Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
ON THE BEAT Resources have been aligned to help policing
Hello and welcome to my first On The Beat column for the Advertiser.
I think it’s appropriate to begin this new initiative by highlighting our own new operating model that was launched within Q Division last week and reported by the Advertiser.
I’m satisfied this new model represents a complete overhaul in how we deliver our services.
Through detailed analysis we have been able to identify the times when demands for police resources are at their highest, and to design and deliver a bespoke operating model that ensures we have the maximum number of officers on duty at these times.
We have aligned our resources to ensure that we deliver our vision of sustained excellence in service and protection.
What does this mean for you and the Monklands public at large?
Well, it means our policing teams, who are the first line responders to incidents, have increased in numbers and as such our ability to respond to incidents more quickly and effectively has increased.
In addition, the formation of problem solving teams, covering Airdrie and Coatbridge will see a dedicated officer with responsibility for identifying and tackling ongoing issues within our community.
These officers will be able to draw on the resources of our policing teams and other specialist units to assist them.
The first week has proved successful, with officers based in Coatbridge, Airdrie and Cumbernauld responding to 1044 calls, resulting in 195 crime reports being recorded.
We responded to 48 road traffic collisions and dealt with four reports of drinking in public.
We attended 62 disturbances, dealt with 99 requests to assist members of the public and attended 59 reports of concern for individuals.
Additionally, 106 reports were created on our vulnerable persons’ database, allowing us to share concerns with partner agencies.
We also investigated 28 reports relating to missing persons. All of whom have thankfully been traced or returned of their own accord.
PC Declan Todd from our safer communities department held a safety event in Tesco, Coatbridge, to address the problems of bogus workmen and cyber crime in our communities.
People of all ages and backgrounds were given knowledge on how doorstep and cyber criminals operate, on how to protect themselves and their property and to reduce the risk of becoming the victim of a doorstep or online scam.
Finally this week our S1 pupils will be educated on the topic of the internet, to help keep them safe online and encourage appropriate behaviour. Drugs and new psychoactive substance information will also be provided to our young people to allow them to understand the dangers and both short and long term effects of drug use, and to help them to make informed decisions in the future.
For a wide variety of safety advice visit the Police Scotland website.
To keep up to date with what’s going on in Monklands add @MonklandsPol on twitter for drugs seizures, traffic info, appeals and other noteworthy community information.