Police: Join us in the war against crime

Cops want help tackling vandalism, litter and anti-social behaviour

Police have launched a crime-busting partnership in a Paisley community and want members of the public to get involved.

Shortroods is set to be the latest area to benefit from a national intervention programme aimed at building safer and stronger communities.

The Your Home, Your Street, Our Community programme is a partnership approach led by Police Scotland and supported by Renfrewshire Council, Engage Renfrewshire, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership, which tackles the local issues that matter to residents.

People from Shortroods are being urged to submit their views on the problems in the area such as anti-social behaviour, littering or a lack of activities for young people.

The team will then design a plan of support to tackle the issues and implement it into the area across a three-month period, as well as providing the local community with the support needed to sustain the improvements once the intervention is over.

Superintendent Simon Wright of Police Scotland Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Division said: “This initiative is an exceptional example of effective partnership collaboration between a number of key agencies, who will work together to make Shortroods a safer and stronger community.

“I would urge all members of the community to tell us via the online survey what you want us as a partnership team to focus on and we will work to improve any issues highlighted.”

Shortroods is the latest community to benefit from the programme following successful interventions in Erskine, Ferguslie and Gallowhill, where the work carried out noted a decrease in the issues identified by residents in those areas, namely antisocial behaviour, vandalism and littering.

Councillor Marie McGurk, convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board, said: “We’re determined to make our communities safe, inviting places for people to live and work in and this initiative is getting to the heart of what our communities need.

“We’re listening to what they feel the issues are in their area and then working closely with our community safety partners to make a real, tangible difference to the local community.

“I would encourage all residents of Shortroods to let us know what they feel would make their area a safer, more enjoyable place to live by filling out the short survey online.”

Information will be made accessible at local community hubs in the Shortroods area, as well as an online survey being available for residents to submit their views.

For more information on the programme, visit www. renfrewshire. gov. uk/ YourHomeYourStreet.