Year-round community safety initiative for Inverness

A community safety partnership which has worked effectively since 2011 to assure the safety of Inverness communities and visitors at night time during winter months will also now operate year-round during daytime hours.

Members of The Highland Council’s City of Inverness Area Committee have approved the Inverness Community Safety Partnership (ICSP) priorities for 2013 and the establishment of a new Operation Respect – Daytime project.

City Leader Councillor Ian Brown said: “We recognise the excellent achievements of the Inverness Community Safety Partnership during last winter’s Operation Respect and we welcome the support and work of the Inverness Anti-Social Behaviour Partnership.”

He added: “Although Inverness is one of the safest cities in Europe, the Council is committed in its Programme to build safer, stronger communities through partnership working to ensure that people in the Highlands can feel safe. We look forward to working with our partners to ensure that the benefits of the night time Operation Respect project are expanded upon and experienced in daytime hours also.”

Chief Inspector Graeme Murdoch, Police Scotland Area Commander – Inverness said: “Operation Respect – Night-time allowed us to link partnership working at strategic, tactical and operational levels.

“Day-time Operation Respect will give us a real opportunity to bring all this previous experience and joint working together to help revitalise and regenerate the city centre amenity by addressing anti-social behaviour.

“On behalf of all the partners our particular thanks go to acknowledging the work of the Red Cross and Street Pastors who have contributed significantly to Operation Respect.”

The Inverness Community Safety Partnership was formed in January 2011 with the aim of overseeing the activity of Community Safety initiatives across the city. Partners involved in the ICSP include:

The new daytime Operation Respect initiative includes:

A key feature of the new initiative is that it makes improved use of ICSP partner resources and confirms the dedication of additional Police resources to the City centre.