Volunteer Groups Partner with Police for Festive Season Safety Initiative

Two volunteer organizations are collaborating with police to enhance the safety of individuals enjoying weekend nights out during the festive period. Kettering Street Pastors and Northampton Guardians, who contribute their time to the Safer Nights Out (SNO) vans, will assist Northamptonshire Police as part of Operation Kayak, an initiative targeting specific high-activity zones in Northampton and Kettering. This initiative, established in 2021, aims to decrease criminal activity and confront unsuitable conduct. Detective Chief Inspector Nickie Deeks stated: “Our officers will look out for individuals who are being sexually aggressive, or intimidating, or whose behaviour causes concern.” Police personnel will conduct patrols on Friday and Saturday evenings throughout December in these towns, as well as on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. The Safer Nights Out (SNO) vans, which receive funding from the Northamptonshire police, fire, and crime commissioner, are operational in Northampton’s Market Square and Bridge Street, and within Kettering town centre. Since 2021, the Northampton Guardians have dedicated more than 10,000 hours to ensuring public safety, providing assistance to over 2,000 individuals. Gill Goodship, a volunteer, commented: “We’re certainly busier around this time, especially on New Year’s Eve. “There will be at least 10 of us on shift this year.” Concurrently, the Kettering Street Pastors, who commenced operating the SNO van in their town last year, have contributed 2,000 hours this year, aiding hundreds of people during their service periods. The SNO van in Northampton operates from 10pm to 5am. In Kettering, its operational hours are from 11pm to 3am on Saturdays and on other significant evenings, such as Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve.