COVIDIOTS
More cop son streets in crack down on people flouting lock down rules
Extra police are to patrol Burnbank, in Hamilton, day and night in a bid to stop repeat offenders continually flouting lockdown rules.
Officers have been put in place after there was an increase in anti-social behaviour in the area.
More checks will also be made on vehicles and pedestrians. Inspector Roger Bond said: “Due to an increase in anti-social behaviour and repeat offenders continually operating in complete defiance of the government’s Covid-19 guidelines, local officers have increased both day shift and night-time patrols.”
Police have been forced to step up patrols in Burnbank in a bid to stop repeat offenders continually flouting lockdown rules.
Officers say more patrols have been deployed to the area of Hamilton due to an increase in anti-social behaviour.
Inspector Roger Bond stated: “Due to an increase in anti-social behaviour and repeat offenders continually operating in complete defiance of the government’s Covid-19 guidelines, local officers have increased both day shift and night time patrols in and around the Burnbank area.”
Police say they have also increased vehicle and pedestrian checks and last week a 19-year-old male was one of several people reported for being in alleged possession of drugs in the area.
Stephanie Callaghan and Davie Mclachlan are both councillors for the Hamilton North and East ward that covers Burnbank and reinforced the message that nobody is immune to the virus.
Cllr Callaghan said: “Firstly, I want to thank the huge majority of local people who are following the Scottish Government advice to stay home. I know it gets harder as the weeks go on, but you really are saving lives.
“All of us need to work together to protect ourselves, our families, our communities and our nation from the threat of Covid-19. Let’s stick with it for a bit longer to get this virus properly under control.
“To those currently not heeding the advice to stay home, I ask you to stop and think through a list of the people you love and care about.
“Leaving home without good reason puts your own and others loved ones at increased risk. Remember that Covid-19 kills.
“There are few things harder hitting than a funeral whilst social distancing, and not being able to console each other is gutwrenching.
“Unfortunately, I speak from personal experience having recently lost my father to cancer, and the loss is much harder when we can’t hug our families tight.
“Nobody is immune to this virus and breaking lockdown is never okay. Following the advice to stay home will bring this virus under control and help us all move out of lockdown.
“Please think carefully before going out – it really does save lives.”
Cllr Mclachlan added: “I can’t deny it’s disappointing to hear that Police Scotland feel they have had to increase patrols in Burnbank Centre, with particular emphasis on the lack of adherence to the government’s Covid-19 social distancing guidelines.
“I know this is a problem in general and not just in the Burnbank area. I have seen for myself, as will many others, that there is less of an emphasis compared to how the general public were responding at the start of the lockdown.
“I feel the longer this goes on the more relaxed some people are becoming and this is a worrying trend. Anti-social behaviour is another worrying aspect of why there is a need for a more regular police attendance.
“I hope that the new permanent CCTV will help to address that and it will be interesting to compare figures when they become available in due course.”
Earlier this year, a long-awaited CCTV was permanently reinstated in Burnbank following reports of violence spiralling in the area. Last year the Advertiser investigated several incidents of anti-social behaviour which pushed residents and shop owners to breaking point. The community rallied against the escalating violence and vowed they had had enough.
They made a bold move to claim back their community and stop their streets being blighted by horrific incidents.
More than 1500 people signed a petition calling for something to be done, asking South Lanarkshire Council to re-install CCTV in the area. And at the start of the year the local authority erected the CCTV cameras.
At the time a spokesperson for South Lanarkshire Council told the Advertiser: “The council is currently carrying out works to install a new public space camera in Burnbank, Hamilton.
“This work is part of a larger project that was approved by the Safer South Lanarkshire Board in 2019 for the council to upgrade their CCTV system to make it more efficient and effective and in line with the Scottish Government’s National Strategy for public space CCTV.
“The new camera will help in assisting the local community,
“Police Scotland and other council resources in tackling community safety issues within the Burnbank area.”