We’re cracking down on the robbery thugs
Top cop’s pledge to public after increase in incidents
Renfrewshire’s top cop has admitted the force is dealing with a rise in robberies - but assured residents they are on top of the problem.
New police figures show violent robbery reports increased from 15 between April and June last year to 22 for the same period this year.
Law enforcement chiefs conceded the 46 percent rise is concerning but insists the chances of falling victim to a robbery in the street remains low.
Chief Superintendent Gordon Crossan, divisional commander for Renfrewshire, said: “Violent crime is has increased overall during this period, but that is mainly down to a rise in the number of robberies.
“However, violent crime overall is down and that is good news. The number of homicides is down from three to zero, attempted murder is down from six to two and there has also been a reduction in serious and minor assaults during the same period.
“I want to reassure members of the public that there is very low risk of ever being violently robbed. In almost all robbery cases the victim is known to their attacker.
“If you are just walking down the street you are very unlikely to be targeted.
“Last weekend, there were four robberies reported in three of the four incidents the alleged suspects were known to their victims. And in another a shopkeeper was allegedly stabbed in his shop while bravely struggling with a shop lifter.
“So although the figures are up, there is an important context that needs to be explained.
Chief Supt Crossan says his senior management team is determined to get the number of robberies under control, and a special violence taskforce will be headed up by Superintendent Simon Wright.
“We have longer term plans to help break the cycle of violence and indeed the acceptance of violence in the town.
“Violence of any kind is unacceptable and that is the message I want to get across to people.”