Agenda item

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

There had been circulated a report from Inspector Carol Wood, Police Scotland, updating the Teviot and Liddesdale Area Forum on performance activities and issues in the area.  The Ward Plan priorities for Teviot and Liddesdale were highlighted as Drug Dealing and Misuse, Road Safety, Violent Crime and Antisocial Behaviour.  In summary, with regard to the Drug Dealing and Misuse priority, Inspector Wood advised that officers had searched a house in Galalaw Road and recovered class A drugs.  The householder had subsequently been charged with possession and being concerned in the supply of drugs.  He has also been charged with contravention of the new air weapon legislation after officers found a gas powered air weapon during the search.   A male had also been charged with obstruction within Hawick Police Station after being arrested for separate offences.  Class A drugs were recovered from his possession and he was charged with this.  

            In terms of the Road Safety priority, Community Officers continued to give attention to areas where they had received complaints of speeding and inconsiderate driving.  Officer patrolled in identified locations to carry out periodic checks to positively influence driving behaviour.  In certain circumstances, motor vehicles could be seized by Police where there was evidence that the vehicle was being driven carelessly, or off road.  It was essential that complaints about driving behaviour were notified to the police via 101 at the time.    Vehicles continued to receive parking tickets and drivers were warned for parking longer than they should or breaching yellow line restrictions throughout the town.  A male had been arrested and charged with various driving offences including taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent and being unfit to drive whilst under the influence of drink or drugs.  Inspector Wood further advised that motorists had contacted the Policy regarding the action of a dangerous driver.  Officers traced the vehicle and the driver was charged with driving under the influence of drink or drugs and with dangerous driving.     Another driver had been stopped when officers were carrying out road checks in Commercial Road, Hawick.  The driver was found to be without an appropriate driving licence or insurance.  Officers on patrol had also followed a vehicle into Guthrie Drive; the vehicle failed to stop and was later found abandoned, the driver had not been traced.   However, a positive line of enquiry was being progressed. During the period a number of road checks were carried out resulting in two fixed penalty tickets being issued for speeding and a number of warnings administered for the anti-social use of a vehicle.

In respect of the Violent Crime priority, there was one serious assault reported in Hawick during February.  This was as the result of an argument between a number of males within the Station Bar.   One male required medical attention to a wound on his forehead, enquiries were ongoing into this incident. 

            With regard to the Antisocial Behaviour priority, there were five recorded police warnings and one fixed penalty ticket given for antisocial behaviour. Community Officers had also issued two dog fouling tickets in the town. A multi-agency meeting was planned the following day to target those who persistently behaved in an antisocial manner.   . 

            With regard to other issues within the period, Inspector Wood advised that with regard to Rural Crime, red diesel was stolen from an old tractor parked at a farm near to Newcastleton.  This appeared an isolated incident.  She also reported that a number of cars had been entered in Hawick and property stolen from them.  Following enquiries a male had been charged with five offences.        

            Inspector Wood went on to advise that on 27 March 2017, Police Scotland would launch Hate Crime Awareness Week.  The aim of the campaign was to communicate the impact of hate crime on people’s lives and encourage reporting from both victims and bystanders; information was available on Police Scotland’s website.  Police Scotland were also consulting on the Police Scotland 2026 Project.  The 2026 strategy was available on the Police Scotland website, where there was a consultation page. Inspector Wood encouraged the public to take part in the consultation and also to contribute to the Your View Counts consultation.

To conclude the report, Inspector Wood referred to the recent antisocial behaviour at the new Wilton Lodge Park, inquiries were ongoing into the incidents; Police would continue to patrol the area. The Forum asked if CCTV could be installed at the Park, Inspector Wood responded that Police Scotland would be consulting with Safer Communities to consider the options available.   

DECISION

NOTED the report.