Croydon’s revellers are safe at night thanks to a new peak activity team.

The team, led by the London fire brigade (LFB), makes unannounced visits to pubs and clubs at their busiest times.

Inspectors are usually on patrol in the evenings and late at night. They also operate on weekends and public holidays.

It is a partnership between fire officers, police and the council’s licensing unit.

The team will be able to see how managers are looking after the public safety when venues are full and the staff are busy.

Malcolm Boden, manager of the LFB peak activity team, said: “My team was established to drive-down risk in premises across London. On behalf of the LFB I would like to thank all involved in Croydon and I look forward to many more equally successful operations in the future.”

They will visit the town every few months and work closely with any pubs or bars whose arrangements need improving.

Councillor Steve O’Connell, cabinet member for safety, said: “This is all about ensuring that people can come to Croydon and feel confident that their night out will be a safe one.

“We’ve been working closely with the London fire brigade and the police for many years, and this is just the latest in a series of initiatives designed to help venue managers in the town.

“The team is doing a great job and this shows that safety checks are not just box-ticking exercises involving filling in a few forms. We want to make sure that businesses really are putting their customers first.”