Revealed: Dundee’s most violent street

SOUTH Ward Road is Dundee’s most violent street, the Tele can reveal today.

Figures show that 43 minor assaults and a further 11 serious assaults took place between April 2016 and the end of March 2017.

It means that there is on average one assault every week on the street, which is home to several busy nightclubs.

Sheena Wellington (left inset) secretary of the City Centre and Harbour Community Council, said staggered opening hours for clubs could help.

She said: “Unfortunately, these incidents are going to happen when you have drink and young people involved.

“However, we have to recognise that the nighttime economy is important to the city centre.

“I’m old fashioned so I would always like more police on the beat, but when I’ve been coming back from gigs in the city centre I’ve always been impressed by how many I’ve seen.

“However, staggered hours for nightclubs being open might make a difference. Whatever it is, we do need to do something because that’s a lot of assaults — that’s one a week and that’s not good enough.”

Nethergate was the second-highest for minor assaults, with 39 taking place last year, followed by six on West Bell Street, where Tayside’s police headquarters are based. At the upcoming meeting of the council’s community safety and public protection committee, to be held at the City Chambers, Police Scotland will report the detection rate for assaults in the city centre “remains reassuringly high”.

Dundee area commander Chief Inspector Nicola Russell said: “Police Scotland is committed to reducing violence across the city and our officers are deployed during peak times to prevent and detect such incidents.

“We deploy dedicated officers by way of Dundee Safe for the nighttime economy and we have a dedicated city centre policing team. Our work continues with our partners in an attempt to reduce and prevent violence across the city.”

Alan Ross (right inset) , convener of the committee, added: “I’m confident we do have enough police out there at the weekend and they do a fantastic job.

“I have joined the police on the beat and I’ve seen the great work they do engaging with pub landlords and staff.

“Their presence itself acts as a deterrent and also provides reassurance to the public.”