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
Inspector John Scott 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 2016. 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. In relation to Rural Thefts, Police Scotland had launched a series of information documents to keep rural communities safe. The rural communities of Scotland were safe places in which to live and work. However, the nature of the environment and way of life meant there were some crime prevention tips particularly relevant to rural life that were worth bearing in mind.
4.1. Much of the crime prevention advice outlined in other areas of ‘Keep Safe’ was equally relevant to urban or rural area, but there were issues unique to rural communities such as: Protecting Livestock; Securing Farm Machinery; Theft from fuel tanks; Securing tools and horse tack. The information could be accessed at the following link http://www.scotland.police.uk/keep-safe/home-and-personal-property/rural-crime. In terms of Road Safety, it was recognised that parking in Kelso was a concern and regular patrols were undertaken in the town and 11 parking tickets had been issued during the reporting period. There had been an increase recently in the number of detections for drink driving in the Scottish Borders, with people being caught in rural, locations having been drinking at a village pub and then choosing to drive home. The public were encouraged to report all drink drivers either directly to the police on 101 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 55 111. A young driver’s event between 21 and 22 May 2016 had been held at Charterhall, Duns where about 90 young people experience driving, many of them for the first time, and had had a great experience. The event allowed them to develop driving skills under the watchful eye of the Police, Fire and Ambulance services who were giving training throughout the day. The aim was to encourage young people to engage with the long-term sustainable driver education and casualty reduction programme in the Borders. During May and June the Skills for Life programme, which provided free driver training to 17-25 year olds, was running in Duns. There were further courses being run during 2016 and these could be accessed through the Skill for Life page on Scottish Borders Council website. In terms of new Police Powers to tackle the production, supply and importation/exportation of NPS, it was explained that the UK wide legislation aimed to tackle the harm posed by new psychoactive substances (NPS) which were marketed inaccurately as ‘legal highs’. The consumption of NPS had been linked to a number of deaths in the UK. The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 (PSA 16) did not replace the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971) but it would work alongside to complement it. It was explained that at this time of the year there was a large influx of visitors to the area, either through events or border festivals. Plans were well established to cope with the additional visitors coming to Kelso for events held in the area. Additional dedicated officers had been allocated over the weekends that had events planned and any antisocial behaviour would be dealt with appropriately.
4.2 Air Weapon Legislation
With effect from 1 July 2016, new legislation came into effect for air weapons. Any person who possessed, purchased, used or acquired an air weapon would be required to have a certificate to legally hold them. Because this was a new process, the public had been given time to achieve the certification and no one would commit an offence of possessing an air weapon without the relevant authority or certification up until 1 January 2017. Police Scotland recognised that a number of these types of weapons would be lying about homes and no longer used or required. As a result an ‘amnesty’ would be held where people could surrender air weapons at a police station. Provisional dates for the surrender campaign were Monday 23rd May to Sunday 12th June 2016. People with any weapons for surrender were asked to take them to Galashiels police station on these dates between 8am and 10pm. Further information on the legislation could be found on the Police Scotland website www.scotland.police.uk.
4.3 In terms of Jedburgh and District, it was reported that the Fire Service and Police had been called to a house fire in Newtown St Boswells on 18th April 2016. Enquiries carried out established that the house occupant had cannabis cultivation in his loft. Whilst checking these plants he had inadvertently started a fire. The male was charged with being concerned in the production of a controlled substance and also with culpable and reckless conduct and reported to the Procurator Fiscal. In relation to Road Safety, a number of road checks had been carried out during February, March and April and a total of three fixed penalty tickets had been issued, these being one each for speeding, failing to wear a seatbelt and for driving a vehicle whilst using a mobile phone. During the early hours of 14th March 2016 officers on patrol stopped a vehicle travelling in Oxnam Road, Jedburgh due to the manner it was being driven. The driver was found to be driving under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested, charged with drink driving and reported to the Procurator Fiscal. During the early hours of 14th March 2016 officers on patrol stopped a vehicle travelling in Oxnam Road, Jedburgh due to the manner it was being driven. The driver was found to be driving under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested and charged with drink driving and reported to the Procurator Fiscal. A 73 year old male was charged with driving without due care and attention following an accident on the A68 on the 25th March and reported to the Procurator Fiscal. On 6th April another accident occurred on the A68 near to Charlesfield, which resulted in one of the drivers, a 40 year old male, being charged with careless driving. During the early hours of 10th April 2016, witnesses reported a male having crashed his vehicle into another vehicle in Newtown St Boswells. Officers were quickly on the scene and the male was found to be under the influence of alcohol. Following enquiries the 23 year old male was charged with drink driving and other road traffic documentation offences. Tragically, a fatal accident occurred on 13th April 2016 on the A68 where an 18 year old female died following a two car accident and enquiries were continuing into the circumstances of this. Eight parking tickets had been issued during the reporting period in the Jedburgh and District area. There were no fixed penalty tickets issued over this reporting period and the Police continued to engage with those responsible for any youth antisocial behaviour in the ward area. The Community Beat Officer and Locality Integration Officer regularly discussed youth issues and had carried out joint foot patrols over recent weeks to interact with young people and prevent anti-social behaviour. In terms of rural crime, following a complaint regarding the actions of members of Jed-Forest Hunt on 18th February 2016 whilst on a hunt near to Oxnam, two males were reported to the Procurator Fiscal under the Protection of Wild Mammals (S) Act 2002.
DECISION
NOTED the report.