Agenda item

Quarterly update report by Police Scotland.

Inspector Keith Dougal presented a report to the Forum updating Members on Police Scotland activity in the Mid and East Berwickshire Wards up to 31 August 2014.  Inspector Dougal advised that the figures in the report showed a decrease of 11% in reported crime in the Berwickshire Wards compared to the same period the previous year and that, over the same timescale, solvency had decreased by 6% in East Berwickshire  whilst increasing by 6% in Mid Berwickshire.  Members were informed that the local Multi-Member Ward Plans had now been published and were available for downloading from the Police Scotland website.  The report gave details of Operation Monarda, due to commence on 23 March 2015 and explained that this was a national campaign to target doorstep crime.  Inspector Dougal encouraged communities to continue their vigilance locally in terms of reporting any suspicious activity to Police Scotland and "keeping an eye" on any vulnerable or susceptible neighbours.  With reference to Ward Priorities in East Berwickshire, it was noted that 59 drivers had been stopped and charged with speeding between 1 December 2014 and 1 March 2015.  In terms of drugs misuse, 11 positive searches had been carried out during the reporting period in East Berwickshire.  Anti-social behaviour continued to be a priority and a total of 12 tickets had been issued during the reporting period, 14 premises were in the advanced stages of being issued with ASBOs and other premises were currently being monitored.  Inspector Dougal advised that rural thefts continued to be an area of concern in isolated areas close to main arterial routes and that home security surveys were available through the Safer Communities Team when premises met the required criteria.  Mid Berwickshire continued to have problems relating to indiscriminate parking and it was noted that 5 parking tickets had been issued and 2 motorists warned during the period covered by the report.  Again, youths and anti-social behaviour was a high priority for Mid Berwickshire, with 12 tickets being issued and a further 14 premises currently in the advanced stages of being issued with an ASBO.  The report noted that there had been no reports of dog fouling in the area during this reporting period.  In response to questions, Inspector Dougal explained the way in which shift patterns operated within the Service and that Community Police Officers (CPOs) could attend Community Council meetings if they were on duty and available but would have to leave to respond to any calls that came in.  Posters by Police Scotland which were displayed in local communities appeared to be out of date and Inspector Dougal agreed to investigate this to ensure that current information was provided.  Inspector Dougal also agreed to look into and report back to the Forum regarding the current situation for the provision of monthly local reports provided to all Community Councils.

DECISION

(a)     NOTED the report.

(b)     AGREED that:-

          (i)      Inspector Dougal would investigate the provision of updated Police Scotland posters for local communities; and

          (ii)     Inspector Dougal would look into the provision of monthly reports to Community Councils and report back to the Forum in due course.