The Council and Community Safety Partnership are working together to make Ayr town centre safe for shoppers and revellers over the festive season.
South Ayrshire Council and South Ayrshire Community Safety Partnership are once again working to ensure that Ayr town centre is safe for shoppers and revellers during the festive season.
A four week initiative gets underway on 1 December with Strathclyde police providing additional high visibility patrols and officers targeting criminal behaviour, in particular street crime and shoplifting. Officers from the Strathclyde Police Mounted Branch will also be involved to help ensure Ayr town centre is a trouble free place this Christmas. Additional Police and Community Safety Officers will be patrolling the streets, at peak times throughout the festive period providing public reassurance, impacting on crime, and ensuring a safe environment for all to enjoy. The existing Safe Ayr initiative will also be enhanced to include additional taxi marshalling during peak times, and environmental patrols.
Councillor Nan McFarlane, Chair of the Community Safety Partnership said: "Residents from across South Ayrshire and visitors can enjoy a wide range of facilities in Ayr town centre. People come to Ayr for Christmas shopping, to enjoy an evening with friends, have a meal or perhaps with children to see the festive lights.
"Whatever the reason for visiting Ayr town centre we are doing everything we can to make sure that people have a happy and enjoyable experience and feel safe when they are in town.
"We are fully committed to tackling antisocial behaviour carried out by those who have no thought for others in the community. Whether you are in Ayr town centre, or other villages and towns across South Ayrshire, we want you to ensure that you have a happy and peaceful festive season."
Chief Inspector Neil Kerr, Area Commander, South Ayrshire said "This year, Strathclyde Police is working very closely with our partners at South Ayrshire Council and also the Community Safety Partnership to ensure that everyone who lives in, or visits, South Ayrshire during the festive period can enjoy themselves in a safe and pleasant environment."
This initiative and approach has been extremely successful in previous years - reported crime during last year's festive initiative fell by 24%, and this figure represents a continuous reduction over the last three years.
The Community Safety Partnership is also working with Ayr Renaissance to support a range of fun activities in the town centre over the festive period, these will include a visit from Father Christmas, choirs, street artists and much more.
More advice can be found on the Strathclyde Police's Facebook Page.