The Borough Council worked in partnership with Leicestershire Constabulary LPU, the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) and the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) to secure the award for managing the night-time economy in Hinckley. The partners demonstrated their work in making the town centre a safe, clean, welcoming and thriving place ‘after dark’.

Sadiq Khan, Communities Minister comments, "My congratulations go out to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council and Leicestershire Police Hinckley LPU and other partners. The Beacons are about showcasing the very best in service delivery, and in this, their final year, we really have seen some exceptional examples of managing the night-time economy. Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council and Leicestershire police Hinckley LPU are among are the top performers in their field, setting the standard for innovation, service excellence and improvement. With the added emphasis on economic recovery in this year’s Beacons, the winners are ideally placed to share their knowledge and skills to improve the sector as a whole.

Marianne Hood, chair of the Beacons Panel continues, “Being awarded Beacon status means that Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council and Leicestershire Police Hinckley LPU and their partners will receive recognition, from national government and other authorities, for their expertise in managing the night-time economy. I will be closely following the work that the Beacon authorities carry out, and wish them the very best of luck, in their new role sharing knowledge and supporting improvement.”

Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council with Leicestershire Police Hinckley Local Policing Unit, the Local Strategic Partnership and the Community Safety Partnership and the other Beacon councils for this theme will now work together, with the support of the Improvement and Development Agency, using a range of learning activities to help improve standards in all authorities in this area.

Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council Leader, Councillor David Bill said: “ What is important is not just that the Borough Council and partner agencies have received yet another award, encouraging though that is, but that we have shown once again what can be achieved by everyone working together towards a common aim."

Inspector Martyn Ball, Commander of the Hinckley local policing unit, said: “Working closely with our partners at the council has helped us achieve this prestigious award and I am extremely proud of the success we have attained in recent years.

“By focusing on key problems and locations that impact on crime and disorder we have dramatically reduced crime in the town and across the Borough. We have launched a number of successful campaigns with the Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council and our wider partners, such as Street Pastors and Pub Watch, which has had a significant impact on community cohesion and reassurance. Making Hinckley and Bosworth a safer place to live, work and visit has been at the heart of our efforts and our Beacon Status recognises that.”

South area Commander, Chief Superintendent Garry Forsyth added: “This is a tremendous accolade to the hard work of the local policing unit and the Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council. Beacon Status has provided us with a wonderful opportunity to invest further in our commitment to managing the night-time economy in the area.”

The Beacon Scheme is funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), and the programme is managed at the Improvement and Development Agency for local government. This year, the independent Beacon panel received 125 applications (involving 159 authorities), and using an extensive judging process, they whittled this number down to a shortlist of 62. « Less

Ken Bown, Clerk to the Parish Council. Tel. 01455 842019 « Less