Night time revellers were treated to free goodies to highlight the importance of staying safe while out and about after dark.

Hollie-Rae Merrick

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IPSWICH: Night time revellers were treated to free goodies to highlight the importance of staying safe while out and about after dark.

Police officers from the Night Time Economy (NTE) team patrolled the streets on Friday - handing out lip balms, beer mats and posters as part of Suffolk Constabulary's SMILE (Safety Makes Ipswich Life Enjoyable) campaign.

Stationed outside Pals nightclub on the Old Cattle Market, they chatted with customers with the aim of driving home the three safety mottos, friends stick together, get home safely and don't over do it.

PC Rebecca Kidd-Stanton, operations inspector and head of the SMILE campaign, said: “By having our officers out where the public can interact with them helps to build a trusting relationship between the two and people begin to feel a lot safer when they go out at night.

“By giving out the promotional goods it allows people to actually have something which reflects the SMILE campaign and automatically people become more aware.”

Officers from the NTE team will be out on the streets of Ipswich on a weekly basis advising party-goers not to drink excessive amounts.

Andrew Burford, manager of Pals, added: “It was great to have the officers on the front door speaking with all the customers.

“It's really important for people to be aware of that presence as it really leads to them having a happier, safer and more enjoyable night out.”

Suffolk Constabulary's SMILE campaign, which has been backed by the Evening Star, aims to portray Ipswich as a safe place for night time party-goers and daytime shoppers.

Do you feel safe on a night out in Ipswich? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.