Multi-agency initiative, Operation Respect, aims to keep people safe in lead up to festive season
- Issued by Police Scoland Highlands & Islands Division
As part of an ongoing multi-agency partnership initiative, known as Operation Respect; which aims to reduce the negative effect of anti-social behaviour, violence and crime, metal detection devices which scan for knives and other offensive weapons will be used in licensed premises across Inverness over the coming weeks and months as the busy festive season approaches.
The pole (device) will be used to act as a deterrent for those who may be carrying a knife or another type of weapon, but more importantly to keep people safe across the city.
This initiative is just one of a number of measures being adopted by Police Scotland and its partner agencies, as part of Operation Respect, to ensure shoppers and revellers are safe from crime throughout the festive season.
Inverness Pub Watch Chairman Don Lawson said: "One of my aims as the Chairman of Inverness Pub Watch is to provide a safe and secure environment for, not only patrons of licensed premises, but also the staff who work within these premises.
"It doesn't send out the wrong message, it sends out a deterrent. The safest place to go for a drink is a pub."
Malcolm Raeburn, Inverness BID Community Safety Manager, said: "Across Inverness all of our licensed premises operate a zero tolerance policy on anti-social and illegal behaviour and as such are seen as being safe establishments. The deployment of the pole will act as a further deterrent thereby enhancing the safety of the public.
Chief Superintendent Julian Innes said: "We do not have a knife culture in Inverness, however we are committed to ensuring that the patrons and staff at licensed premises are kept safe. This initiative underlines the work we are doing with our partners as part of Operation Respect in the city. This will act as a strong deterrent and supplement the intelligence led activity we routinely carry out to detect and report those who are tempted to carry knives or weapons in public places.
The pole is to be used at a number of premises over the coming weeks and any other establishment who feel they would benefit from the device should contact crime prevention officers at Burnett Road Police station.