Anne McLaughlin, SNP MSP for the Glasgow region, has called on Glasgow City Council to make sure the city does not miss out on its share of £400,000 being made available by the Scottish Government to improve public safety. The Safer Streets funding is used by local authorities to support community safety initiatives including high visibility police patrols in 'hot spot' areas, targeting of street drinkers and late night taxi marshals. Previous funding has been used in Glasgow for high visibility police patrols; a static first aid post in the City Centre and improved CCTV coverage.

Commenting, Anne McLaughlin MSP said: “We know that UK Government cuts are hitting services across Scotland, so when funding like this becomes available from the SNP Government, Councils should act quickly to make sure they receive their fair share.

“That fairness should also then apply within the local authority area, and I want to make sure that all the areas of Glasgow that I represent benefit from this funding as appropriate.

“Wisely targeting these resources can have a big impact on making our streets safer, especially in the evenings and at night when people are leaving pubs and clubs and want to get home safely.  I hope that the Council will make every effort to secure this extra funding from the Scottish Government. Feeling safe on the streets is a big concern for many people in Glasgow, especially the elderly, and this extra funding will certainly help."

Note:

Minister for Community Safety announces £400,000 funding

Every local authority in Scotland is invited to apply for funding from the Scottish Government to help ensure that people going out for the night can enjoy themselves in a safe environment.

Last year's Safer Streets funding awards benefited projects around Scotland. Community Safety Partnerships in all 32 local authorities used funding for community safety initiatives including high visibility police patrols in 'hot spot' areas, targeting of street drinkers and late night taxi marshals.

Minister for Community Safety Fergus Ewing said: "With recorded crime at a 30-year low and a record number of police officers serving our communities, making Scotland safer and stronger is a priority for this Government.

"Once again this funding is aimed at supporting community safety projects that seek to make nights out a safer experience for all.

"Last year's funding awards offered far-reaching benefits in towns and cities across Scotland. From redesigned taxi queues to improve passenger safety to an increase in high visibility police patrols in more than two thirds of local authority areas around Scotland, Safer Streets funding has played a key role in improving safety and confidence over the winter months.

"We are committed to work together to help ensure that people can go out and have an enjoyable, relaxing time."

Background

The Safer Streets initiative is a nationally directed, locally delivered programme, building upon existing partnership working to conduct high visibility, high impact, joint initiatives to reduce alcohol-related violence and disorder in city and town centres.

Long term, it aims to encourage Community Safety Partnerships to build capacity, encourage innovation, deliver a sustainable change to practice and share that practice.

Guidance and application forms are being distributed directly to Community Safety Partnerships.

The last tranche of Safer Streets funding of £400,000 was made available to Community Safety Partnerships from November 2009 to March 2010.

A summary of projects supported in each local authority can be found here.