Northampton town centre's night time economy awarded prestigious Purple Flag status for seventh year running

Purple Flag is an internationally recognised accreditation awarded to town and city centres that demonstrate excellence in managing a safe, diverse and thriving evening and night-time economy.

The town was given the highest possible mark available for safety, which is the first time Northampton has achieved the top rating in any area of its Purple Flag assessment.

According to West Northamptonshire Council (WNC), assessors praised Northampton’s partnership approach, highlighting the visible police presence, coordinated CCTV coverage, taxi marshals, Street Pastors, Northampton Guardians, Pubwatch members and the Safer Nights Out welfare provision, all working together to protect residents, visitors and students.

The assessment also commended initiatives to tackle anti-social behaviour, violence against women and girls, drink spiking and vulnerability, as well as the town’s dedicated student safety routes, welfare support and multi-agency intelligence sharing.

The accreditation comes shortly after the night time economy marked the tenth anniversary of the murder of India Chipchase. The 20-year-old was killed after a night out in Bridge Street. The town turned purple in her memory on the day of the anniversary.

Authorities say the renewed Purple Flag status shows how far the town has come since the tragic incident in 2016.

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Chief Inspector Nicola Davis-Lyons of Northamptonshire Police said: “As we mark the 10-year anniversary of India Chipchase’s tragic death, this award is also a timely reminder of the progress we have made in improving safety across the night-time economy.

“Being highly commended for our safety initiatives shows just how far we’ve come and reinforces our determination to ensure Northampton remains a welcoming and secure place for everyone.”

Danielle Stone, the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, added: “We all want Northampton to be a place that people enjoy visiting and where they can feel safe.

“Achieving that can only be done if all our organisations work together - with a particular focus on putting measures in place to prevent problems from happening in the first place.”

Councillor Charlie Hastie, WNC’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, continued: “Achieving Purple Flag renewal is a real achievement for Northampton, but to receive an Outstanding rating for safety – the highest mark available – is something we are incredibly proud of.

“This accreditation sends a powerful message that our town centre is a safe, well-managed and welcoming place to enjoy after dark.”

Mark Mullen, operations manager at Northampton Town Centre BID, said: “Northampton is a place where people can enjoy a night out in the knowledge there is an infrastructure in place to keep everyone safe, with teams working hard to make our town centre a welcoming place after dark.

“Accompanying the Purple Flag assessors on their visit, it was clear how impressed they were with the measures we have in place and their report is glowing in its praise for the work that has been achieved here. This is a celebration of collaboration and we look forward to building on this further in the future.”

Receiving Purple Flag accreditation has been shown to boost local economies, increase tourism and improve the overall quality of life for residents.