Northampton’s night-time economy secures top safety rating as Purple Flag status is renewed for seventh year running

09 February 2026

Northampton’s ‘gold standard’ evening and night-time economy has once again been recognised on the international stage, with the town securing a renewed Purple Flag accreditation for a seventh year - including the highest possible mark available for safety.

The renewal confirms Northampton as a safe, welcoming and vibrant destination after dark, and marks a major milestone for the town. This is the first time Northampton has achieved the top rating in any area of its Purple Flag assessment, with assessors singling out safety as a particular strength.

Purple Flag is an internationally recognised accreditation awarded to town and city centres that demonstrate excellence in managing a safe, diverse and thriving evening and night-time economy.

Assessors praised Northampton’s exceptionally strong partnership approach, highlighting the visible police presence, coordinated CCTV coverage, taxi marshals, Street Pastors, Northampton Guardians, Pubwatch members and the Safer Nights Out welfare provision, all working together to protect residents, visitors and students.

The assessment also commended initiatives to tackle anti-social behaviour, violence against women and girls, drink spiking and vulnerability, as well as the town’s dedicated student safety routes, welfare support and multi-agency intelligence sharing. The accreditation comes as Northampton marks the 10th anniversary of the murder of India Chipchase, a tragic event that continues to shape the town’s commitment to improving safety in the night-time economy.

Achieving Purple Flag renewal is a real achievement for Northampton, but to receive an Outstanding rating for safety – the highest mark available – is something we are incredibly proud of.
This recognition reflects the dedication and hard work of the West Northants Community Safety Partnership; which includes our police, council teams, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner’s office, Northampton BID, venues, universities, volunteers and support services, who work tirelessly to keep people safe on nights out.
This accreditation sends a powerful message that our town centre is a safe, well-managed and welcoming place to enjoy after dark.Cllr Charlie Hastie, WNC’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities

The Purple Flag assessors noted the strength of Northampton’s joined-up approach, with agencies sharing intelligence, responding quickly to issues and putting welfare first, while continuing to support a diverse and growing night-time offer.

We all want Northampton to be a place that people enjoy visiting and where they can feel safe.
Achieving that can only be done if all our organisations work together - with a particular focus on putting measures in place to prevent problems from happening in the first place.
It’s really positive that assessors gave the highest possible mark for safety, and the renewed Purple Flag accreditation shows that the efforts to improve safety in the town centre have had a really positive impact.Danielle Stone, the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner

Securing Purple Flag accreditation for a seventh successive year is proof that when multiple agencies work together with a common goal, great things can be achieved.
The tragic events of 10 years ago brought the town together and the response has been remarkable. Northampton is a place where people can enjoy a night out in the knowledge there is an infrastructure in place to keep everyone safe, with teams working hard to make our town centre a welcoming place after dark.
Accompanying the Purple Flag assessors on their visit, it was clear how impressed they were with the measures we have in place and their report is glowing in its praise for the work that has been achieved here. This is a celebration of collaboration and we look forward to building on this further in the future.Mark Mullen, operations manager at Northampton Town Centre BID

We’re incredibly proud that Northampton Town Centre has been awarded the Purple Flag for the seventh consecutive year.
This recognition reflects the unwavering commitment of our neighbourhood policing team, our partners, and the many businesses who work tirelessly to keep our town safe.
As we mark the 10-year anniversary of India Chipchase’s tragic death, this award is also a timely reminder of the progress we have made in improving safety across the night-time economy.
Being highly commended for our safety initiatives shows just how far we’ve come and reinforces our determination to ensure Northampton remains a welcoming and secure place for everyone.Chief Inspector Nicola Davis-Lyons of Northamptonshire Police