15th
December 2006
Celebrate
in Safety
Extra funding from the Scottish
Executive will help the people of Greenock celebrate safely this Christmas, MSP
Duncan McNeil has said.
Inverclyde Council Community
Safety Partnership has been awarded £40,000 to provide enhanced services such
as additional high-profile policing, a Pub Watch radio link scheme and
alcohol-free events for young people.
Mr McNeil said:
“Everyone should feel free
to enjoy themselves at this time of year. No-one
should be prevented off from going to a night out because of intimidation by
drunken idiots.
“This funding will provide
more high-profile policing in areas where trouble could flare and will leave
good-natured revellers free to enjoy their night out in peace.”
The £40,000 is Greenock’s
allocation from an extra £600,000 the Executive is spending on to help ensure
revellers enjoy safe nights out this Christmas and New Year.
Announcing the allocations,
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said:
“This Executive is
committed to building safer, stronger communities.
“Together with Community
Safety Partnerships and the Violence Reduction Unit, we are driving down crime
and tackling antisocial behaviour, ensuring that the people of Scotland are
safer on the streets and in their homes.
“However, crime and
antisocial behaviour still blights some town and city centres, particularly at
weekends, holiday periods and in the evening when alcohol can often play a role
in violence and disorder.
“That can be even more
acute in the run up to the festive season.”
She added:
“This complements our other
action on alcohol - including tackling binge drinking through the Licensing Act,
promoting sensible drinking through education and campaigns such as Know the
Score and Don't Push It and investing £20 million over 2005-07 for alcohol
treatment and rehabilitation.
“This additional funding
will enable local agencies to build on the existing community safety
initiatives, focusing on those areas where there are large numbers of people out
and enjoying the centres of their communities.”
ENDS
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