The Scottish Government

This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007

Listen

Making city centres safer

04/11/2003

Scotland's cities are to benefit from £1.7 million over three years to make city centres safer and more prosperous.

The Scottish Safe City Centres Initiative aims to reduce the incidence and cost of crime in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Perth and Stirling city centres. It will involve investing in initiatives such as CCTV, Radiolinks, promotion of crime reduction and community safety schemes.

Announcing the programme at the Thistle Shopping Centre in Stirling, Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace said that the initiative will help provide a safe and secure environment for retail staff and customers alike.

It will also help Scotland's thriving retail sector reach its full potential by generating investment and creating more jobs, and benefiting the economy.

Mr Wallace said:

"The Scottish Executive is determined to make our city centres safer places in which to live, work, shop and relax, and the Scottish Safer Cities Initiative will go a long way in helping us to achieve this.

"If cities are safer places then we all benefit. The public feels safer in coming into city centres. Businesses of all kinds benefit from more customers. Where business is good, streets are busy, and where the streets are busy, the streets are safer.

"Retailers in particular benefit from a reduction in city centre crime, and especially from a reduction in violence against shopworkers. We cannot tolerate a Scotland where the retail sector suffers because of the threat or occurrence of violence, intimidation and anti-social behaviour against shopworkers or customers.

"That is why we are working with all involved, including the trade union movement, local authorities, the police, the Scottish Retail Consortium and the retail companies, to give those working in the sector the protection they deserve."

"It is in all our interests to ensure that city centre crime does not threaten a thriving, efficient and prosperous retail sector. This sector plays a vital part in Scotland's economy, accounting for around 10 per cent of Scotland's GDP and employing 342,000 people.

"Shops are at the heart of our city centres, and the health of the economy depends on a strong retail sector."

Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said:

"I want people to feel safe in their homes and when out and about on their daily business.

"By tackling both crime and the fear of crime in our communities, we will create that feeling of safety.

"The Safer City Centres Initiative should help make the city centres safe and secure environments where people can live, work and socialise without fear of becoming a victim of crime

"Above all, we want to prevent crime. Crime prevention and particularly business crime prevention is not just a matter for the police in alone. If business crime is to be tackled effectively, the Executive, police, local authorities and business must all play a prominent and active role.

"The Safe City Centres Initiative promises to be an important part of our strategy, not just in reducing crime but also protecting the most vulnerable in our society, and bring respect back in to all of our communities."

Executive funding for the Safe City Centres Initiative amounts to £954,000 over the next three years. This has been jointly funded by the Departments of Justice, and Enterprise and Lifelong Learning. With the exception of the cost of the National Co-ordinator and evaluation, the costs will be match-funded by participating local authorities, bringing the total project value to £1.7 million.

The cities to benefit are:

The costs of funding the National Co-ordinator and evaluation will make up the remaining £173,000 of the Executive contribution.

The initiative will be managed by the Scottish Business Crime Centre (SBCC). Established in 1996, the SBCC is responsible for developing business crime reduction and prevention strategies in Scotland. The aim is to address business and retail crime through a partnership approach involving the Executive, the police and leading business and commerce organisations in Scotland. Teams have been established in each of the seven cities allowing them to build upon their existing programmes and benefit from sharing best practice, problem-solving and crime information.

The publication Counting the Cost - Crime Against Businesses in Scotland (November 1999) concluded that Scottish businesses face a cost of £670 million each year as a result of crime.