Agenda item

Update by Inspector Hodges.

Inspector Hodges highlighted there had been 3 serious assaults (all detected) as opposed to 7 this time last year.   There had been 57 Common Assaults (60% detected to date) as opposed to 58 this time last year.         These figures buck the current trends for this policing division and whilst every assault is one to many, he hoped it was reassuring that violent crime was not seeing any rise in the Tweeddale Area.  It was difficult to give an evidenced based rationale for this but the good working relationship with the licensed premises in the Tweeddale Area  fostered through the local licensing board must take some of the credit.  There were 455 incidents of reported Anti-Social Behaviour as opposed to 534 this time last year.  This was also a significant decrease in comparison with the rest of the region and the ongoing partnership approach fostered by the SBC Anti-Social Behaviour Unit and the local housing associations was undoubtedly paying dividend.  He explained that Dishonesty was the area which was causing him most concern in relation to both Tweeddale East and West.   He had highlighted this at the November Forum and Police Scotland had seen a continuation of Acquisition Crime across the area on a very unwelcome basis since the turn of the year.          Thefts of motorcars, motorcycles, pedal cycles and housebreakings continued to feature and as previously reported were very much connected with criminality in Edinburgh and the Lothians.   Whilst rural policing in the hours of darkness could often be the proverbial needle in a haystack, the combined efforts which Police Scotland afforded was ensuring the current issues in Tweeddale were not lost in the bigger picture.  He submitted that when a car thief sentenced to a year in prison at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, the reality was that he or his associates were highly likely to have been responsible for crime in this area.  He urged everyone to ensure their respective communities assisted  by taking a strong approach to personal security and appreciate that a house or car in Tweeddale was just as an inviting a target as one in Silverknowes or Dalkeith.   Community Officers were available should residents or businesses wish any specific Crime Prevention Advice.  Inspector Hodges welcomed members of Community Councils accompanying Community Officers on Hand Held Rader Speed Checks.      Further, he urged Members to challenge and encourage their constituents to act in a grown up manner when it came to parking.   Councillor Garvie expressed concern at this advice as it was neither legal nor within Councillors’ roles to police parking.  expressed exception to this comment advising it was not within a Councillors’ role to police parking.     Community Councillor Lewin advised he had previously complained about the lack of Policy community liaison with Upper Tweed Community Council, he was pleased to advise that there had been much improved liaison in the last few months.   Community Councillor Tulloch referred to the Nominated Neighbour Scheme and advised that he had problems downloading leaflets and cards from the website and Inspector Hodges undertook to investigate this.    Following a comment from Community Councillor Parker, Inspector Hodges advised he would ascertain why Tweedsmuir Community Council had not been receiving Police Reports.  Inspector Hodges concluded his update by thanking the Chairman for his excellent stewardship of the Forum and wished him all the best in his retirement.

DECISION

NOTED.