Scottish Borders Council

Agenda item

Police Force of Scotland - 'J' Division Spotlight.

Update report by Police Inspector detailing ongoing work and initiatives in the Cheviot area. 

 

Minutes:

          POLICE FORCE OF SCOTLAND – UPDATE FOR ‘J’ DIVISION

3.1     Inspector Carol Wood was present at the meeting to update the Cheviot Area Forum on performance, activities and issues across the Ward for the period up to 31 May 2015.  The Ward Plan Priorities for Kelso and District had been reviewed and amended and were highlighted as Dishonesty, Road Safety, Antisocial Behaviour and Drug Dealing and Misuse of Drugs.    The Ward Plan Priorities for Jedburgh and District had also been amended and were highlighted as Drug Dealing and Misuse, Road Safety, Anti-Social Behaviour and Rural Crime.   It was reported that there had been a slight decrease in recorded crimes in the Kelso & District ward compared to last year with a slight increase in solvency over the same timescale.  In terms of the Jedburgh Ward there was a slight decline in recorded crime and a slight increase in solvency.  It was highlighted that the figures fluctuated on a daily basis and should only be used as a guide.  In relation to the planned priorities for Kelso and District it was reported that work continued on monitoring and engaging with young drivers within the ward area, 21 tickets were issued for various offences including 10 x speeding, 2 x use of hand held device, 1 x no MOT, 1 x failing to wear a seatbelt and 1 driver arrested for driving whilst under the influence of alcohol, 7 of these tickets were issued for vehicle defects improving the safety of their vehicles and other road users and for drivers to produce documentation.  Regular road checks were carried out during this reporting period, which would continue with the summer drink / drive campaign.  Now that the majority of roadworks had now been completed in Kelso town centre, which had included the re-instatement of line markings, the local Community Beat Officer PC Howgego would carry out additional patrols and deal with any parking infringements as necessary. During April PC Howgego had carried out 9 parking patrols of Kelso town centre, this has resulted in 30 warnings and 10 FPT tickets being issued for parking offences, the May statistics had not been collated but would be documented in the next report.  In relation to anti-social behaviour 44 street searches were carried out during the reporting period, which were in relation to drugs alcohol and stolen property searches. It should be borne in mind that the figure was for the ECPA which included Berwickshire.  Six Fixed Penalty Tickets were issued within Kelso and District Ward, 4 x BOP and 1 x urinating in public and 1 x drunk and incapable.  Engagement with those responsible for any youth antisocial behaviour in the ward area continued.  The Community Beat Officer and Locality Integration Officer regularly discussed youth issues and worked with partners including education to proactively tackle such issues.  There had been 6 stop and search with 2 positive searches relating to possession of cannabis, reports had been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.  Other matters of note during the reporting period included a 27 year old male being charged with a number of offences after being seen in suspicious circumstances and trying to break in to properties in Kelso, a male was assaulted and robbed in Kelso and enquiries were continuing into the incident with a positive lead being followed up.  The local Community Beat Officer was working within the community to set up a Nominated Neighbour Scheme and a further No Cold Calling Zone within the ward area.  This would help prevent vulnerable people falling victim to bogus callers and general doorstep callers and also encourage legitimate callers to maintain best practice.

 

3.2     In terms of Jedburgh and District, it was reported that during the last quarter there were five stop/searches carried out which recovered prohibited substances.  A house was searched in the ward area during May where personal amounts of a controlled substance were recovered.  Continuous efforts are being made to disrupt the supply of controlled drugs in the Scottish Borders and this area of business was a key focus for all officers, with the assistance of the local communities.  In terms of road safety a total of five road checks were carried out in the ward area and fixed penalty tickets were issued for speeding, use of mobile phones and failing to wear a seatbelt.  A number of advisory warnings were also given to motorists.  Three Fixed Penalty Tickets were issued over the reporting period for anti-social behaviour and engagement with those responsible for any youth antisocial behaviour in the ward area continued.  The Community Beat Officer and Locality Integration Officer regularly discussed youth issues and worked with partners including education to pro-actively tackle such issues.  In terms of rural crime the police continued to circulate advice to farmers and residents in rural areas to take as many safety measures as they could to secure their property.  If anyone would like specific advice they could contact their local community officer either by phoning Jedburgh police station or emailing them via the Police Scotland website link.   Officers in the Community Safety department based within Scottish Borders Council were also on hand to give information on joining Farmwatch, SB Alert etc.  Rural crime and the nature of the Borders increased the risk of criminals travelling into the area to target isolated premises and the farming community. These crimes were difficult not only to detect but to deter and Police Scotland recognised this and saw rural crime as an area in which partnership working and tactics should be developed. To this end a Scottish Borders Community Inspector was part of a group, who met regularly with colleagues from Mid, East and West Lothian to share best practice and work together regarding ongoing issues that affected rural communities and included establishing stronger links with the National Farmers Union.  Pro-active visits to itinerant scrap metal dealers continued as well as liaison with a number of partners to ensure premises were being run appropriately.  Liaison with neighbouring forces, sharing information to assist in tackling rural crimes, particularly in relation to travelling criminals continued. 

 

3.3     Other incidents of note, following inputs given to Eckford, Crailing & Nisbet CC and St Boswells CC regarding the establishment of a No Cold Calling Zone, both of these projects were under development and should be moving forward in the very near future.  A double horsebox trailer was stolen from the secure compound at Scott and Foggan, Oxnam Road Industrial Estate, Jedburgh and was subsequently recovered in Bishop Auckland.  A positive line of enquiry was progressing in detecting this theft.   Three separate shopliftings occurred at the Co-op in Jedburgh and those responsible were believed to be travelling criminals and travelling throughout Scotland committing similar crimes.  Enquiries were continuing in an effort to trace those responsible.

 

3.4     With the beginning of the Common Riding and local festival season Police Scotland,

along with the Council’s Emergency Planning Team, were pleased that all the main events in the Cheviot Area had been subject to the Safety Advisory Group or SAG process.  This not only allowed all services to provide support and assistance to event organisers, but also went a long way to ensuring that local events were held with public safety at the forefront.  Police Scotland Licensing Officers were working closely with the Council’s licensing section and Licensees to ensure that all licensed events during festivals were run in a professional and safe manner. Police Scotland would continue to support events and try to blend into the background to allow the events to be enjoyed in a safe and trouble free environment.

 

3.5     Since the introduction of the lower drink drive limit the number of detections and prosecutions had dropped significantly, despite this many still persisted in driving under the influence and considered it to be a low-risk activity in terms of the likelihood of being involved in a collision or being caught.  This year’s initiative would focus on high levels of activity and interaction with the public.  The ‘Summer Drink/Drug Drive Campaign 2015’ would be conducted through high visibility patrol work in marked police vehicles and static road checks. The aim of this initiative would be to conduct high profile, high visibility patrols of main arterial routes and drink/drug drive hotspots. Divisional vehicles would be utilised on less populated routes.  Static road checks would form an integral part of the campaign; their aim being to deliver a strong message, detect offenders and present a high visibility presence to drivers using our road network and entering and leaving built up areas.

 

DECISION

NOTED the report.

 

 

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