data indicates knife crime in Chelmsford is targeted and predominantly linked to county-lines drug activity and exploitation, affecting a relatively small number of people.

The new funding will support a range of preventative measures including increased visible patrols, youth work, environmental improvements, work with venue security teams, public awareness campaigns and the provision of knife-protection and anti-spiking equipment to businesses.

Night Marshals on patrol until 4am

The Night Marshals are accredited under the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS) and by the Security Industry Authority (SIA).

They patrol the High Street and surrounding areas and work alongside Essex Police, council officers, Chelmsford For You and the city's SOS Bus.

The marshals are also in direct radio contact with Chelmsford City Council's CCTV control room and Essex Police.

Their CSAS accreditation gives them powers to help tackle crime and disorder, public nuisance and other forms of antisocial behaviour.

Night Marshals have been carrying out Saturday evening patrols since January following an earlier six-month pilot.

Chelmsford City Council says the marshals have helped vulnerable people, reassured businesses and members of the public and intervened in incidents before they escalated.

Violence concentrated around night-time economy

The council says evidence shows violent crime in Chelmsford is concentrated around the night-time economy, with the greatest risk on Friday and Saturday nights between 8pm and 3am.

Alcohol intoxication and large numbers of people gathering in the city centre are among the factors identified as contributing to the increased risk.

However, the council says partnership work involving Chelmsford City Council, Essex Police and the Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit has contributed to a 35.9% year-on-year reduction in serious violence, with particular improvement recorded in the Moulsham and Central ward.

Councillor Natacha Dudley, Chelmsford City Council's Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said the funding would allow the city to expand its existing work to prevent violence.

She said Chelmsford's programme had been designed around local evidence and would combine a range of preventative interventions over the coming months.

Wider knife crime prevention work planned

The expanded Night Marshal service is only one element of the programme.

Home Office funding will also support increased police, council and venue staff visibility during periods considered to present the greatest risk.

The wider project will be delivered by Chelmsford City Council and Essex Police over the next 12 months.

For people heading into Chelmsford city centre at the weekend, the Night Marshals can be identified by their purple high-vis vests and will now be on patrol every Friday and Saturday from 10pm until 4am.