Taxi rank marshal plan postponed

A new contractor will be asked to provide the marshals

Plans to use marshals to patrol taxi ranks in Aberdeen over the festive period have been shelved.

The scheme had been due to start on Friday night in a bid to cut drink-related trouble in the city.

But Rock Steady Security, which was employed to provide the staff, pulled out blaming negative publicity.

Those behind the scheme said it would be "irresponsible" to hire someone else at such short notice. It is hoped to resurrect the idea in the new year.

Police said they would respond to any incidents at taxi ranks.

The initiative had been suggested by the Safer Aberdeen group, which includes Aberdeen City Council, Grampian Police and the City Centre Partnership.

Stop trouble

The plan was to use contractors trained in crowd control at the city's five main ranks over Christmas and Hogmanay.

The marshals' role would have been to help stop trouble, with police continuing to deal with those committing crimes.

However, Rock Steady withdrew from the scheme on Thursday afternoon.

It would have been irresponsible of us to have attempted to rush into a pilot with a new contractor at little over 24 hours' notice Councillor Martin Greig Safer Aberdeen

Safer Aberdeen said it was looking to hire new contractors and intended to run another pilot project in 2005.

Councillor Martin Greig said: "It is clear that there is an issue regarding disorder and public safety on taxi ranks which needs to be addressed and we are still firmly of the opinion that transport marshals can play an important role in that.

"However, it would have been irresponsible of us to have attempted to rush into a pilot with a new contractor at little over 24 hours' notice.

"Unfortunately, this postponement means that passengers and drivers will not have the benefit of this extra safety resource in the busy weekends ahead - but we look forward to piloting this approach in the new year."

Robustly police

Superintendent Albert Donald of Grampian Police said the force was "disappointed" that the scheme would not go ahead during the busiest time of the year in the city centre.

"The trial, which would have been operated under the auspices of Aberdeen City Council, was aimed at enhancing public safety and would have been similar to schemes in place in other cities," he said.

"Grampian Police will continue to work with partner agencies in seeking to identify measures which will improve safety in the city centre.

"We shall, of course, continue to robustly police the city centre and will be responding to any incidents which occur at taxi ranks."

Safety benefits

Meanwhile, Grampian Police has unveiled a new digital CCTV system which is being used in police vans.

The cameras will be able to capture footage from any incident which takes place near one of the vehicles.

It will also monitor the prisoner compartment, which the force said would offer "clear safety benefits for police officers and people in custody alike".

The cameras will be fitted in six vans in Aberdeen and the Aberdeenshire area.