Safety is the key

Here's a statistic for you...
Over the last 12 months, the number of reported violent crimes linked to drinking alcohol in Hull's city centre has fallen by 18 per cent.
It's a welcome development which shows how much progress has been made in making our city safer for everyone, and thanks to our improving reputation, visitors are now coming here for a night out from as far afield as Scarborough and Newcastle.
Part of the credit can be given to the reassuring presence of street marshals, who patrol the city centre in pairs between 5.30pm and 3am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
They have been highly influential and their work in keeping an eye out for trouble, assisting police officers and staff in licensed premises, and advising people how to get home, all help to prevent incidents occurring.
You can read more about their work and the work of partner agencies on pages 14 and 15.
Meanwhile, an improving reputation for safety gives people the confidence to spend their leisure time in Hull, and I'm pleased to say that two family events taking place this month will draw thousands more people into the city centre.
The Christmas lights switch-on takes place in Queen Victoria Square on November 20 and 17,000 people are expected to attend.
Hull will have a spectacular lights display this year and the illuminations will help attract shoppers into the heart of the city centre, and as a result, I hope people support Hull's independent shops and traders in the run up to the festive season to ensure our city maintains an interesting and broad mix of retail outlets for shoppers.
Safety considerations have also been a factor in plans to stage a fireworks display on November 5.
Weather permitting, the fireworks will be launched from a barge on the Humber – at a safe distance to prevent any risk to onlookers – in the first of what I hope will be many similar Bonfire Night events in the years to come.
There is of course plenty more in this month's magazine so enjoy your read!

Cllr Carl Minns
Leader, Hull City Council