Violent crime on the rise, report reveals

Cops pledge to target known thugs

Serious violent crime in a Paisley community has gone up – but drug crime is down.

A report that will go before Paisley North Local Area Committee reveals that a slight increase was noted for serious violent crimes in Ward 3 from one in the fourth quarter of 2016/17 compared to three in the same period in 2017/18.

Ward 4 saw a significant reduction of 42 per cent in drug crimes with 77 recorded in the fourth quarter of 2016/17 compared to 45 in 2017/18, whilst serious violent crime reduced slightly by three crimes and minor assaults remained static at 68 crimes recorded.

There was an increase of nine per cent in anti-social behaviour and disorder calls, with the greatest increase noted within noise complaints.

In Ward 5 slight increases were noted in serious and violent crime; anti-social behaviour and disorder calls; and vandalism, while reductions were noted in minor assaults and drug crimes, the report adds.

The figures follow on from a Paisley Daily Express report which revealed that Paisley cops snared more than 20 drug pushers, violent offenders and weapon-wielding thugs during a crime crackdown.

Officers staged raids and road blocks across the town during a weeklong blitz as they seized more than £7,500 worth of illegal drugs.

The clampdown, called Operation Stagno, saw 10 violent offenders arrested and reported for crimes.

Cops from Paisley’s Violence Reduction Unit led the effort, supported by community police officers, mounted patrols, and the dog section.

Inspector Tracy Harkins said: “Officers work tirelessly in attempting to prevent violence and detect offenders.”

She added: “Operation Stagno was a seven- day action plan targeting known violent offenders and violence hotspots within the Paisley and Ferguslie areas.”

The report to Paisley North Local Area Committee also states that 200 hundred anti-social behaviour calls were received by the Renfrewshire Wardens’ service for the Paisley North area during January to March 2018, which is an increase compared to the 188 calls in the corresponding period in 2017.

A total of 1265 patrols took place within the Paisley North area, many in response to these calls, the report says.

The Paisley North Local Area Committee meeting will take place on May 24 from 6pm to 7pm at Renfrewshire Council Chambers, Cotton Street, Paisley.