Multi-agency partners provide support to annual festive safety initiative, Operation Respect

As the festive period rapidly approaches, multi-agency partners have once again joined forces to support Operation Respect with the aim of making the streets of Inverness safer for shoppers and party-goers, both day and night during the busy festive season.

The initiative has been running for six years but after acting on feedback received through The Highland Council’s City of Inverness Area Committee, last year’s operation was successfully extended to cover areas of Crown, Merkinch and across the river as far as Kenneth Street and will continue to do so for 2013.

Co-ordinated by Inverness Community Safety Partnership,  it will see increased police patrols as well as the use of taxi marshals, security task team members, the British Red Cross and Street Pastors during December. There will also be a focus on the security and safety of shoppers and businesses.

The Police Scotland community safety CCTV van will again be based at 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.

Chief Inspector Graeme Murdoch, Inverness Area Commander and Vice Chair of the Inverness Community Safety Partnership said, "Operation Respect is a proven partnership approach designed to promote safety and reduce the negative impact of crime, violence and antisocial behaviour over the festive period. Police Scotland are once again delighted to work with our key partners to ensure that people gain the maximum enjoyment from the city over the next few weeks and remain safe in doing so.

"Operation Respect, in conjunction with the Police Scotland Christmas Personal Safety Campaign, is not just confined to Inverness. Other Area Commands across the Highlands and Islands are coordinating local Operation Respect activity, tailored to their own communities."

He continued: "Over the next few weeks, Police Scotland and our partners will broadcast a range of personal safety messages and we will use our social media capability to keep these messages relevant and current."
 
Andrew MacLean, Services Manager, Central District, British Red Cross said: "The British Red Cross are looking forward to their continued role in supporting the statutory agencies in this year's Operation Respect.  The British Red Cross role is to provide first aid personnel on specific weekends to deal with minor injuries and illnesses incurred by members of the public.  In helping in this way the British Red Cross hope to alleviate some of the pressure experienced by the Scottish Ambulance Service and Raigmore Hospital, Accident and Emergency Department at this time of year."

Councillor Ian Brown, Leader, City of Inverness Area Committee said: "I am delighted to see Operation Respect in the city centre again this year. During the festive period people want to enjoy themselves and to do it safely and return home safely. Operation Respect will deliver that."

Jim Ferguson, Chair of the Inverness Community Safety Partnership said: "The Inverness Community Safety Partnership is pleased to see Operation Respect and all the partners gearing up for another busy festive season. Past results show how effective it has been and we are delighted to be a part of this endeavour keeping the people of Inverness safe."

Malcolm Raeburn, Community Safety Manager, Inverness BID said: "It has been demonstrated in previous years that the BID Security Task Team and the Taxi Marshals make a significant contribution to keeping Inverness City Centre a safe and secure place for business, their customers, staff and visitors during the festive period.  Inverness BID is proud to again support and facilitate these initiatives."

Mark Hadfield, Inverness Street Pastors said: "Inverness Street Pastors are delighted to be a part of Operation Respect again this year. We will provide additional patrols at key times and we will work in partnership with the other agencies to help ensure an enjoyable and safe festive period for everybody. We’d like to remind people to dress warm and to plan how you will be getting home at the end of the night. Our friendly and knowledgeable volunteers are on hand if things don’t quite go to plan, or if you fancy a chat or a free cup of hot chocolate from our backpack."

Vic Rawlins, Inverness Taxi Alliance said: Operation Respect has over the past festive seasons been a tremendous asset to the wellbeing and safety of the fare paying public but more so to the taxi drivers who over the festive period work long hours to get the public home safely.

"The Inverness Taxi Alliance is delighted to work once again with the organising agencies to assist wherever possible to make Inverness and even safer place to celebrate the festive season."

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