Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Meet the problem solvers
I am delighted to report that my new problemsolving team based at Coatbridge police office have hit the ground running.
Each member of the team has a history in Coatbridge so they have been able to get involved in the challenges and issues that affect the people living and working in the town without delay.
My deputy is Sergeant Stuart Miller, who is keen to identify issues and implement effective solutions.
Sergeant Miller is also looking forward to meeting with members of the public over the coming weeks and months.
PCs Stephen Mathieson and Jamie Durno will be the two dedicated Ward 11, Coatbridge South officers.
For the last eight years, Stephen has been on the front line responding to emergency incidents, helping people in need and solving problems on a oneto-one basis in Coatbridge.
Jamie has worked in response policing in Monklands for the last seven years, which has allowed him to gain a lot of experience in dealing with a wide variety of emergency calls.
PC Shona Smith will be responsible for Coatbridge West, which covers Langloan, Old Monkland, Kirkwood and Bargeddie.
Shona has been with the police for eight years and previously worked in Rothesay on the Isle of Bute before moving to the community policing team in Coatbridge in September 2015.
Her Coatbridge West colleague is PC Fraser Turner, who used to be a member of Coatbridge community police, so has a very wide knowledge of the issues which affect the community.
PC Lisa McCrone is one of two officers responsible for Coatbridge North, which takes in Townhead, Gartsherrie, D rumpel li er, Blair hill, Cliftonville, Sunnyside and Mosside.
Lisa has six years of police experience, four of which were spent within community policing, and she aims to make our communities a better and safer place by identifying and helping to resolve local issues.
Lisa’s colleague is Craig Duke, who has joined the team from Coatbridge community police. Craig previously worked in Coatbridge North.
PCs Anneka Smullen and James Maxwell will oversee the issues affecting the whole town and be the first point of contact for partners working within Coatbridge.
Anneka worked as a response officer for four years and James spent two years covering Coatbridge. Both officers are eager to keep learning and developing within their new roles.
All of the members of the team can be contacted in person at Coatbridge police office by phone on 101 or by email at LanarkshireLPSTCoatbridge@scotland.pnn.olice.uk
Meanwhile, PC Durno, from the Local Problem Solving Team, and PC Declan Todd from Safer Communities visited St Andrew’s High in Coatbridge to educate S1 pupils on internet safety.
Through the use of the “Matt Thought He Knew” video, the youngsters were able to understand appropriate behaviour that should be adopted when using social media.
Jamie and Declan also educated pupils regarding the risk of carrying knives in our communities via No Knives Better Lives materials.
The aim is to make young people more aware of the dangers that are a threat to them and others, and make informed choices to stay away from crime.