Sheffield named as one of the safest places in the country for a night out

It's official, Sheffield is one of the safest places in the country for a night out.

The Purple Flag award recognises cities which provide a wide range of entertainment and culture, while maintaining safety between 5pm and 5am.

The award comes amid a wave of violent crime during nights out in the city, most recently a stabbing at Crystal Bar on New Years Eve. The incident, which happened in the early hours of the morning and saw six men injured, has led to a temporary closure of the bar and staff now being made to wear body cameras.

Superintendent Paul McCurry from South Yorkshire Police welcomed the cities recognition, despite recent incidents.

“In recent weeks, we have seen a number of concerning incidents in the city centre at our licensed premises but it is testament to the excellent partnership working between police, Sheffield BID and licensed premises that we were able to address these issues quickly, enforcing closure notices while discussions take place to improve public safety measures.

“Retaining the Purple Flag status is a significant achievement for all those involved in this process and a great deal of work happens behind the scenes to gain this accreditation, so I want to thank everyone who has supported, and continues to support, this initiative.”

Crystal Nightclub is a popular destination among students from both universities

Diane Jarvis, Sheffield's Business Improvement District (BID) manager, said: “Making Sheffield city centre a safer place for people to eat, drink, shop, and enjoy themselves in the evening is a one of Sheffield BID’s core objectives, and it is fantastic that the city continues to be recognised by Purple Flag."

“Most importantly, our local businesses work incredibly hard to make Sheffield one of the safest cities for a night out. It’s great to see that hard work being recognised year on year through Purple Flag.”

Campaigns, such as 'Alive After 5', have focused on developing the cities economy in the evening, making it a safe and welcoming place for visitors.