Proudly Leicester

Most of us move through the city on autopilot – focused on grabbing a sandwich, rushing to a meeting, or nipping into the shops. But next time you’re walking down the High Street or heading through the Lanes, try looking a little closer. Look around the corners, near the market, or outside the shopping centres. You’ll spot men and women in high-vis jackets working hard, often hours before the rest of us are even out of bed, keeping our city safe, clean, and welcoming.

Getting the right people into these roles has been a real labour of love for us. We’ve worked hard to recruit individuals who don’t just do a job, but who come to work with ambition, purpose and real personal pride in Leicester.

Behind those high-vis vests are residents: former armed forces personnel, and dedicated team members who could easily do other work but choose to serve our city. They walk miles every single day, braving scorching summer afternoons and freezing winter mornings. Sometimes they arrive after a difficult weekend or the previous night’s antics have left extra challenges behind. But they come in with pride, pull together as one coordinated team, and get on with the job of making the city centre a better environment for everyone. What keeps them going when the temperature drops? A great sense of teamwork, a total refusal to let local people down – and, if I’m being honest, the occasional hot Greggs coffee!

Through our Proudly Leicester campaign, we’ve been highlighting these individuals because, in my view, they are the best in the business.

As you are probably aware, Leicester is a hive of activity for culture and events. Outside London, we host more major festivals and celebrations than almost any other city in the country. That brings incredible energy, but it also takes massive effort behind the scenes.

Our Public Space Patrol Officers offer a reassuring, visible presence – bridging the gap with Leicestershire Police, stepping in to calm situations, and helping shoppers feel secure. And the moment a major festival finishes, our cleansing team spring into action. The overnight effort required to turn a crowded event space back into a spotless city centre ready for morning commuters is something that always impresses me.

Beyond the big events, it’s the smaller everyday efforts that make me proudest. Whether it’s a patrol officer helping someone who feels vulnerable, a street cleaner stopping to point a lost visitor in the right direction, or highways workers improving the streets, surfaces and routes that people use every day, our teams act as genuine ambassadors for Leicester, whilst doing a remarkable day job.

And not all of that work is immediately visible. Not everyone who supports the city centre wears a uniform or a high-vis jacket, and this is not a nine-to-five job. Across the day, into the evening and through the night, some colleagues work more inconspicuously, often alongside people who are vulnerable or facing very difficult circumstances. They bring the same sense of pride, compassion and professionalism as our more visible teams, helping to make the city centre safer, kinder and better for everyone.

We have to be honest: like towns and cities right across England, Leicester faces its own challenges with anti-social behaviour and street lifestyles. It’s a complex issue. But through close work with the police, the business improvement district and dedicated local investment from all partners, we are seeing crime figures fall.

City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby has been clear about backing our frontline services with millions of pounds in investment – putting more boots on the beat, upgrading equipment, and strengthening our response to this national challenge.

To our local businesses, we hear you and we are working hard to keep people safe and to build confidence back into our streets. Our ambition is a thriving city centre where older generations, young families, and night-time visitors all feel completely safe.

Civic pride isn’t something the council can create on its own – it’s a two-way street. The city centre belongs to all of us: residents, businesses, visitors, workers, students, families, the night-time economy and the teams who look after it every day. We are one community coexisting in the same shared space, and that brings a shared responsibility to treat the city, and each other, with respect. We will keep leading from the front, but we need everyone to play their part. Without the commitment of our frontline teams, we would not enjoy the city centre environment that so many of us rely on every day; but tackling the problems that remain needs everyone’s help. Report issues when you see them. Support local shop owners by keeping back gates locked to prevent anti-social gathering spots. Pull in waste bins after collection to keep our streets clutter free. Talk up the positive changes happening across Leicester.

Most importantly, next time you walk past one of our public safety officers or cleansing team members, say hello. They’ll appreciate it, and you’ll be sharing in the local pride that makes Leicester special.

Let’s appreciate our city centre – and, above all, let’s appreciate each other.

By Sean Atterbury

Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services, Leicester City Council