Calls double thanks to heavy snow

The past week has been quite a challenge with the adverse weather.

Heavy snowfall last week resulted in us dealing with around twice the normal volume of calls. Most of these calls related to vehicle crashes, so I would like to reiterate some of the advice in relation to driving in winter conditions.

In wet weather, stopping distances will be at least double those required for stopping on dry roads. Aquaplaning can be a frightening experience. The safest solution is to remove the pressure from the accelerator, allowing the vehicle to lose speed and the tyres to regain their grip.

Keep well back from the road user in front in icy or snowy weather. Stopping distances can be 10 times greater. When the roads are icy, drive at slow speed in as high a gear as possible. Accelerate and brake very gently.

Avoid driving in icy or snowy conditions unless your journey is essential. If you do need to, it’s recommended that you take an emergency kit of scraper, de-icer, torch, first aid kit, jump leads, shovel, warm drink and emergency food in case you get stuck or break down.

We are appealing for information in relation to an assault which occurred in Sportsfield Road, Hamilton, at 4.50pm on Sunday, January 21.

A householder challenged a group of males who were throwing snowballs at windows, which resulted in one of the group punching the victim to his face, causing injury. The suspect is aged between 13 and 16 and was wearing a dark hooded top.

Our CID are carrying out enquiries after three vans were set alight at unit 5, within the industrial estate, Whistleberry Road, Blantyre. The fires were set between 5pm and 8.30pm on Thursday, January 18, leaving all vehicles destroyed.

We are also investigating a number of thefts which have occurred over the last week.

These include two crimes where motor vehicles have been stolen. The first occurred overnight between January 18 and 19 at Craigmuir Road, Blantyre.

The householder woke up to discover their black Transit custom van had been stolen from the driveway.

The second theft occurred at Crofthill Avenue, Uddingston, between 5.45pm and 8pm on January 21, with a blue Peugeot 2008 having been taken. On both occasions it appears that the keys have been taken from the house and then used to steal the vehicles.

Please consider keeping your keys out of sight.

We also had a sneak-in crime in Gardenside Avenue, Uddingston, on Friday, January 12, which occurred at 9pm.

The householders were in the house at this time.

This week, I attended at Hamilton County Buildings to meet with our elected members.

These are regular meetings between the police and councillors to discuss local issues and they provide a great link between us and the community.

Sometimes they even buy me a coffee.