On the beat with force’s community police team

IT’S Friday night at Longhaugh Police Station, Fintry, and officers are preparing for another busy evening of activity.

But they’re bidding to be the friendly face of the force this evening — in an ongoing effort to bring down incidents of antisocial behaviour in the area.

After a quick briefing with PCs David North, Marc Sime, Bob Young and Special Constable Melissa Roncone — led by Sgt Webster — the Tele hits the road to watch the officers in action.

Just minutes into the patrol the constables come across a hotspot of underage drinking in a wooded area.

After inspecting bags, officers find bottles of fizzy juice, but outnumbered by youngsters, one runs away.

As the youth takes off the sound of glass bottles clinking together is clear.

“We know who he is, so his parents will be getting a visit in the near future,” says PC Young.

Meanwhile, with groups of youngsters gathering in Whitfield, Sgt Webster and PC Sime take their bicycles out in an effort to engage with the kids and investigate reports of an adult supplying teenagers with booze.

“I think being out on the bike helps break down barriers and when we’ve been out on them over the last few weeks the reaction has been really positive,” says Sgt Webster, who is new in his role.

“Somee people in cars have even stopped to speak to us about issues and I just think it’s a lot easier to approach people on bikes.”

In the police van, PC Sime, PC Young and SC Roncone take a trip around a housing site under construction.

The coast is clear on this occasion, but in previous weeks there have been issues with youngsters taking risks by playing in the area. But with CCTV cameras installed in the site by the construction company, PC Sime assures the Tele that youngsters will be iidentifiedden and officers will visit their homes.

Another area of danger is an abandoned business in Baldovie.

“I can see why they’d want to come here,” says PC Young. “As a kid I would have loved it, but there are huge holes in the floor, stuff hanging from the roof and bottled chemicals. It’s very dangerous.”

After a quick inspection, the site seems secure and PC Young is pleased about the addition of CCTV.

With time marching on, the officers head to a spot at a school in the

POLICE in Dundee are bidding to crack down on antisocial behaviour in the North East of the city following a rise of more than 22% in recorded incidents. The Tele took to the beat with Community Sergeant Jamie Webster and his team on a busy Friday...