Rise in beat officers cuts crime

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Crime in Glasgow city centre has fallen since the number of police officers on patrol at weekends was doubled.

Glasgow Community Planning Partnership said violent crime, including serious assault and robbery, fell after 27 extra police officers were put on duty.

Extra patrols, which cost £300,000, cut serious assault by 38%, reduced robbery by 13% and public indecency by 50%.

The partnership described the results as encouraging and said the project was a work in progress.

Up to 70,000 people visit Glasgow city centre on a Friday and Saturday night.

In the past six months, the city centre plan saw a 42% fall in the number of prostitutes arrested.

People having a fun night out in Glasgow at the weekends expect and deserve to be safe Ch Supt David ChristieStrathclyde Police

There was an increase of 35% in acts of disorder reported to the procurator fiscal.

Glasgow City Council leader Steven Purcell is the chairman of the partnership.

"Our goal is to ensure Glasgow at night is safe for residents and visitors as they enjoy the city's vibrant, exciting and entertaining nightlife," he said.

The initiative followed a MORI poll in December 2005 which revealed 58% of Glasgow citizens never ventured into the centre after 2200 GMT because they considered it unsafe, while 48% of pub goers wanted more visible policing.

Local police commander Ch Supt David Christie said: "People having a fun night out in Glasgow at the weekends expect and deserve to be safe."

A Nite Zone designed to get revellers home quickly from marshalled taxi ranks and bus stops has been introduced in Glasgow.

Some lanes in the city centre have been gated at night, and police plan to introduce a mobile office.