Kojak may have needed his lollipop to help him solve crime but in Dunfermline the humble lolly brought sweet harmony to the town centre on Saturday night.
Good old-fashioned lollipops have been put to imaginative use by Dunfermline Delivers in its continued efforts to reduce late-night noise and anti-social behaviour in the town centre.
Research has demonstrated that the sugar rush from the boiled sweets can lower aggressive behaviour and the action of sucking a lolly can reduce the level of shouting and swearing among late-night revellers as they move from place to place.
The new initiative was put to the test when lollipops were given out to people in Dunfermline during the latest Operation Safe Night. Members of Dunfermline’s crew of street pastors, police officers, street ambassadors and the local Neighbourhood Watch distributed more than 1200 lollipops to people moving among the town’s pubs, clubs and restaurants.
The initiative was supported by The Sweet Stop on James Street, which contributed half the lollies that were given away. The result seems to support the theory that lollipops have a calming effect, with Fife Constabulary reporting that Saturday night was quieter than usual.
Dunfermline Chief Inspector Bob Baker said, “We don’t yet have the official figures for Saturday night but the indications suggest that it was quieter than usual. Operation Safe Night and the work of the police with its partners is very successful in Dunfermline and if the lollipops have a calming effect, then we’re pleased to support the idea.”
Fiona Wilson from The Sweet Stop was happy to get involved with the initiative by donating 600 lollies. “When I heard about the idea I was pleased to help out,” she said.
“If Dunfermline has a reputation as a safe and enjoyable place to go, then every business in the city centre will benefit. Lollies often bring back fond childhood memories and perhaps this helps calm people down.”
Chief executive of Dunfermline Delivers Susan Hughes said this latest initiative was part of a concerted effort to make Dunfermline a safer place to enjoy.
“Operation Safe Night has been a very successful project between Fife Constabulary, Dunfermline Delivers, the city’s street pastors and other partners. It’s made a big difference in reducing crime and late-night anti-social behaviour, which is important to the many evening economy businesses in Dunfermline, as well as people wanting to come and enjoy a night out.
“We’re always looking at new ideas and other towns have seen success with the lollipop idea, so we were pleased to give it a try. The feedback we’ve had so far suggests that the trial on Saturday was a success, so we may well have another taste of it in the future.”
Dunfermline is following in the sweet steps of other lollipop-giving towns including Aylesbury, Buckingham, Bolton and Blackwood in South Wales.