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16 December 2011 Last updated at 11:03

Police SOS bus in Glasgow to help drunken revellers

An emergency bus staffed by Red Cross volunteers is being laid on in Glasgow city centre over the next four months to help drunk or injured revellers.

The SOS bus will also help assault victims, people in emotional distress and those fleeing from domestic abuse.

It will park outside Glasgow Central Station in Gordon Street between 22:00 and 04:00 every Friday and Saturday.

The service is launching for what is traditionally the busiest weekend in Glasgow for Christmas parties.

Busiest weekend

The emergency bus run by Strathclyde Police will be equipped with first aid and medical equipment.

Another vehicle will be out and about in the city centre to pick up vulnerable people and take them back to the SOS bus for help.

An ambulance will also be on stand-by for emergencies.

Strathclyde Police Chief Constable Stephen House said: "This weekend is traditionally one of the busiest of the year.

"Glasgow city centre will be absolutely full with people enjoying their Christmas party and celebrating the start of the holiday period.

"Our job this weekend, like every other day of the year, is to keep people safe."

The SOS bus initiative was proposed by the police as part of a city-wide strategy to counter the effects of alcohol misuse.

Glasgow City Council leader Gordon Matheson said it would help ease the burden on the emergency services.

"Too often the likes of the police, ambulance and accident and emergency are left to pick up the pieces by those who misuse alcohol," he said.

"The SOS bus will play a vital role in preventing people who have drunk to excess from wasting the time of emergency services.

"But it will also act as the first step towards addressing someone's binge drinking and directing them towards alcohol support services."