It's all systems go as Black Friday is here
Emergency services were on red alert today for busiest night of the year, Black Friday.
Extra officers will be out in town centres across the Midlands tonight as thousands of people who have broken up from work for their Christmas holidays head to the pubs and clubs.
Police and ambulance bosses are braced for the number of 999 calls to soar and have put contingency plans in place to deal with the extra demand.
This time last year between 2pm on Friday, December 21 and 7am on December 22, West Midlands Police took 2,638 calls. Last year Staffordshire Police took 414 calls during the same period.
Today West Midlands Ambulance Service was setting up a treatment unit on Broad Street in Birmingham city centre to treat anyone injured, with chiefs expecting a busy night.
And in Kidderminster town centre a team of street pastors will be hitting the streets tonight offering help and handing out bottles of water.
In Staffordshire, the force's area control rooms will be ready to deal with the increased number of emergency calls and in town and city centres across Staffordshire so-called 'safer nights' operations will see officers on hand to deal with any issues that arise.
Staffordshire Police's Chief Constable Mike Cunningham said: "We want people to enjoy themselves but we also want them to stay safe and be responsible.
"If you're heading out to start your festive celebrations please make sure you do so with consideration for others – or you could end up with more than just a hangover.
"Officers are working around the clock together with local establishments to keep the town centres a safe and pleasurable place to be.
"Their high-visibility patrols will offer reassurance and they will deal with any trouble makers.
"Alcohol-related violence is completely unacceptable at any time of the year and Christmas is no exception.
"We want our communities to have a happy, and safe, Christmas and New Year, and we will do our utmost to make sure town centres remain an enjoyable place to be."
West Midlands Police spokesman Lee Page added: "Each police area will have its own plans in place.
"We will be carrying out our usual night time patrols but we are ready to respond to anything that might happen."
Street pastors will also be out in force across town centre in Staffordshire.
Late night revellers are also being warned not to accept lifts from 'cruising' taxis or touts, but to pre-book a taxi instead.
