Can Newcastle Stay Safe Without Its Night Levy?

Newcastle city leaders have promised there will be no drop in public safety if a charge on late-opening pubs, bars and clubs is removed. The Late Night Levy has helped pay for extra police patrols, CCTV, taxi marshals and support services across the city centre since it was introduced in 2013.

Councillors are due to consider ending the levy, which applies to premises licensed to sell alcohol between midnight and 6am. If the proposal moves forward, it would still need approval from the full council before the annual charge could be withdrawn. The debate matters to residents, visitors and Newcastle hospitality businesses because it raises a central question: how will vital night-time safety measures be funded in future?

What the Newcastle Late Night Levy pays for.

The levy has supported a visible network of services designed to keep people safe after dark. These include late-night marshals, additional policing, street pastors, staff training, CCTV and the Safe Haven van on Bigg Market, where vulnerable people can seek help.

According to figures reported in council papers, the scheme has generated £3.46 million since 2013. After administration costs, £2.26 million was allocated to the Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner and £968,432 to Newcastle City Council. That means roughly 93 per cent of the total raised was distributed to those two bodies, with the remainder covering administration.

Newcastle City Council says affected venues currently pay between £299 and £4,400 a year, depending on rateable value and how the premises operates. National Home Office guidance lists annual charges ranging from £299 to a maximum of £4,440 for eligible premises.

Replacement fund could protect night-time services.

NE1 Ltd, Newcastle's business improvement district company, has campaigned for the levy to end, arguing that hospitality venues are already dealing with severe financial pressure. Chief executive Stephen Patterson said the organisation, the council and police remained committed to protecting and improving city centre safety.

One option under discussion is a replacement fund managed by a board of city leaders. It could continue financing services such as street marshals and the Safe Haven operation without relying on the existing levy. The detail will be crucial, including how much money would be available, who would contribute and whether funding would be guaranteed from year to year.

Crime data presents a mixed picture.

A council analysis of Newcastle city centre trends since 2022 found reductions in violent and sexual offences, theft, arson and criminal damage, alcohol-related anti-social behaviour and assault-related A&E attendances. However, drug offences, robbery, noise complaints and litter reports increased over the same period.

Police and Crime Commissioner Susan Dungworth has stressed that risks and vulnerability tend to rise into the early hours. Her position highlights the challenge facing decision-makers: offering relief to Newcastle pubs and clubs while maintaining the people and services that help residents and visitors feel safe.

The proposed change is therefore about more than a business fee. Newcastle's late-night economy depends on confidence, reliable transport and visible support. Any replacement arrangement will be judged on whether it can deliver those safeguards consistently after the levy has gone.

Have your say.

Will scrapping the Late Night Levy put city centre safety funding at risk?