City Members endorse community safety project for Inverness
The achievements of the Inverness Community Safety Partnership initiative Operation Respect were endorsed and welcomed by Members of The Highland Council’s City of Inverness Area Committee today (Tuesday 3 May).
Members approved the priorities of the Inverness Community Safety Partnership for 2014 which focus on:
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tackling the negative effects of drugs and alcohol on the community;
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reducing the impact and incidence anti-social behaviour and crime;
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increasing engagement between the Partnership, statutory agencies, the voluntary and business sectors and the wider community; and
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supporting third sector organisations to engage, enable and support communities and individuals.
Chief Inspector Mark Mackay, Area Commander Inverness, Police Scotland said: “The outcomes of Operation Respect demonstrate the effectiveness of this initiative and the commitment of the agencies involved in the Inverness Community Safety Partnership towards keeping the people of Inverness safe. This will continue throughout the summer with emphasis on reducing alcohol and drug related crime, violence and anti-social behaviour. We will focus on known crime-hot spots and deploy our joint resources to target these accordingly."
Leader of the City of Inverness Area Committee welcomed the achievements of the Partnership, he said: “I am delighted to see the results of Operation Respect during this past winter which has had a significant impact on reducing crime and anti-social behaviour in our City. I also welcome the project’s extension into the summer season and daytime hours which will help to ensure that Inverness’s reputation as a safe and welcoming City is reinforced for the many visitors to the Highland’s Capital.”
Provost of Inverness, Councillor Alex Graham added: “While the results of Operation Respect are very welcome - we can reassure the public and visitors to our area that Inverness and the Highlands are very safe places to live, work and visit and that the crime level for the area is very low.”
Members of the Inverness Community Safety Partnership include: The Highland Council, Police Scotland, Inverness Business Improvement District (BID), Inverness Street Pastors, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Inverness Drug and Alcohol Forum, N.H.S Highland, Highland Crimestoppers, Apex Highland. The Partnership is also linked with Scottish Prison Service, Signpost Highland, Eden Court, and New Start Highland.
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