Drinksafe

The 'ICE' (In Case of Emergency) Bus offers a safe haven to people on a night out who have been injured, are feeling unwell, or are in need of support and advice. It is parked at the Cenotaph and is open from 10pm to 4am every Saturday night and at other busy nights throughout the year.

The 'ICE' Bus service started in December 2009 and is run by Southampton City Council in partnership with South Central Ambulance Service and other partners including Street Pastors, Southampton Police, Health and Southampton Voluntary Services. In its first year the 'ICE' Bus crew helped over 380 clients, of which more than 140 received treatment on the Bus - which meant they didn't have to go to A&E.

For further information about the ICE Bus, please follow the link at the foot of the page, or watch the video by following the YouTube link on the left side of this page. You can also join our ICE Bus Southampton Facebook page by following the link on the left.

The Yellow Card Southampton initiative informs visitors to the city centre about acceptable standards of behaviour - to help reduce incidents of low level crime and anti-social behaviour.

The scheme is based on current football rules, when controlling anti-social behaviour in the night time economy. One yellow card and you are on warning and your details will be taken on a secure web site. Two yellow cards and you are sent off and your details and photo are shared with licensed premises and you are excluded from all participating venues in the city for an entire year.

Since it's launch in June 2010 the scheme has helped reduce alcohol-related crime in the city centre by 27 per cent compared to the same period in 2009. Nearly 400 single yellow cards have been given out. 20 people have been given two yellow cards and are banned from participating city centre pubs and bars for 12 months.

To find out more about the Yellow Card Southampton go to the Yellow Card web site at: http://www.yellowcardsouthampton.info or contact Chris Caesar, Night Time Economy Manager on 023 8020 6167

Volunteer Street Pastors patrol the city centre every Friday and Saturday night, from 10pm to 4am. Their main purpose is to contribute to the safety of visitors to the city centre by providing help or information to those in need. In the past year they have come to the aid of 400 people. They have also swept up broken glass 300 times and cleared over 3000 bottles and glasses off the streets.
For more information contact southampton@streetpastors.org.uk

Taxi Marshals manage taxi ranks in the city centre at busy times, helping visitors get home safely. Taxi Marshals can be found at taxi ranks in London Road, Lower Bannister Street and Above Bar Street between 11pm and 3am every Friday and Saturday night and on other busy nights of the year. This scheme is delivered in partnership with local licensed venues.

For more information contact richard.black@southampton.gov.uk

In 2009 a temporary road closure of Above Bar improved safety by reducing traffic and easing pedestrian congestion on pavements. Similar closures are planned for other areas that are busy at night in the city centre.