The Lighthouse

The initiative will provide a quick and effective response to ensure children who become lost in Glasgow city centre are reunited with their parents or guardians as quickly as possible.

The Child Safe Zone initiative will use a variety of measures to reunite lost children with their families, with posters to be displayed around the city showing a helpline number which connects directly to the Glasgow Community Services Operations Centre. In the event that a child becomes separated from their parent or guardian, the security team will immediately implement their search procedures.

In addition, visitors can write their mobile phone number onto a free, colourful wristband which is then secured around their child's wrist, so that anyone finding a lost child can quickly contact them to let them know that their child is safe. The wristbands are available at key locations in the city centre including the St Enoch Centre, Buchanan Galleries, Princes Square, The Lighthouse, Central Station and Glasgow City Chambers.

A full list of these locations can be found at http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/childsafezone.

Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council,said: "We're very pleased to be able to add the Child Safe Zones initiative to our portfolio of visitor services. A huge number of people visit Glasgow city centre every week and we're proud of our reputation as a safe and secure place to visit; it's very important to us that people continue to enjoy their visits to the city centre. In reality, few children do become separated from their guardians, but if the worst should happen, this scheme means that we can reunite lost children very quickly with their parent or guardian, minimising the upset for everyone."

Anne Ledgerwood, Chair of Glasgow City Centre Retail Association, said: "We are delighted to be involved in the Child Safe Zone. The City centre is a vibrant and safe place to shop and visit. We hope that this initiative will encourage even more families to enjoy all that the City centre has to offer."

Families should look for the easily recognisable Child Safe Zones logo on stickers and posters across the city cent redisplaying the helpline number 0141 287 9999. Anyone losing sight of a child in their care or any shopper finding a lost child should call the number on the sticker to speak directly to the security team.

For more information on the Child Safe Zone Initiative contact Glasgow City Council's City Centre Strategy team on 0141 287 8618 or visit http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/childsafezone

Child Safe Zone: Important Information for Parents and Carers

Child Safe Zone: Location map