Number Forty has opened in Darlington as part of Safer Streets partnership.

A new safe space has opened in Darlington town centre to provide a haven for those on a night out who feel vulnerable, unwell, or have been a victim of crime.

Number Forty, on Skinnergate, is open from 9pm to 3am on Friday and Saturday nights.

It is staffed by trained security staff and volunteers, with support from police officers, who can provide help to those who need it. The doors opened for the first time last weekend, and we were blown away by all of your support.

Durham Constabulary helped dozens of people on our first weekend. Here are just some examples of the ways the hub helped to make sure people remained safe on their night out:

• Two teenage girls who had been on a night out attended Number Forty as their phones were out of charge and they needed to contact their parents. They     stayed for 20 minutes to charge their phones so one of them could call their dad to come down and walk them both home safely.
• A teenage girl who had finished work late at night and felt vulnerable came to Number Forty to wait for her boyfriend to pick her up.
• A distressed man was brought to Number Forty by a taxi driver in the early hours of the morning as he was incredibly upset and needed support. Police officers and volunteers spoke with him for around 20 minutes, gave him water, spoke to his mum on the phone, and helped him find his friends to get home. 
• Three intoxicated women – one with broken shoes and a ripped top – were given flip-flops and a safety pin to help repair the top.
• Two young boys approached staff at Number Forty late on in the evening as they had found a man unconscious near the town centre. Police officers were     dispatched to the scene to help.
• A man who had sustained a head injury after play fighting with his friend attended Number Forty for medical assistance. A police officer administered first aid and helped him on his way. 
• In the early hours of the morning, a distressed young woman who had fallen out with her friends was invited into Number Forty for a chat and some water. A volunteer phoned her mum, who was grateful that she was being safeguarded, and came to collect her daughter and take her home.   

Number Forty is a joint project between Durham Constabulary, Darlington Borough Council and Durham Police and Crime Commissioner as part of the Darlington Safer Streets partnership.

It is one of several interventions being implemented by the partnership to help make Darlington safer for everyone.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at Number Forty, please get in touch by emailing either Chris Knox at chris.knox@darlington.gov.uk or Lucy Hatch at Lucy.Hatch2@durham-pcc.gov.uk