Operation Respect: aims to enhance city environment
A multi-agency group today (Thursday 13 November) launched a new initiative, which aims to enhance the cleanliness and safety of Inverness City Centre during the forthcoming Winter Festival, which runs from 20 November until 3 January, next year.
“Operation Respect” is the initiative of The Highland Council, Inverness BID Company, Northern Constabulary, Crime Prevention Panel and Crimestoppers. They have joined together with partner organisations to make the City Centre a more family-friendly place to visit and spend time in. The city centre will play host to a large number of exciting events during the winter festival and welcome Christmas shoppers.
Operation Respect will ensure they have as good a time as possible by keeping the city centre as clean and tidy as possible; by reducing the likelihood of anti-social behaviour so people can spend time in the City Centre safely; by enhancing late night bus services so people can get home safely; and by introducing more patrols by the street pastors to ensure people always have someone to turn to.
Provost Jimmy Gray, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Inverness City Committee said: “A lot of people have devoted significant amounts of time, energy and creativity into devising what I think is a very exciting Winter Programme and it has huge potential to provide enjoyment and entertainment for our community and visitors as well as real benefits for our local traders. “Operation Respect” aims to complement this effort by ensuring that our streets are safe for people to enjoy the activities we are providing and that they are kept clean and tidy. We are seeking a buy in from the public to at all times demonstrate good citizenship by not dropping litter and reporting any inappropriate behaviour to the authorities.”
Chief Inspector Julian Innes, Area Commander Inverness, said: "Operation Respect is a multi-agency initiative designed to maximise public safety during the festive season, making the city centre a more enjoyable place to shop and visit.
We will have high visibility patrols in the city centre throughout the festive season. If individuals choose to come into the city centre to consume alcohol and conduct themselves in a manner which is either not acceptable to members of the public or shows a lack of respect for people's property we will respond robustly."
Stefan Krause, Manager of Inverness Business Improvement District said: “Inverness BID is delighted to be part of the partnership providing services to the City Centre community that is over and above what the Council and others are currently obliged to. We believe that Operation Respect has great potential to showcase Inverness City Centre at its very best.”
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For further information or to arrange an interview please contact: David Haas, Inverness City Manager, The Highland Council, Town House, Inverness tel: (01463) 724201