The teams which keep the Saturday night streets of Truro safe for revellers are gearing up for the busy festive period.

Formed in 2013, the Truro Safe Partnership was set up to respond to the need to improve safety in the evening and at night time within the city.

It aims to make sure that anyone who visits Truro city centre on a Saturday evening will be looked after if they find themselves in a vulnerable position.

The street teams within Truro Safe each have their own specialisms, skills and training but work closely together to provide people with the best level of support to deal with various situations. Support ranges from helping someone who has been separated from their friends - including helping them to get transport home, to providing first aid and giving medical treatment in the dedicated Safe Space ambulance.

The street marshals liaise closely with venue door staff and the police helping to quickly address unruly behaviour from individuals, by preventing them from entering licensed premises or stopping disturbances on the street.

The partnership is made up of licensed traders, taxi operators, the police, Truro City Council, Cornwall Council, Cornwall Fire, Rescue and Community Safety (CFRCS) service, Safer Cornwall and the Totally Truro Business Improvement District (BID), as well as Truro Street Pastors, Cornwall Resus and the Street Marshals.

Funding currently comes from a number of sources including the Cornwall Community Foundation, Cornwall Councillors grants, St. Austell Brewery, Truro City Council, Totally Truro and from local businessmen Pete and Jason Masters who own Truro City Football Club and Bunters, and are the former owners of L2 nightclub.

Sergeant Marc Sayers said: “Truro police are pleased to work in partnership with Truro safe, helping to ensure the city remains a safe and enjoyable place for people to spend time in.”

Alun Jones, of Totally Truro, said “The Totally Truro BID Team are delighted to continue working as a business partner of the Truro Safe scheme, where additional police, medical and social reassurance support will be available throughout the festive period on Saturday nights including some additional peak festive dates, making Truro a great safe place to visit and enjoy.”

CFRCS Service have supported Truro Safe by initially repairing and updating the resus ambulance so that it was equipped and ready for use. They will continue to undertake the regular maintenance of the ambulance to ensure the resus team can provide assistance to the residents and visitors to Truro. Mick Vigo, engineering workshops manager from CFRCS, said “We are pleased to be supporting such a great partnership that supports the community of Truro in multiple ways.”

Geoff Brown, Cornwall Council portfolio holder for communities, said “As someone who was a founder volunteer with the original Newquay Safe scheme I recognise the huge impact which the Truro project will have on the safety and well being of the community and contribute to developing a secure atmosphere to the city's nighttime economy.”

The Truro Safe partnership meets regularly throughout the year to review activities, plan resources for busy times of year such as Christmas and New Year and consider other matters in the City.