A crime-fighting initiative that helps to keep communities one step ahead of lawbreakers has been rolled out to include Perth city.
The final piece of the Community Watch jigsaw in Perth and Kinross was launched on Wednesday.
One of the main aims of the scheme is to improve the flow of information between the public, police and other Community Safety Partnership agencies.
Sharing information and advice can help to prevent crime, make gathering data simpler and link a community spread across a wide geographic area.
People who are already registered with Neighbourhood Watch will automatically receive messages from Community Watch.
It works by people signing up, then choosing the type of information they would like to receive from a list of options.
When a message is posted to Community Watch, those who have selected the relevant criteria will immediately receive an email.
Councillor Douglas Pover, himself a former police officer, is in no doubt about the worth of the scheme.
He said: “Community Watch has had a fantastic response since the roll-out to the wider Perth and Kinross area in April and it is a great step forward to now bring the city on board as well.
“The service the system can offer to residents to keep them informed about what has happened in their area, so they can be on the lookout and can protect themselves and their neighbours, is invaluable.
“This initiative is a great example of the positive work that can be done when all of the organisations involved are able to pool their resources for the benefit of the communities we serve. I look forward to Community Watch continuing to grow and make a difference.”
Chief Inspector Ian Scott, local area commander for Perth and Kinross, said: “The roll-out of Community Watch to Perth city will ensure this innovative service is now available to all those who reside within Perth and Kinross.
“In addition to bulletins from the police, communities also receive valuable information and notifications from several other agencies, all with the aim of community safety.
“We are very proud to be part of this initiative and its continued success, and would urge those living in Perth and Kinross to register online to benefit from this service.”
In order to join the scheme visit www.pkcommunitywatch.co.uk or follow it on Twitter @PKCommWatch.
Picture by Phil Hannah