Glaswegian Nightlife:What has been done to improve

safety?Fraser Rummens

Glaswegian Nightlife

Nightlife in Glasgow has long been stigmatised with a high rate of alcohol-related violence and crime.

What is being done to battle this?

NITE ZONE Safer Transport Initiative There are two Nite Zones in

operation in the city centre - in Gordon Street and Sauchiehall Street.

These areas benefit from enhanced public street lighting, additional CCTV cameras, public help points, and taxi and bus marshalls who look after queues for transport at night.

Initially established in Gordon Street in December 2005 the project was extended to Sauchiehall Street in June 2006 and also operates in Byres Road over the festive periods.

More than 1.5 million people from Glasgow and beyond have gone through the Nite Zone since the project began. Nite Zones have contributed to lower crime rates, quicker dispersal of users of the night time economy, reduction of queue jumping and spontaneous violence and also a cleaner environment.

Improved CCTV

“IMAGES IN ASHTON LANE ARE BEING RECORDED FOR YOUR SAFETY AND FOR THE PURPOSE OF CRIME

PREVENTION”

Improved surveillance throughout the city centre

Public Space CCTV Public Space CCTV operates from a

state-of-the-art control centre in the north of Glasgow, where all the city's CCTV cameras are monitored.

There are currently more than 420 public space cameras across the city, covering the city centre and residential areas across Glasgow. The operation is manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The centre is fully supported by Strathclyde Police, with direct links to the police area control centre.

Police officers also use the CCTV centre to monitor and manage major events across the city, such as football matches and concerts.

Public space CCTV is pivotal in supporting GCSS and its partners in helping to reduce crime, and the fear of crime, by tackling wider community issues such as vandalism, graffiti, fly-posting and willful fire-raising.

In addition GCSS operates mobile CCTV across the city, linking up with the control centre. Community Safety Patrol Officers patrol the city in CCTV vehicles, gathering information on antisocial behaviour and environmental incivilities.

Increased police presence The City Centre

Policing Plan has increased the number of officers from 25 to about 70 in the main areas of pubs and clubs around Sauchiehall Street, Renfield Street, Hope Street, Union Street, Jamaica Street and Queen Street on Friday and Saturday nights

Venue security

Oran Mor, Byres Road

Public space lighting

Ashton Lane, West End Bath Street, City Centre

DR

INK

S P

RO

MO

TIO

NS

•Drink promotions face harsh criticism for promoting binge drinking

•Many could be banned in the future in a bid to battle alcohol-related crime

Nude, Ashton Lane, West End

Improved taxi rank facilities

Byres Road, West End Glasgow Central Station

Frequent public transport

“Policing the city that never sleeps is a round-the-clock exercise and one which we take great pride in. Indeed, given that the city attracts some 400,000 workers, shoppers and tourists on a daily basis, it is our priority to ensure that they can do so safely. Testament to this is our high visibility presence, passion for public reassurance and commitment to reducing violence.”

Strathclyde Police