10 November 2009

Portable Detectors Combat Knife Crime

Hand-held metal detectors are to be given out in the fight against Scotland's 'booze and blade' culture.

The Scottish Government has allocated £30,000 to supply free hand-held metal detectors for all first-time recipients of Best Bar None Awards.

The metal detectors and the training to use them effectively will help keep customers safe and combat knife crime.

The Best Bar None Awards Scheme originated in Manchester and was piloted in Glasgow in 2005 and has since expanded to Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee, Falkirk, Fife, Inverness, Perth, Stirling and West Lothian.

The awards, being presented at ceremonies in Glasgow, Perth and Fife today, recognise the importance of promoting public safety and the highest standards of care at licensed premises right across Scotland.

Community Safety Minister Fergus Ewing said: "We are now doing more than ever to tackle knife crime with tougher sentences and tough police action to take weapons off our streets.

"Changing the booze and blade culture won't be quick and it won't be easy but we can not go on as we are.

"The Best Bar None scheme helps provide the highest standards so that all our citizens can enjoy relaxing in a safe and secure environment."

The Best Bar None scheme is in the process of being rolled out in Clackmannanshire, Midlothian, East Kilbride, Milngavie and Lerwick after the Scottish Government provided £50,000 extra funding last April.

(GK/BMcC)