Organised crime can be beaten

Police Scotland’s annual review into the Serious Organised Crime Strategy has revealed that over the last year we have arrested nearly 3000 people known to be involved in serious organised crime.

Further to that, almost £9 million was taken from individuals and companies involved in this type of activity and nearly £7 million worth of counterfeit goods, including fake cigarettes, clothing, cosmetics and medicines, have been seized.

Serious and organised crime affects all communities in Scotland, including our own, and whilst the effects may not be obvious, we should understand that these groups make money by exploiting honest, law-abiding people including the most vulnerable in our communities.

Although their activities are changing with the times they can include drug dealing, money laundering and crimes of violence.

People and genuine businesses suffer due to the activities of these groups.

Significant progress has been made tackling serious organised crime in Scotland as public, private and voluntary sector partners work together to deal with the threats posed.

A key method in impacting on their behaviour, and subsequently improving our communities, comes from people living locally who provide information about them as they are no longer willing to tolerate these people and I would urge anyone who can help to contact us. Moving onto recent matters. This week we are investigating a crime whereby a member of the public used social media to find a tradesperson for a job they wished to be carried out in the house.

The victim subsequently paid money for the person to purchase the items required to do the job, but the person has ceased all contact with the victim, leaving them out of pocket.

I would advise everyone to be extremely cautious when attempting to employ someone in this manner.

We have had a number of wheelie bins stolen over the last week.

This unfortunately increases every year as the evenings get darker and the weather gets colder.

We would offer you the following advice in relation to this: Keep your bin in your back garden or out of sight in a garage or shed; try and retrieve your bin as soon as possible after the council have collected it; and try to secure your bin by using a chain or bike lock and attaching it in your garage or to your property.

We have had a number of other thefts over the last week, particularly in the Blantyre area.

Please be vigilant about this and contact us if you see anyone acting suspiciously.

We have arrested a 52-yearold male in relation to an alleged housebreaking with intent to steal in this area.

If you have any information you feel should be reported please contact the police using 101, or via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.