Multi agency partners take measures to reduce shoplifting as part of this year's Operation Respect
Issued by Northern Constabulary
As the festive period rapidly approaches, multi-agency partners have once again joined forces to roll out Operation Respect, an annual initiative aimed at making the Highland capital a safe place both day and night over the winter months.
The operation, now in its fifth year, focuses on safety throughout the day and night in Inverness as the streets get busier with shoppers and party-goers over the festive period.
Acting on feedback received through the Inverness City Committee, the operation in 2012 will not just be confined to the city centre. Dedicated patrols will extend to cover areas of the Crown, Merkinch and across the river as far as Kenneth Street.
Not only will the initiative, co-ordinated by the Inverness Community Safety Partnership, see increased police patrols, taxi marshals, Security Task Team, British Red Cross and Street Pastors working together during December, there will also be a focus on the security and safety of shoppers and businesses throughout the duration.
For the first time Northern Constabulary's Community Safety CCTV van will be based at the Inverness Retail Park, recording during business hours and there will be dedicated officers working between the city centre and the retail park with the specific remit of deterring and detecting shoplifting offences all starting this coming Friday (07 December 2012).
Inverness Area Commander, Chief Inspector Graeme Murdoch said: "We hope by extending the scope of the initiative and dedicating officers to target shoplifting offences specifically, we will improve the safety of shoppers and the interests of retailers during December and into January.
"This does not mean we will be complacent in the evenings as we will have a number of dedicated officers working with multi agency partners during weekends to deter incidents of disorder, provide community reassurance and enhance public safety within the city during a period which should be enjoyed by all.”
"I would also like to stress that there are small measures that the public can take to improve their own personal safety during this busy time. By doing simple things such as planning your journeys, looking after your friends, keeping a close eye on personal property and drinking responsibly, you can make sure this is a festive period you will remember for the right reasons.”
As with previous years and in conjunction with Stagecoach, the operation will again be providing a low-cost'Night Bus' service (£2 per journey), which begins this Friday (07 December 2012). The service will run every Friday and Saturday night between 1130pm and 4am until 24 December and then again on 31 December 2012. The buses will leave from Queensgate and go to Smithton, Culloden, Balloch, Westhill, Kinmylies, Hilton and Merkinch.
Malcolm Raeburn, BID Community Safety Manager of the Inverness Business Improvement District, commented:"Inverness Business Improvement District is delighted to be an integral part of Operation Respect. We believe that the deployment of the Security Task Team and Taxi Marshals contribute to our commitment to maintain a safe and secure City Centre for customers, staff and visitors to Inverness in which business can thrive.”
Councillor Ian Brown, Leader of the City of Inverness Area Committee of The Highland Council, said: "Operation Respect has proved a very worthwhile project over the past five years and it is great to see it back again this year. The project highlights the importance of all the key agencies working together to keep our streets safer and helping people to enjoy themselves safely. Operation Respect will help them achieve this.”