Organisations operating in Inverness have come together to tackle mental health issues, women’s safety and hospital overcrowding this festive season.
Operation Respect puts volunteers and representatives from a number of groups out on the streets at weekends to keep an eye on festive partygoers and locals.
Though it runs all year round, from November 25 to Hogmanay it is ramped up to account for the extra footfall in the city and ensure everyone is looked out for.
This year, a dedicated mental health patrol has been launched in response to the growing number of calls – with a police officer, mental health practitioner and paramedic going out together.
Area command support Inspector Stuart Fitzpatrick said particular focuses this year include making sure women feel safe, reducing antisocial drinking behaviour and combatting loneliness.
“Every year we stress about responsible behaviour while people are out,” he said.
“One of our focuses this year will be on licensed premises and making sure they behave responsibly in terms of selling alcohol and how people behave within them.”
He added: “It all wraps up to Inverness being a safer place to live, visit and work in.”
The initiative is led by Police Scotland but would not be possible without the help of other agencies – from the NHS to street pastors and mental health professionals.
Highland Third Sector Initiative’s Cafe 1668 plays a key role as a safe space people can go to warm up – and potentially sober up – as they wait for their transport home.
Increased mental health callouts
Mr Fitzpatrick said the force has dealt with a rising number of mental health related call-outs in recent years – prompting the decision to create a designated patrol.
“This year we’ve got a vehicle dedicated to mental health responses, with a paramedic, a police officer and a metal health practitioner in it,” he said.
Lesley Sharpe is a team leader paramedic who will spend Friday and Saturday nights patrolling the city centre.
She agreed mental health is becoming something she deals with more frequently and said “I’ve never known it to be like this, and I’ve been 30 years in the job.”
Reducing pressure on hospitals and ambulances
Operation Respect creates a safe environment for people enjoying Inverness but it also supports other organisations working around it.
NHS Highland benefits from the campaign as the increased patrols limit the number of people calling ambulances and going to hospital if they don’t need to.
Ms Sharpe said: “What would usually be an ambulance call we attend initially, then if we need an ambulance we can call them. Hopefully though we can put people on a different pathway whether it be with a mental health nurse or with the police.”
Medical Emergency Response Team (Mert) is also involved in the operation and team leader Alan Smith said it too hopes to help relieve pressure on the NHS.
“We attend any casualties and make a decision as to whether or not they can be treated on scene or if we need to request backup from the ambulance service,” he said.
“We’re there to assist those who are out but also to take some of the pressure off the ambulance service and the emergency department, both of whom are really stretched.”
Listen, care and help
The street pastors of Inverness operate on a “three pronged motto”: listen, care and help.
Acknowledging increased worry in the community, volunteer Ross Tiffin said: “We’re all out on the streets to give support to people who may be vulnerable, lonely or isolated so that people feel safe and reassured. They know that, whatever happens, if they need help there is an enormous amount of effort going into this to make sure they are safe.
“There’s such a feeling of anxiety around at the moment. I think everyone is just concerned about what is happening or what might happen.”
The street pastors also direct people towards more permanent and specialised means to get help if they need it.
Volunteer Mark Hadfield added: “We want people to enjoy the city centre nightlife but we want them to enjoy it safely.
“We all know how it is, a couple of drinks and you’re chatty, a couple more and you’re not. We often end up listening to people in that little window and try to provide reassurance and help.”
Pandemic recovery
With this festive season being the first without Covid restrictions in three years, lots of people are expected to make the most of upcoming festivities.
John McDonald from Inverness Bid said: “Post Covid, the town has opened up quite a bit now.
“Hospitality venues are excited about what’s going to be happening in the lead up to Christmas, it’s their first one for three years, so we’re hoping the people of Inverness will get to benefit from this. ”
Increased footfall is also needed to help Inverness businesses to recover from the last few years – so Operation Respect offers a necessary safety blanket to that.
Councillor Ian Brown said he isn’t sure what numbers will be like in the centre this Christmas, with many more cautious of spending during the cost of living crisis.
“We want people to come out in the festive season and enjoy themselves but be safe,” he said.
“We want people to have good memories, not bad ones, especially after the pandemic. Our businesses are crying out for people to come and visit them, so I really hope that will work out.
“Every day there is more bad news – but Operation Respect is good news, you can make the most of the city this festive season knowing you will get home safe afterwards.”
Conversation