In the lead up to Cheltenham Festival, the Youth Café is now available as a safeguarding measure for under 18s, and a recent Ask for Angela operation showed 100% compliance across Cheltenham venues.
Cheltenham Borough Council (CBC) and its partners are taking firm action to deter and address harassment, anti-social behaviour and violence against women and girls following International Women’s Day on 8 March 2026, and in the lead-up to Cheltenham Festival (10–13 March).
With increased footfall expected across the town, the council, Gloucestershire Constabulary and licensing partners will be proactively targeting unacceptable behaviour and those who perpetrate it. There will be enhanced engagement and enforcement activity across licensed premises, public spaces and transport hubs to ensure that anyone who intimidates, harasses, or commits offences is identified and dealt with robustly.
During this period, local officers will carry out compliance checks at bars, clubs and other licensed venues. This includes ensuring SIA-accredited door staff are in place, reviewing incident logs and CCTV provision, and taking action where venues fail to meet licence conditions.
Councillor Victoria Atherstone, cabinet member for safety and communities, said: “This year, the NCLB Youth Café initiative on Bennington Street in Cheltenham is bringing a fresh wave of positivity and excitement to our youth community during the Cheltenham Festival.
“While the event draws many visitors, it’s our mission to create a welcoming and safe environment for everyone, especially women and girls. As we’re actively working to promote respect and kindness throughout the town, we call upon everyone to look out for our young people and those who may be vulnerable and to call out those who perpetuate anti-social behaviour.
“We’re thrilled to see the café becoming a vibrant hub where young people can gather to have fun, receive support from trained professionals, and support each other. Similarly, we’ve seen a record 100% take up of Ask for Angela across our venues during a recent operation in Cheltenham. Our commitments to safety become more imperative every year.”
Inspector Steve Benbow from the Cheltenham Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “We’re working alongside our partner agencies during the Cheltenham Festival to ensure that everyone has a safe but enjoyable time.
“In addition to resources working at and around the Racecourse, we will have an enhanced community policing presence across the town on every day of the event.
“Officers will be conducting high visibility patrols to provide the public with reassurance and detect and deter crime, where unacceptable behaviour towards women is identified, we will respond appropriately, as tackling male violence and intimidation against women and girls is a priority. Project Vigilant, which is aimed at targeting perpetrator behaviour which is often displayed before a sexual offence takes place, will also be running during the Festival.
“The initiative involves a team of dedicated, specially trained officers in the Force Control Room with access to CCTV along with plain clothed officers and uniformed officers on the ground.
“Plain clothed officers are looking out for the specific behaviours, and it is then uniformed colleagues who will be alerted and intervene when risk behaviours are seen.
“We will have our Community Engagement Vehicle in the town centre from 10am to midnight every day allowing anyone who feels vulnerable or in danger to seek a place of safety. If you do not feel comfortable speaking to police then you can also approach our Cheltenham Guardians and Street Pastor colleagues for assistance.
“I’d like to encourage anyone with concerns about someone or something they’ve seen to report these to an officer or call 101; any emergencies should be reported by calling 999, this includes incidents where there’s a threat to life, risk of harm, a crime is in progress, or offenders are nearby.”
Ask for Angela
CBC continues to promote the ‘Ask for Angela’ initiative, a scheme that enables anyone who feels unsafe to discreetly seek help in participating venues.
Recent joint operations showed 100% compliance across Cheltenham venues, demonstrating that staff understand their responsibilities and are prepared to respond appropriately. The scheme not only provides reassurance to customers, but also ensures incidents are identified early and escalated where necessary, supporting action against perpetrators.
Clear signage is displayed across participating venues and staff are trained to respond promptly, working in coordination with law enforcement where required.
Ask for Clive
Venues in Cheltenham also operate ‘Ask for Clive’, providing a similar discreet reporting mechanism for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
As with Ask for Angela, the initiative ensures staff are trained to respond effectively and escalate concerns, helping to identify and address inappropriate or predatory behaviour swiftly.
Youth Café – safeguarding measure for under 18’s during race week
While enforcement activity will focus on deterring and addressing harmful behaviour, safeguarding measures are also in place for young people.
In response to feedback from young residents, No Child Left Behind launched a Youth Café pilot at Smokey Joe’s on Bennington Street. Running every Thursday from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. (12 February to 26 March), the café provides a supervised space for under 18s during race week and beyond.
The initiative ensures that any young person who feels vulnerable, overwhelmed or subjected to unwanted attention has immediate access to support and trained personnel. Partners will act on any intelligence or concerns raised through the café.
The Youth Café includes:
- Free phone charging
- Free Wi-Fi
- A supervised, calm environment
- Access to trained staff who can escalate concerns where required
- Vouchers to purchase hot and cold refreshments
Taxis and private hire vehicles
Enforcement activity will also target illegal and unsafe taxi operations during race week.
Residents and visitors are strongly advised to pre-book Cheltenham Borough Council licensed private hire vehicles or use one of the three designated taxi ranks for licensed Hackney Carriages. The council and police will take action against unlicensed drivers operating unlawfully.
If you feel unsafe in any vehicle, do not continue your journey. Report concerns, including vehicle registration and driver details, to the council’s licensing team at [email protected] or 01242 264 135.
Only CBC licensed Hackney Carriages can be hailed on the street or use designated ranks, and fares are set by the council.
Proactive inspections of licensed venues and SEVs
CBC licensing officers, working with Gloucestershire Constabulary, will conduct proactive inspections of licensed nighttime venues and licensed sexual entertainment venues (SEVs) throughout the festival period.
Where venues fall short of licence conditions or safeguarding responsibilities, action will be taken. While the council cannot prohibit SEVs from operating where legally licensed, strict regulatory oversight will be maintained to ensure compliance and protect public safety.
For media enquiries, contact: communications, telephone 01242 264231, email [email protected]
