Cops going back to basics

Community cops will help reconnect the police with the wider area, Cambuslang Community Council has heard.

The new scheme by Police Scotland will see eight officers assigned to Rutherglen and Cambuslang, with the aim that they will become well-known faces in the area. The plans will take affect from May. Speaking at a meeting of Cambuslang Community Council last week, officer Paul Paterson admitted that the connection between cops and the community had been“lost a little”in recent years but said the new plan would see an increased presence on the streets.

He said: “There will be eight cops covering Rutherglen and Cambuslang and there will be no change to who they are in the foreseeable future so they will become known around Cambuslang.

“If they are covering that area then you will see them more regularly, they will be attending meetings more regularly and it is going back to how community policing should be.

“We lost a little bit of that in recent years but this is going back to the way it should be and that’s only a good thing for the community.

“It will be divided into separate ward areas throughout Rutherglen and Cambuslang, and two cops will cover each area.

“If you call 101 and it’s an ongoing issue then the response cops will deal with it. If it isn’t urgent then the community cops will deal with it.”

Officer Paterson added:“They will liaise with people and be more aware of what’s happening exactly in the area. They will be speaking to local businesses, going to local schools and becoming more known.”

The meeting also heard that some residents are still concerned about the state of Cambuslang Main Street at night.