Extra night-time police patrols in Newmarket High Street to protect women and girls

Extra night-time police patrols are being targeted at the centre of Newmarket as part of a national strategy to protect women and girls from violence.

Inspector Connor Lyon, who is responsible for the town’s safer neighbourhood team, as well as those in Mildenhall and Brandon, said Suffolk Police had identified the reduction of violence against women and girls in the High Street as a local priority based on the town's night-time activity, which was the busiest in the Forest Heath area, and its overall footfall.

But he was keen to stress the extra focus was not due to a spike in reported cases but rather as a result of national trends and a policing strategy geared toward women's safety.

“We are being proactive, rather than reactive,” said. “There will be extra police patrols of Newmarket High Street through certain times of the day as part of targeted pulse patrols. Officers on foot patrol at night will be looking to identify anyone in a vulnerable situation, either through intoxication, or perhaps alone, who may need help.”

He added that officers would also be working alongside the Town Pastors group. “They do an absolutely fantastic job as does the SOS Bus which we also plan to link up with.”

Insp Lyon said police, through Newmarket BID, would also be looking to work with licensed premises, and pubs’ door security staff, and using council CCTV to identify vulnerable persons to ensure they were safe. “If security staff see something they are concerned about they will be able to liaise with our officers,” he said.

And he added that having officers on foot patrol meant they could easily be approached for advice, or help, by anyone finding themselves in a vulnerable situation. “That could mean getting someone a taxi, or phoning parents to come and take someone home,” he said.

He said the extension of a public spaces protection order for Newmarket until 2026 by West Suffok Council, which gives police power to control the drinking alcohol in an area, allowed officers to effectively tackle incidents of street drinking in a bid reduce anti-social behaviour and the possibility of alcohol-fuelled violence against women and girls.

He said officers would also monitor the town’s taxi rank with licence checks continuing.