Thursday
the 16th of May saw the launch of the Southport
Nightime Safety Initiative at the Scarisbrick Hotel.
Lord Fearn and other dignitaries were in attendance and
told how the Initiative would work, and how it would cut down
crime.
The
whole point of the Initiative
is to promote a feeling of safety within the resort at night,
for those out socializing, and to cut down the number of violent
incidences at the weekend.
Southport
Neighborhood Inspector Steve Hall said: “Southport has a
very successful ant-crime partnership with the local daytime
businesses and we are confidant we can extend tat partnership to
the nigh time economy."
“Southport
has a wealth of restaurants, bars and theatres that attract
people from all over the country.
As a tourist resort it enjoys a reputation for being safe
and welcoming. By
extending this partnership into the evening we are further
proving our commitment to making Southport a crime-free
resort.”
Although
the Initiative has been up and running for a couple of months
now, with high-visibility police patrols, other comprehensive
measures are now being added, these include, a radio link which
has been installed between all members of the Initiative,
enabling them to all talk to each other and the police, to
ensure rapid responses to violence and troublesome customers.
And an exclusion policy for any person caught committing
a disorderly or violent act, steals, uses or deals in drugs,
anywhere near a member premises.
The
partnership will meet once a month to monitor the Initiative and
to share information about crime and offenders.
This will have a very positive effect and a reduction in
crime can only follow.
Bill
Asbury from Southport Town Centre Management explained:- “Merseyside
Police have been very supportive and we applaud the excellent
work by the team. It
is important that the business community work together and we
welcome new members to the group.
I would urge any Southport business to get involved.”
Area
Commander, Chief Superintendent Dave Jones of Merseyside Police
added:- “Last year the force introduced Neighborhood
Policing and the Southport Town Centre team are working hard
with the business community to make the public of Southport feel
safer. They are
achieving excellent results and we are in daily contact with the
businesses and their staff.
My message to any criminals in Southport is that
businesses, the public and the police working together will take
swift action against you.”
Photograph
by Editor Patrick Trollope
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