Acting council leader Councillor Pat Callaghan at the safety bus

A SAFETY bus providing food, water, phone chargers and help for those on a night out was launched last week.

The bus, run by Camden Council, will be located on Parkway in Camden Town and will have trained staff ready to help those who require support – as well as directing them to police or medical professionals if necessary.

The bus will be open on Saturday nights from 9pm to 2.30am. The new scheme is in addition to the Camden Safety Hub, which is a permanent space in LabTech’s head office in Camden market Hawley Wharf.

Local venues have been encouraged to support the service by directing people to the hub.

Cllr Pat Callaghan, acting leader of the council, said: “Our priority has been to make Camden a place where residents and visitors can enjoy our brilliant nightlife while feeling safe, and both the Hub and bus provides dedicated safe spaces for people to go if they need help.”

The initiative prioritises the safety of women and girls, and works alongside previous measures, such as improving street lighting and CCTV, increasing police patrols during evenings and nights, and encouraging local businesses to promote the “Ask Angela” code-phrase initiative.

The Camden Safety Hub at 1 Dockray Place, NW1 8QH is open on Friday and Saturday from 9pm to 2.30am, and the new Safety Hub bus can be found on Parkway, NW1 7PQ every Saturday between 9pm and 2.30am.