Keep Safe scheme launched

Scottish Borders Safer Communities Team has been working with partners including Police Scotland, Scottish Borders Council and representatives of the third sector to help deliver the scheme.

It was first piloted in Renfrewshire and now Scottish Borders is one of several local authority areas to progress it further. The aim is to create safe places for people to go if they are lost, scared, need help or are the victim of crime.

People who use the scheme will have a card that has information about their health, how they communicate and details of people who can help them.

Shops and other premises in the local communities sign up to the scheme and make their participation clear to users by way of a window sticker showing the Keep Safe logo.

Anyone needing assistance would then enter premises and staff will then assist the person, which could be as simple as offering directions. However, if the person has been the victim of harassment, abuse or crime, the staff member can use the person’s Keep Safe card to contact someone who can help or contact the police or another service if the situation requires it.

Keep Safe in the Scottish Borders will be piloted in Kelso and then Galashiels later in 2015 and will initially be for people with learning disabilities. It will then be expanded both geographically and in terms of those using the scheme.