INVERCLYDE'S top police officer wants a major expansion of a pioneering initiative which helps vulnerable people and strives to make the area a safer place.

Chief Inspector Paul Cameron wants to see the national initiative Keep Safe, which runs in conjunction with the charity I Am Me, expand in Inverclyde.

He met up with Aimee McLellan, Keep Safe development officer at West College Scotland's waterfront campus, one of 32 locations in the area signed up to the scheme, as he launches a push to promote it further.

Aimee said: "At first it was aimed at keeping people with disabilities, or vulnerable people in the community safe.

"We are now opening this up to everyone in the community.

"The project is nationwide - it's all over Scotland and we have 900 safe spaces.

"A safe place is designated as a location where there are two members of staff present at all times and a place where people can come if they feel lost, scared or vulnerable.

"Organisations who sign up display a sticker or feature on the Keep Safe Scotland app.

"It was introduced in Inverclyde a few years ago but we are looking to expand it."

Chief Inspector Paul Cameron says he is pleased Inverclyde already has 32 Keep Safe outlets but wants many more.

He said: "I would like that number to go into treble figures.

“I would urge as many business or suitable premises as possible to consider becoming a Keep Safe place, to help expand the network of safe spaces and encourage people to participate in daily community life free from the fear of harassment and abuse.”

He added: “I am a strong advocate for I Am Me Scotland and the valuable work they do within Inverclyde to help keep our residents safe.

"Often many people can feel scared, frightened or vulnerable when out in the community and this can, in many cases, lead to social isolation, especially after the difficult few years with the pandemic.”

"There has also been ambassador training, on a range of topics from including disability awareness, bullying and hate crime to enable those participating in the initiative to help anyone who requires assistance which raises awareness about people with disabilities being subject to hate crime in order to combat it.

"This training is so critical as a number of young people don't realise what hate crime is - it is a criminal offence."

Keep Safe premises can be located anywhere in the local community with public access, such as libraries, community facilities, cafes and retail premises

West College Scotland has been a Keep Safe organisation since 2018 and is currently undergoing a refresher course to ensure that all new and existing staff are aware of the initiative.

Iain Forster-Smith, assistant principal, said: “We are proud of our partnership work with I Am Me and continue to keep our positive working partnership alive and active.”

Carol Burt-Wilson, charity manager at I Am Me, said: “We are delighted to continue working in partnership with Police Scotland to extend Keep Safe across Inverclyde.

“This is a community led initiative that provides a network of safe places for anyone to access if they feel vulnerable when out in the community.”

Pictured are Chief Inspector Paul Cameron and Aimee McLellan.