Late Night Bus Time Table link
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More police patrols, marshals on taxi ranks, and security task team
Drive on to keep city streets safe over Christmas and New Year
By Laura Paterson
Published: 04/12/2010
SAFETY PARAMOUNT: Operation Respect members, from left, Craig Robertson, Bid security task team member, Inspector Murdo MacLeod and Mark Paxton, of the security team, in Inverness city centre yesterday. David Whittaker-Smith
A campaign was launched yesterday aimed at keeping the Inverness streets safe over Christmas and New Year.
The initiative, Operation Respect, will see increased police officer patrols, marshals on the taxi ranks, a security task team and street pastors working together to reduce crime and disorder during the festive frolics.
As part of the operation Stagecoach are running a low-cost night bus service from 11.30pm until 4am every Friday and Saturday this month to Culloden, Balloch, Kinmylies and Hilton. The service will not run on Christmas Day or New Years Day.
The operation also aims to improve personal safety for shoppers, pub goers and business owners with the use of the Shopwatch scheme and Pubwatch schemes.
Inspector Murdo MacLeod, of Northern Constabulary, said: “We have increased and targeted officer patrols with the primary aim to deter crime, but if not, to detect.
“I would also like to stress the personal responsibility of the public during this time and by doing simple things such as planning your journeys, looking after your friends and drinking responsibly, you can ensure a safe, enjoyable time in the Highland’s capital.”
Inverness Business Improvement District chairman Craig Duncan said: “It is an excellent use of our members’ levy because it goes a long way to providing a safe environment for residents, shoppers, visitors and party-goers alike and undoubtedly adds value to the festive experience in Inverness city centre.”
Depute provost Councillor Peter Corbett said: “Operation Respect is an excellent example of how we can improve people’s experience of the city centre and therefore help its vibrancy.”
Read more: http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2038429#ixzz17AbPWJgL
Inverness Safe over the Festive Period
Launch of Operation Respect – Keeping Inverness Safe over the Festive Period
Issued: 3 Dec 2010
Partners have joined today (03 December 2010) to launch Operation Respect, the initiative aimed at keeping the streets of Inverness safer over the festive period.
The operation which officially starts today will see increased police officer patrols, taxi marshals, security task team and street pastors working together to see a reduction in crime and disorder in the city centre streets during December.
Not only that, in conjunction with Stagecoach, the operation will be providing a low-cost ‘Night Bus’ service starting tonight (03 December 2010) running from 23:30 hours until 04:00 hours every Friday and Saturday in December (apart from Christmas and New Year’s Day evenings) to Culloden and Balloch, Kinmylies and Hilton.
The operation, which in it’s third year, centres around keeping the city and those within safe over the festive period especially when there is an increase of people coming into the area for the Winter Festival events as well as to access the businesses in the vicinity.
A number of businesses and organisations are involved in the preparation for Operation Respect including, Highland Council, Crimestoppers, Inverness Crime Prevention Panel (ICPP), Inverness Business Improvement District (BID), Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA), Inverness Taxi Association, Pubwatch, Street Pastors and Northern Constabulary.
Leading on Operation Respect from Northern Constabulary, Inspector Murdo MacLeod talked of the police involvement: “We have increased and targeted officer patrols with the primary aim to deter crime but if not, to detect.
“The operation was very successful last year and the combined presence of all those involved gave a noticeably more pleasant atmosphere to the city centre.
“I would also like to stress the personal responsibility of the public during this time and by doing simple things such as planning your journeys, looking after your friends, and drinking responsibly, you can ensure a safe, enjoyable time in the Highland’s capital.”
Operation Respect is not just centred around safety in the evenings, and with the use of the Shopwatch scheme, the partnership aims to improve personal safety for shoppers and shop owners during the day and with Pubwatch, improve that in the evenings.
Chair of Inverness Business Improvement District, Craig Duncan commented: “Inverness BID are proud to take one of the lead roles in Operation Respect and see it as excellent use of our members levy because it goes a long way to providing a safe environment for residents, shoppers, visitors and party-goer’s alike and undoubtedly adds value to the festive experience in Inverness City Centre.”
Depute Provost, and Highland Licensing Chairman Councillor Peter Corbett said: “Operation Respect is an excellent example of how we can improve people’s experience of the city centre and therefore help its vibrancy. The impressive part about the project is the way in which it is getting agencies to work together to deliver improvements that people can see and experience for themselves.”
Jim Ferguson, Highland Chair of Crimestoppers and Chair of Inverness Crime Prevention Panel (ICPP) said: “It is great to see what can be achieved when we are all working together with the shared goal of crime reduction. I really hope this year will be as much of a success as last year and see people being able to enjoy the city centre safely.”
The operation has seen funding being provided from a number of different sources, one significant one being Safer Streets, a Scotland-wide, Government led funding project to help make city streets safer in the festive period.
Fergus Ewing, Minister for Community Safety, said: “During this very cold winter, I have nothing but the fullest admiration for the street pastors, taxi marshals and other personnel whose presence on our streets has been made possible with Safer Streets money. I welcome their efforts, along with all the other partners associated with Operation Respect, to make nights out during the festive period a safer experience for all.
“Operation Respect has delivered significant benefits in years gone by and I fully expect that to continue this year and beyond.”
Operation Respect during the Inverness Winter Festival
Operation Respect – Inverness, Scotland 2010
Operation Respect is a partnership of the following organisations :
Highland Council
Crimestoppers
Inverness Crime Prevention Panel (ICPP)
Inverness Business Improvement District (BID)
Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA)
Inverness Taxi Association
NHS Highland
Pubwatch
Street Pastors
Northern Constabulary
These organisations are working together to engender respect for each other and for other’s property all year round, but especially during this festive period.
Operation Respect ‘s mission is to create a safe and clean environment for people, families and business within Inverness City Centre by preventing the occurrence of anti social behaviour with a focus on creating respect for the community.
Our aims are to:
- Reduce the fear of crime by ensuring that people feel safe from crime and disorder.
- Enforce the law in regard to low level offending for such offences as littering, dog fouling, street drinking, begging etc.
- Safer streets which experience reduced alcohol and drug related violent crime.
- Promote positive initiatives and diversionary schemes to reduce crime and the opportunity for crime.
- Evaluate the stated objectives and measures put in place to achieve them.
- Change in attitude and behaviour towards alcohol and drug consumption and that those in need are supported by prevention and treatment services.
- Target Inverness City Centre with a high visibility Police presence at peak times.
The Winter Festival was launched this year with Malice in Wonderland and many other exciting events are planned throughout for your enjoyment.
Please check out Winter Festival agenda on this link http://www.invernessfestivals.com/winter08/all_december_events.php:
With the Christmas holiday season almost upon us, now is a good time to
remind people to take steps to make sure your Christmas isn’t spoiled by criminals. This year we want you to have fun whilst out shopping or on your night out.
So what can we do to make sure we have fun and remain safe?
The Inverness Crime Prevention Panel have applied normal crime prevention advice to Christmas and this is often common sense, but you might overlook it in your haste to get everything ready
Out on the town
With office parties and general Christmas celebrations, pubs, restaurants and other venues are often crowded. Don’t leave bags over the back of your chair and keep wallets and purses close to your body to make it more difficult for the pickpocket. Busy places make it easier for the sneak thief, so be alert at all times. Make prior arrangements as to how you will get home. Avoid any potential disturbances on the street. Stay with friends if you can. Make sure someone knows where you are going and what time you will be back. Don’t drink too much – you could become a target for thieves.
Take precautions against Drink spiking – Keep your glass with you, never leaving it unattended and keep it covered.
Please do not drink and drive – to do so risks your own life and others and incurs heavy penalties, possibly prison and financially.
Late Night Bus Service
For the second year Operation Respect will be providing a bus service home after midnight enabling you to come into the city for an evening out without taking a car.
These late night buses will be running during the festive season on a Friday and Saturday.
The service will run between 11.30pm until 4am with a £2.00 fare.
Liz Gilchrist -Vice Chair of Inverness Crime Prevention Panel said “I hope people will avail themselves of this service, it will get you home safely after having a good night ‘out on the town’” Click on this link for the time table:Night bus poster
Shopping Tips
Criminals take the opportunities afforded them by the extra shopping we do, the hustle and bustle of town centres as we rush around, and the value of the goods we buy as presents and store in our homes until the big day. We might also be more trusting and generous at Christmas when requests for charity are made, giving the unscrupulous a chance to collect for their own causes.
When the shops are crowded, the pickpocket has more chance to steal from you. If you can’t arrange to shop during less busy times, make sure you stay alert and be extra careful with your wallet or purse.
If you have too many bags you will be too busy trying to hold on to these to be aware of anyone stealing from you. You could try to make smaller shopping trips rather than do it all at once and carry too much.
Have your purse/wallet close to your body and don’t carry too much cash. The same applies to traveling on crowded buses or trains.
If you travel by car, make sure you park in a well-lit area.
Lock all doors and windows and do not leave presents in view. Try not to return to your car to leave purchases in the boot before continuing with your shopping trip as thieves may well watch car parks for just such a chance. Arrange to collect heavy items from stores when you have finished all your shopping.
Take care of your personal belongings.
Keep your chequebook and cheque card separately.
Protect your card Pin Number when making payments and cash withdrawals.
Do check the cash machine has not been tampered with ie an unusual insert at the card entry point or overhead camera strip.
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Jim Ferguson, as Chair of Crimestoppers, in co-operation with Inverness Crime Prevention Panel, Police, Highland Council wishes everyone a very happy and safe festive period.
Finally, people should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if they have information about any criminal activity. (Crimestoppers is a Registered Charity.)
Have Fun – Be Safe!
Chair: Jim Ferguson
