Nottingham has once again been awarded Purple Flag status by the Association of Town and City Management (ATCM) – marking the 15th consecutive year the city has been recognised for excellence in managing its evening, night-time, and visitor economies.
The Purple Flag is a recognised accreditation that is only awarded to towns and cities where public and private sector organisations collaborate to offer visitors a safe, diverse, and vibrant nightlife.
Nottingham’s continued success reflects the strength of partnerships across the city, involving It’s in Nottingham – the city’s Business Improvement District (BID), funding partner – the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP), Nottinghamshire Police, Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Nottingham Trent University, the University of Nottingham, stakeholders, and a range of local businesses.
The assessment process considered various factors, including safety measures, the diversity of the city’s late-night offer, and the overall management of the city centre at night. In awarding the Purple Flag to Nottingham, governing body ATCM highlighted effective communication between businesses and partner agencies through the Purple Flag working group and the introduction by It’s in Nottingham of both strategic and tactical forums to ensure businesses can take part in safety initiatives across the city.
Other highlights noted by the ATCM include:
- Enhanced safety measures: Nottingham’s investment and commitment to enhancing safety stood out, with initiatives such as the Body Worn Video camera radios, jointly funded by It’s in Nottingham and the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Violence Reduction Partnership. These units enable live streaming to CCTV for rapid emergency response. The Safe Space Pledge also demonstrated significant engagement from local businesses, with its positive impact evident during incidents involving vulnerable individuals. During 2024, transport drivers were recognised for their exemplary actions in such situations
- No Place for Hate Charter: Business participation in the ‘No Place for Hate’ charter surged from 88 to 346 businesses, showcasing a unified commitment across the sector. The focus on aftercare and wellbeing for hospitality staff experiencing incidents is a crucial part of Nottingham’s holistic approach to safety
- Vibrant events calendar: Nottingham’s robust event calendar, particularly the success of Light Night, has positively impacted spending, footfall, and public perceptions, drawing diverse crowds into the city during evening hours
- Growing nightlife scene: Amid a national trend of nightclub closures, Nottingham is bucking the trend, with new venues opening and contributing to the city’s vibrant nightlife
- Strong partnerships: The working group behind Nottingham’s Purple Flag status remains committed and has expanded to include all city bus providers, representatives from CCTV Control, Best Bar None, and city cleansing. Key partnerships with the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire VRP, Consent Coalition, Pubwatch, Nottingham Trent University, the University of Nottingham and the Office of the Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner have been pivotal in making Nottingham a safer place
Rich Lane, Head of Operations and Business Crime at It’s in Nottingham, said: “Achieving Purple Flag status once again highlights the incredible teamwork and commitment of our partners. From the VRP, Consent Coalition and Pubwatch to Nottinghamshire Police and the universities, everyone has played a crucial role in creating a night-time environment where safety and enjoyment go hand in hand.”
Nottinghamshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Gary Godden, said: “This is national recognition that Nottingham is a safe and vibrant city where all of our diverse communities can come together and enjoy what the city has to offer. With tens of thousands of people visiting Nottingham every day, this award is a real testament to the collaborative work of several agencies that goes on in the background to make Nottingham a safe and enjoyable place for all.”
Chief Inspector Karl Thomas, who oversees neighbourhood policing in Nottingham’s city centre, said: “I am delighted that Nottingham retained its Purple Flag status. It’s an incredibly positive achievement and it shows that police and partners are working well to ensure Nottingham is an attractive and safe destination.
“We are fortunate to have strong partnerships with It’s in Nottingham and Nottingham City Council and we work closely with them to understand what issues are affecting the communities in the city and how best to tackle them.
“The Purple Flag accreditation is a testament to the hard work of several agencies and I am pleased that we have done our bit to ensure that we kept that status as a city.
“As with any large city, there will always be a number of crimes reported to us – this is no different to any other area with a large population and thriving night-time economy and Nottingham remains a safe place to live, work and visit. Where people are coming into our city to commit crimes, we are actively working to identify them and bring them to justice as demonstrated by the plethora of arrests made in recent weeks.
“All I would ask from the public is that they continue to report incidents to us and engage with officers out on patrol if they have any concerns or issues. We will always work to ensure appropriate action is taken if an offence has been committed.”
Councillor Corall Jenkins, Nottingham City Council’s Executive Member for Communities, Waste and Equalities, commented: “We are delighted to be celebrating another year of Purple Flag status in Nottingham – a testament to our partnership efforts.
“The judging panel highlighted our outstanding events calendar, in particular our fantastic Light Night event, and our collective commitment to enhancing community safety.
“We recognise there’s always more to do, but this accreditation recognises our commitment to improvement, and we look forward to building on this, to ensure that Nottingham is a safe and welcoming city for all.”
Wayne Cliff, Head of Campus Security and Community Liaison at Nottingham Trent University said: “Nottingham’s continued success in retaining the Purple Flag status for the fifteenth consecutive year is a testament to the strength of collaboration across the city.
“As a university, we are proud to be part of this collective effort to foster a safe, inclusive, and vibrant night-time economy. Our students, colleagues, and the wider community benefit from the city’s commitment to providing a welcoming and enjoyable environment, and this recognition reinforces Nottingham’s reputation as a leader in promoting both safety and nightlife culture.”
The Purple Flag status reinforces Nottingham’s reputation as a city that balances safety and entertainment, creating a night-time environment residents and visitors can enjoy with confidence.
Posted on 26 March 2025
