Central Scotland Police

Operation Safeguard

Operation Safeguard is the umbrella under which Central Scotland Police tackles the increasingly worrying trend of violent crime. Operation Safeguard links in closely with Operation Reassurance which addresses the general fear of crime.

Violent crime can take on numerous guises ranging from street brawls and serious assaults to domestic violence behind closed doors. It is clear that the effects of even witnessing a violent crime, never mind being a victim of one, can be a traumatic experience for all concerned.

Central Scotland Police will continue to tackle those who carry offensive weapons in public, who carry out mindless assaults and endeavour to minimise the instances of violent behaviour within our societies.

Fundamental to this philosophy is the need to discourage potential offenders from carry out violent acts or carrying offensive weapons in the first place. As with Operation Reassurance high visibility and alert policing is the cornerstone of any initiative to combat either actual or perceived street violence and to this end officers will carry out high profile patrols as often as they can in the areas and at times identified as being potential troublespots.

Officers will also carry out street searches and searches outside licenced premises for offensive weapons and continue to eliminate all potential makeshift weapons such as bottles resulting from public drinking. Use will be made of airport style metal detectors and hand-held detectors where necessary and officers will encourage other partner agencies to do likewise.

Where offences could not have been prevented Operation Safeguard aims to bring offenders to justice as quickly as possible thereby potentially removing a danger from our streets.

Whilst victims of crime will be catered for in other ways, Operation Safeguard will always be mindful of the effects serious crime can have on individuals and respond accordingly.