A scheme to provide taxi marshals over the festive period to help partygoers return home safely could be scrapped in favour of having more cops on the streets.
A report due to go before West Dunbartonshire Council’s licensing board today (Tuesday) outlines how cash set aside for the service provided by a private security firm could be given to police to fund officers’ overtime.
This would allow for more police cover on streets across Dumbarton, Alexandria and Balloch at the busy time of year.
Heart attack patients from Dumbarton and the Vale raise over £1000 for vital charity
The report, compiled by Peter Hessett, clerk to the licensing board reads: “Due to an issue with the provider of this service, GTS Solutions, no taxi marshal service was provided during the festive period 2018/2019.
“The available funding was then offered to Police Scotland to pay for police officer overtime in order to provide high-visibility police patrols within the key town centre areas of West Dunbartonshire.
“This funding also allowed for additional patrols in Dumbarton East, St James Retail Park, Lomond Shores and also Alexandria Main Street. These areas are not normally covered by the scheme.”
Ambitious plans for A82 relief road take step forward
The Lennox Herald reported earlier this year how the security contractor had withdrawn their service at short notice with a council spokeswoman adding: “The council has been working with Police Scotland to ensure additional high visibility police patrols are provided within our town centres over the Christmas and New Year period.”
Now, councillors at today’s meeting could choose to divert the £8000 which would have been spent on the marshals under the Night Zone West (NZW) scheme to police cover permanently.
Dumbarton studio aims to help target depression and anxiety through hypnotherapy
The report goes on: “This funding provided an additional 300 hours of police overtime which was utilised in addition to the police’s festive operational plan.
“Police Scotland report that, due to this funding, officers were able to make significant contributions to both national and local festive initiatives within West Dunbartonshire.
“In discussion with licensed premises managers at Pubwatch meetings in January, unanimous positive feedback about the extra police provision in the town centres was noted.
“The future provision of NZW needs to be secured, in order that a service which seeks to increase the public confidence in enjoying nights out over the festive period can continue.”
Councillors will decide on the way forward at today’s meeting.
For more local news, click here
