Night Marshal patrols extended in Chelmsford city centre
Chelmsford City Council has secured funding from the Home Office to reduce the risk of violence and disorder in the city centre. Acting on local evidence, the money will fund a host of early prevention work, including an additional evening of Night Marshal patrols each week.
From 25 September, the CSAS (Community Safety Accreditation Scheme) and SIA (Security Industry Authority) accredited marshals will be in the city centre on Friday and Saturday nights.
The Knife Crime Concentration Fund
Chelmsford was identified by the Home Office as one of 230 areas most affected by knife crime in England and Wales. As a result, Chelmsford City Council and Essex Police were invited to apply for funding from The Knife Crime Concentration Fund, a Home Office initiative designed to reduce knife crime by supporting local plans laid out by those closest to the hotspot areas it identified – local authorities and local policing teams.
The city council and Chelmsford district police worked together on a proposal of coordinated partnership activities to address the environmental, behavioural and criminal drivers associated with violence and weapons-related offences in the High Street, which was identified as Chelmsford’s hotspot.
Funding was granted to facilitate increased visible guardianship, prevention and education work, youth work, environmental improvements, working with venue security staff, a public-awareness campaign, and the provision of knife protection and anti-spiking equipment for businesses.
Councillor Natacha Dudley, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, says that supporting plans tailored to the local area is the best way to ensure effective outcomes:
““Chelmsford has a busy nighttime economy and our 13 consecutive years of Purple Flag status, along with our ground-breaking Women’s Safety Charter, show that we take the safety of those enjoying the city’s nightlife very seriously.
Cllr Natacha Dudley, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing
“We have seen a 35.9% reduction in violent crime compared to last year and the Knife Crime Concentration Fund will allow us to expand on the great work we’re already doing. Chelmsford City Council and Essex Police have designed an impactful, holistic, and sustainable programme of preventative interventions, based on our collective understanding of our city, and I am looking forward to seeing its impact over the coming months and beyond.”
Providing support where and when its needed
Police data shows knife crime in Chelmsford is targeted, and offences are predominantly linked to county lines drug activity and exploitation. So, while residents may be concerned about reports of knife crime, it’s important to note that this affects a very small number of people. To reflect this, Chelmsford’s Knife Crime Concentration Fund (KCCF) project consists of a tailored programme of early-intervention activities, from youth outreach to the supply of weapon detection equipment.
Evidence also shows that violent crime is concentrated around the nighttime economy, with heightened risk on Fridays and Saturdays between 8pm and 3am, and tends to be driven by a combination of “alcohol intoxication” and “crowd convergence”. The ongoing partnership work of Chelmsford City Council, Essex Police and the Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit has resulted in a 35.9% reduction in serious violence year-on-year, with a particular improvement seen in the ward of Moulsham and Central.
One evidenced method of limiting the risk of violence is increased guardianship and crowd management. Chelmsford’s Night Marshals have a track record of diffusing situations that could escalate to violence, so extending their patrols will be a key piece of the KCCF-funded partnership project, alongside enhanced visibility from police, council and venue staff during high-risk periods.
Positive impact of Night Marshals
Chelmsford City Council and Chelmsford’s Business Improvement District, Chelmsford For You, have been funding Saturday night patrols by the CSAS and SIA accredited marshals since January 2026, following a successful six-month pilot that was funded by the Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.
Over their first year, the Night Marshals have made a positive impact on the city centre, providing reassurance to the public and to businesses, supporting vulnerable individuals and intervening in incidents before they can escalate.
As visible, capable guardians, the marshals work alongside council officers and Essex Police, supporting both organisations and other partners, including Chelmsford For You and the SOS bus. The marshals will be in the city centre every Friday and Saturday, from 10pm to 4am. They patrol the High Street and surrounding areas, and are identifiable by their hi-vis purple vests.
Under the police-awarded CSAS accreditation, Night Marshals have powers to combat crime and disorder, public nuisance and other forms of anti-social behaviour, and are in direct contact with the council’s CCTV operators and Essex Police via radio.
Night Marshals captured on CCTV assisting members of the public and communicating with partners via radio while on patrol.
Part of wider plans to target knife crime
The funding from KCCF will facilitate many forms of early prevention work and the wider project is set to be delivered by Chelmsford City Council and Essex Police over the next 12 months. Updates on the project will be shared by the council as the work continues.
KCCF is a national project from the Home Office and its funding in Essex has been administered by the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, Roger Hirst, who said:
“"Since 2019, we've seen knife crime in Essex reduce by about a quarter and the number of people going into hospital with knife wounds has almost halved. Thankfully, the number of people losing their lives has fallen by even more. Working in partnership on projects like this plays a huge part in helping to keep people and the wider community safe."
Roger Hirst, Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner
Ongoing work of Safer Chelmsford partnership
It’s not just the police and the council who are working to keep Chelmsford safe; the Safer Chelmsford Partnership works together to make Chelmsford a safe place to live, work and visit by addressing crime and disorder, substance misuse and the reduction of re-offending.
You can learn more about the partnership and its members at chelmsford.gov.uk/safer-chelmsford-partnership/.
You can hear more about the partnership’s ongoing work by signing up to the Safer Chelmsford Newsletter. Just visit chelmsford.gov.uk/pages/subcribe-to-chelmsford-city-council and select ‘Chelmsford City Council’, then ‘community safety and public health’.
