York BID announce the return of Riverside Marshals to keep York’s riverfront safe this summer

York BID is pleased to announce the return of the Riverside Marshal programme, a friendly and reassuring presence along King’s Staith to help keep the riverside safe, welcoming, and enjoyable for everyone.

The programme relaunched in early May and will run through to the end of summer. Each Saturday and key bank holiday weekend, two trained Marshals will be on duty from 12pm to 8pm, working closely with local door staff and York Rescue Boat to promote river safety and tackle anti-social behaviour.

The Marshals are SIA licenced, throwline trained, and always ready to engage with the public – whether that’s offering advice on staying safe near the water or assisting with public safety concerns.

The initiative grew out of the York Water Safety Group, which the BID sits on along with North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service, North Yorkshire Police, and York Rescue Boat. Now in its fourth year, the programme has played a key role in preventing unsafe river activity and reducing disorder.

Carl Alsop, Operations Manager at York BID, said: “We’re pleased to bring the Riverside Marshal programme back to support York’s brilliant riverside businesses as we head into the busy summer period. We’d like to thank the York & North Yorkshire Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner for funding the programme.

The Riverside Marshals support the city’s Purple Flag accreditation, recognising York as a safe and well-managed destination. This year, we’re also launching a series of Purple Flag safety videos on our social media channels, starting with Dave Horn at York Rescue Boat, all about the risks of the River Ouse.”