Crime victims urged to talk to the police

Almost half of all serious assault victims in Renfrewshire refuse to co-operate with the police, it has been revealed.

Detectives dealt with more than 100 violent attacks between April and December last year.

However, the detection rate fell by 7.3 per cent on the same period the previous year, with officers blaming victims failing to engage for the decrease.

A Police Scotland update to Renfrewshire Council outlines the problems officers face in trying to secure convictions.

The report states:“Almost half of serious assaults committed occur indoors and both the perpetrator and victim are known to each other.

“Almost half of victims in these instances are uncooperative and refuse to engage with investigations, making detection particularly challenging.”

Alcohol remains the main driving force behind violent crime in the region, but cops in Renfrewshire say they are determined to tackle the problem head on.

The report goes on: “Alcohol continues to be a factor in crimes of violence, we have a dedicated team of officers in our Alcohol and Violence Reduction Unit who proactively police areas known to us for violence.

“We also work closely with our partners to educate and raise awareness of alcoholrelated violence, recently the One Punch campaign ran nationally and many of the local licensed premises also assisted in this campaign.”

Despite difficulties in dealing with some victims of serious assaults, police in Paisley insist they will carry out thorough enquiries into all crimes.

Inspector Tracy Harkins, from Paisley’s community policing team, says the force will investigate all crimes thoroughly.

She said:“We will investigate all crimes to the fullest extent and use all tools available to us, including forensic evidence and DNA.

“Members of the public can be assured that we take all crimes of violence extremely seriously.

“I would urge anyone who has been the victim of a crime to co-operate with the police, and for other members of the community to work with us to make Renfrewshire as safe as possible.”