Bids

Friday 9 July 2010

City’s Operation Safe Night initiative has helped decrease crime, especially over festive period

According to figures just released by Fife Constabulary, the Dunfermline BID area is safer now than it was before the Business Improvement District (BID) was introduced last year.

The figures show that incidents of violent crime, anti-social behaviour, dishonesty crime and other offences involving drugs or weapons have all dropped; in the case of violent crime by 50%.

• Violent crime has halved from 40 cases in the year up to April 2007 to 20 in the year to April 2010.
• Antisocial behaviour crime, including vandalism, has dropped from 599 cases in 2007 to 374 in 2010.
• Dishonesty crime has fallen from 596 in 2007 to 424 in 2010.
• Other offences, including drugs and offensive weapons incidents, have dropped from 169 in 2007 to 96 in 2010.

As part of the city’s programme of improvements to boost business, retail and the night-time economy, Dunfermline Delivers, the new company charged with operating projects under the BID programme, introduced Operation Safe Night in October 2009. Believed to be the first of its kind in Scotland, Operation Safe Night aims to reassure visitors, encourage more people to enjoy the city’s bars, clubs, theatres and restaurants, and boost the night time economy.  The Fife Constabulary figures show since its introduction there has been a drop in antisocial behaviour and petty assault with a particular improvement during the festive period in 2009 when both antisocial behaviour and petty assault dropped by around 60% compared to the same period in 2006.

Under the banner “Dunfermline Delivers”, a team of taxi marshals, street pastors and other volunteers meet and greet visitors, co-ordinate queuing at taxi ranks, provide information and even offer flip flops for sore feet when the high heels get too high and a warm Safe Zone offering tea, coffee and hot soup for those needing a bit of extra looking after. Fife Constabulary has a visible presence to reassure visitors of a safe and enjoyable night out.

A survey carried out during the campaigning for the BID programme last year showed that nearly a third of all businesses and local people questioned, especially women over 40, believed that going out at night in the city was unsafe, despite the actual crime statistics.

Susan Hughes, Chief Executive of Dunfermline Delivers, says, “Changing the perception about safety in the city centre at night has been key to promoting Dunfermline as a great place to enjoy theatre, clubs, restaurants and other nightlife. Public reaction to the Operation Safe Nights so far has been excellent. Visitors take the time to say to the team how impressed they are with what is on offer and what a positive difference it is making to their nights out. Businesses are getting the benefit of that, too.  These figures are great news and will help with our work to promote Dunfermline as a great place to visit, shop, relax and do business – day or night!”

Chief Inspector Bob Baker, of Communities Policing Division of Fife Constabulary, said, “ These figures truly reflect the positive impact that partners working together can have on reducing crime and antisocial behaviour.  Taxi marshals, Pubwatch, street pastors, Neighbourhood Watch, Shopsafe members, Police and others have come together, and their joint efforts have shown what can be achieved.”