Skellefteå Certified with Purple Flag – The City Glows Purple for Safety!
On January 27th, Skellefteå city center was certified according to the Purple Flag model, a quality certification for creating safer, more secure, and attractive urban environments during evening and night hours. Visit Skellefteå and Skellefteå Municipality are highlighting this achievement together with local partners, symbolically illuminating Sara Cultural Center, Sara Square, CK’s Parking House, and the City Hotel in purple.
What is Purple Flag?
Purple Flag is an international collaboration model, adapted and managed in Sweden by the industry organization Svenska Stadskärnor. It’s a process tool that brings together public, private, and nonprofit actors in a structured effort to increase city center safety during evenings and nights.
”Safety is about ensuring that both residents and visitors feel secure when moving around the city center, even during evening hours. With Purple Flag, we’ve created a common platform where various actors, both public and private, collectively take responsibility for the city center’s perception,” says Patrik Moberg, Security Chief at Skellefteå Municipality.
A Collaborative Approach to Urban Safety
The certification process involves a comprehensive current situation analysis, establishing goals, and developing an action plan to enhance the city center’s welcoming, vibrant, and secure atmosphere throughout day and night.
”Skellefteå has taken important steps in recent years, further developing collaboration within the city center. We clearly see the result of joint work with various city stakeholders, broad anchoring, and significant engagement that has now led to this certification,” says Marlene Hassel, Process Leader at Svenska Stadskärnor.
Continuous Improvement
The Purple Flag certification is not an endpoint but a platform for ongoing collaboration and continuous improvements. It represents a deepened approach to existing safety cooperation, aiming to create an even safer Skellefteå around the clock and throughout the year.
”This certification demonstrates our serious commitment to safety issues and represents another step in developing a more vibrant and inclusive city center,” says Maria Rautio, Center Manager at Visit Skellefteå.
The light manifestation serves both as a celebration and a clear signal: ensuring urban safety is a crucial issue and a shared responsibility.
