Ahead of the Commonwealth Games, Police Scotland has introduced new-style policing tactics designed to deter, detect and disrupt crime and terrorism.
Known as ‘Project Servator’ is seeing visible yet unpredictable deployments of specially trained officers; at venues, on the transport network and on the streets themselves in the run up to, and during the Commonwealth Games. The operational deployments involve overt and plain-clothed officers.
Personnel from other organisations support police such as the arms-length council body Community Safety Glasgow including its city-wide CCTV. Police say that the operational deployment of these resources is to deter and help detect anyone intent on committing illegal activity and provide reassurance and confidence to law-abiding visitors and the public.
As featured in the May 2014 print issue of Professional Security – a feature on One New Change, the mall beside St Paul’s Cathedral – Project Servator was introduced in the City of London earlier this year and has shown to disrupt a range of criminality ranging from petty crime to more serious crime, while providing reassurance to the public.
Chief Superintendent Paul Main, pictured, said: “Committed to safety and security, Police Scotland have been planning the policing operation for quite some time. We want everyone – residents, businesses and visitors to the city, to have the best possible Games-time experience. We have no intelligence to suggest that there will be any threat to the Games, however Police Scotland have planned and prepared, to ensure that we are ready to respond to a wide-range of crime from pickpocketing to any potential threat.
“We are deploying these new tactics to further complement the operational activity during the Games and will continue to build upon our relationships with partners as well as businesses and communities.
“Support from members of the public is also vital to the success of the safety and security operation. I would ask that everyone is vigilant and alert and reports any suspicious activity immediately via 101 or 999 if its an emergency.”
Police Scotland have been working with partner organisations on Project Servator. Phil Walker, Managing Director, Community Safety Glasgow said: “We are pleased to be working closely with Police Scotland as part of Project Servator. We believe Project Servator will provide an excellent tactical tool to ensure the safety and security of everyone in the city during Games time. Our role will be to supplement the work of Police Scotland with Community Enforcement Officers and CCTV staff in our new state of the art Operation Centre. All of the Community Safety Glasgow staff have received specialist training in line with their Police colleagues, and the operation centre which is fully linked to Police Scotland, will be operating 24/7.
“Project Servator will augment the other work being carried out by Police Scotland, Glasgow City Council and the extended Council family to ensure a safe, vibrant, exciting Games time in the city.”
Police Scotland have also been working with businesses to engage and encourage them to remain alert and report any suspicious activity.
Anne Ledgerwood, St. Enoch Centre General Manager, said: “St. Enoch Centre is committed to delivering a safe and secure city centre, especially as Glasgow prepares to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The Games are set to be a fantastic showcase for Glasgow. By deploying a broad range of tactics, Project Servator will ensure that people visiting our city centre can enjoy Glasgow’s vibrant shopping and social scene in safe and secure conditions, and encourage people to behave in a responsible way.”
