On 19 March 2026, Lancashire Constabulary officially launched a safety campaign called NightSafe in Blackpool, Lancashire, to help residents and visitors feel more secure when visiting the town centre at night. The initiative aims to tackle crime in the local nightlife area by increasing the number of officers on the streets and working more closely with local businesses.
The effort, led by Assistant Chief Constable Stasia Osiowy, involves more visible police patrols and regular checks on door staff and pub licences to reduce alcohol-related problems. It also makes use of community safety tools like the Ask for Angela scheme and support from groups such as the Street Angels and Street Pastors.
Starting in April 2026, a new patrol scheme called Project Vigilant will also use plainclothes officers to spot predatory behaviour in real time so that uniformed officers can step in before an incident occurs. This part of the plan was requested by Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw after a survey found that 93 per cent of women and girls across Lancashire feel they must change how they act to avoid danger.
Blackpool currently has about 1,600 bars and venues, which is the highest number in the country outside of London’s Westminster district. The town has a crime rate of about 204.4 incidents per 1,000 people, but earlier safety work in the area has previously managed to lower violent crime by 7.1 per cent in the past.
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