Police warn crime could rise in Derby if more drinking venues put in
Councillors have voted to restrict the number of venues
A restriction to limit and control the number of drinking venues within Derby city centre will remain after police warned crime could rise if it was removed.
Derby councillors have voted to keep large parts of the city centre a Cumulative Impact Area (CIA).
A CIA allows local authorities, such as Derby City Council, to restrict the number of licensed premises in specific areas – if they believe a high concentration of them could undermine key safety objectives.
These include crime and disorder, public safety, public nuisance, and protecting children from harm.
The CIA encourages different types of offerings for the city centre away from drinking venues and nightclubs. Derby also has Vaillant Live, Derby Theatre, The QUAD, casinos, crazy golf and cinema attractions.
Documents state that there were 5,429 NTE (night-time economy) crimes in Derby city centre between September 2020 and August 2023.
Police say many of the incidents happened on Friday or Saturday nights and a council report says the city centre remains a “significant hotspot” for high-harm crime.
In a letter to council chiefs, Derbyshire police warned the current night-life landscape in Derby “is already at a point where further growth would exacerbate existing levels of alcohol-fuelled violence and anti-social behaviour”.
But there are concerns that keeping the restriction could hold back the city’s economy and night-life offering for visitors.
Derby City Pubwatch – a group representing responsible bar operators in the city – claimed the city’s night-life has significantly changed from when CIA restrictions were first brought in 15 years ago and that many bars and clubs have closed in recent years.
The group said the “majority of assaults” recorded by police occurred on streets rather than inside premises.
Daniel Handley-Farrell – licensing inspector for Derbyshire police – told a meeting that evidence showed Derby city centre still faces “challenges” over public safety.
He said: “This policy is not about restricting business growth. It is about ensuring safe, sustainable and well-managed development of the night-time economy.
“Closures have not reduced footfall or risk. They’ve redistributed it amongst the remaining venues.
“Policing of Derby city centre night-time economy requires 10 police officers, one sergeant and one inspector each weekend night. This is a significant deployment for a single urban area in Derbyshire.
“Without a CIA the area risk over saturation crime disorder would increase, police and health services would be further stretched and community confidence would decline.”
Keeping the CIA was approved after a councillor said removing it would be “irresponsible”.
Councillor Sara Bolton said: “To be a safe and sustainable city particularly at night is crucial for Derby as a city. I think it would be silly of us, in fact irresponsible of us, not to proceed with the renewal of this order.”
Councillor Martin Repton added: “If something is working then I don’t think we should change it.”
But not everyone shared the same view. Concerns were raised that the restriction may place “barriers” on potential investment for the city.
Councillor Martin Rawson said: “Thinking back to the 1990s when we were a little bit younger, Derby was a very lively place at that time and had a really great night-time economy.
“Where we are now, we’ve probably got half the number of licensed premises that we had at that time. The world has moved on since we considered this policy last time.”
But officer Handley-Farrell said he believed Derby’s economy would grow with continued safety assurances in place.