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Council give Police a £35K Christmas present
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Renfrewshire Council is teaming up with Strathclyde Police to make Paisley town centre safer this festive period.
They have given the Police a £35,000 Christmas present to pay for extra policing and security measures.
They have given the Police a £35,000 Christmas present to pay for extra policing and security measures.
The Council is using £35,000 of the money it received from the Scottish Government’s ‘Safer Scotland’ campaign to support high visibility patrolling of the town centre. This will fund extra patrols at busy areas such as taxi ranks during peak times, use of metal detectors at appropriate licensed premises and night clubs, and the provision of personal safety advice.
The rest of the money will be used on an advertising campaign throughout the town centre to encourage pubs and clubs to take positive and responsible steps during the season and to promote Paisley as a safe place for a night out over Christmas and New Year.
Councillor Jim Harkins, leader of Renfrewshire Council, hopes that in addition to reducing crime and drunkenness in Paisley town centre over the festive period, this project will help to reduce the fear of crime and promote the town as a safe place thereby increasing trade. He said: “We are using this money to help support a range of initiatives developed in the Paisley Town Centre Action Plan to make Paisley a safe, secure and welcoming place. By promoting Paisley as a safe venue this Christmas and by paying for extra policing measures, we are demonstrating our commitment to public safety in the community and making sure that people have an enjoyable time over the festive break.”
Sgt. Garry Kirkwood, Strathclyde Police, added: “Strathclyde Police is delighted with the support from Renfrewshire Council and the Scottish Government in relation to the funding award for the annual festive policing plan for Paisley town centre.
"This award will allows us to provide an increased police presence during the run up to Christmas and beyond. The next few weeks will see police officers in high visibility, patrolling Paisley town centre at busy times with officers instructed to make sure that consumers enjoy shopping and socialising without the fear of violence, disorder or theft.”
Press release: Friday 15 December 2006
