The Safety Bus scheme, run by South Wales Police and Skills & Volunteering Cymru, supported by Cardiff’s universities, brings together police officers and volunteers to provide on-the-spot help for anyone who needs it in the city centre's night time economy.

The project has run for around a decade, but for the first time the mobile responder teams now have two fully-equipped busses as a result of Home Office Safer Streets funding granted in the last year – with defibrillators, first aid equipment, folding wheelchairs and power-packs for mobile phones and laptops. The Safezone app, from Criticalarc which is also promoted by the team, allows people at risk to request immediate support for themselves and others, and first aid treatment if needed.

To prevent people from becoming victims of crime, including drink spiking, those who are vulnerable can also be taken by the Safety Bus teams to a safe place – back home, to A&E, to the Alcohol Treatment Centre, or to be reunited with friends and family.

The scheme receives yearly funding from a range of partner organisations, and operates every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday including additional event nights across the city. Every Freshers period there is extended coverage which this autumn includes the 17-day period from September 15 to October 2, covering the start of term for the city’s Universities and Colleges.

The focus started with Cardiff’s student community, but the Safety Bus team will help any member of the public who needs assistance, says Mike Neate, Police Community Safety Student Liaison Officer and Chair of the Police Association of Higher Education Liaison Officers.

In fact since September 2021 alone, more than 2850 people have been helped in this way, he says. And now the initiative has been extended.

“From this year we will be able to operate two safety busses, thanks to Home Office Safer Streets funding and sponsorship from organisations including Criticalarc. The additional funds are also allowing us to develop bespoke mental health first aid training for all our volunteers.

Students and Staff from Cardiff University & the University of South Wales also have the added protection of Safezone, which makes it easy for them to call for advice, assistance or emergency help 24/7, wherever they are, and for their locations and identities to then be seen by emergency responders.

Criticalarc’s Safezone technology is a unified platform for safety, security, emergency management and wellbeing support. It is now used by more than half of UK universities, as well as NHS Trusts, to improve safety and wellbeing support for thousands of students and staff.