Glasgow Community and Safety Services (GCSS) operates five Nite Zones across the city, which provide added security for late night passengers through access to well managed taxi ranks. With numbers of people enjoying Glasgow’s night time scene expected to soar as Christmas draws closer, GCSS are enhancing their effort to ensure they can meet demand.
On the three weekends in the run up to December 25th, GCSS will enhance their presence on the streets with additional Community Enforcement Officers on foot patrol and extra mobile CCTV cameras put in place. The number of marshals managing taxi ranks will also be increased and the presence of the volunteer street pastors will be expanded as well. The SOS bus will be in place under the Central Station canopy on Gordon St also.
Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council, has welcomed the extra measures around the Nite Zones and has called upon people taking part in the festive celebrations to ensure the service is well used.
Councillor Matheson said: “The festive period is a great time in Glasgow and people want to get out and enjoy themselves with friends, family and colleagues. We want to see people make the most of the occasion, but also to do so safely and sensibly.
“Nite Zones make a tremendous contribution to improving personal safety across the city throughout the year. But many people on Christmas nights out may not be familiar with the Nite Zones and so I would urge everyone to take full advantage of the service over the festive period. Getting a taxi from a Nite Zone is easily the quickest and most reliable way to get a cab and ensure you get home safe and sound. It could be the difference between a memorable evening or a night to forget.”
The Nite Zones operate from five locations – Sauchiehall St, Gordon St, Albion St, Langside Road in Shawlands and Byres Road in the West End. Operation of the zones is led by GCSS and supported by a range of partners including Strathclyde Police, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow Taxis Operators Association and Glasgow Clubwatch.
The Nite Zones regularly assist just under 500,000 people every year to get home safely. The zones were introduced in 2006 and in the subsequent five years overall city centre crime dropped by over 20% with violence, in particular, down by 43% over this period.
The additional Nite Zone effort will be in place on December 7,8, 14, 15, 21 and 22. The Nite Zones will operate from 10pm to 5am.
A new mobile phone app developed by GCSS also aims to assist those out on the town to make good choices when selecting which venues they go to. The app will help users identify pubs, clubs and restaurants involved in the Best Bar None scheme, which is run by GCSS and recognises licensees who take steps to prevent problems such as binge drinking and anti-social behaviour. The app will soon be available to download via a QR code on the Best Bar None website www.bbnglasgow.com