COPS have asked members of the public to patrol nightclubs and social hotspots in a bid to crackdown on crimes in Essex.

Dubbed the "Nightlife Crew," the teams-of-two will be trained to spot drunks and vulnerable people during their 10 pm – 4 am shifts on Fridays and Saturdays.

The trained members of the public will tell bouncers if someone looks vulnerable and bundle them in a taxi or help them find their friends.

And if they spot a dangerous drinker the crew will alert security to remove them before 999 has to be called.

Essex Police has launched the Drinkaware pilot scheme as the party season commences and will run it for 12 months.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Barber said: "The Nightlife Crews are specially trained to spot the signs that someone may be vulnerable or that someone is showing signs of predatory behaviour.

"They can basically act in a position between door staff and bar staff, helping to prevent anti-social behaviour and possible sexual offences.

"They give an extra level of reassurance to customers as well as helping bar managers and security staff to effectively manage their venue.

"This will allow security staff to focus on dealing with disruption within venues and reduce the number of calls to the emergency services.

"The project highlights the really great partnership work that goes on between the police, bars and clubs, and other partners to keep you safe."

The 12-month trial project is running between 10 pm and 4 am on Fridays and Saturdays in Colchester, Chelmsford, Basildon and Southend-on-Sea.

Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said: "Crime prevention is a key element in my Police and Crime Plan.

"We have provided £30,000 to support this project as stopping crimes from happening in the first place is good for everybody.

"It is an excellent example of business, the police and voluntary agencies working together to keep people safe."

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