IPSWICH: A new campaign to make the town a safer place at night by reducing alcohol-related crime and disorder is today underway.

Ipswich Best Bar None was launched at Ipswich Town Football Club yesterday, with licence holders, police, The Evening Star, Ipswich Borough Council and Ipswich Central backing the project.

Each pub and club in Ipswich will get the opportunity to apply for the accreditation. Applications will be considered and then the top three venues will be put forward to a panel of three judges who will decide on the winners, to be announced at an awards evening next March.

The categories considered include door policy, security briefings for staff, policy on drunkeness, drugs policy, crime prevention, alcohol promotions and policies regarding underage drinking.

Speaking at the launch, the dedicated Best Bar None officer at IBC, Caroline Elias said it is all about “promoting a safer environment,” letting people in Ipswich know which premises have achieved the accrediation. “It is about rewarding good practice and it means people can be assured of a good, fun, safe night out,” she said. “We would like to put Ipswich on the map as being Suffolk’s premier night time destination.”

The project will see the authorities working together to promote the responsible management and operation of licensed premises.

Inspector Becky Kidd-Stanton said the scheme was a new way of improving Ipswich not only for licensees but for the wider community. She said: “This is one of many initiatives that the police and partners are working towards to reduce crime and to highlight all that is good about Ipswich.” And councillor Nadia Cenci, of IBC added: “It is a way forward with less money, working together for the good of the town.”

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