Cop warning
Bid to curb street drinking and violence
Rutherglen Police are preparing to crack down on antisocial behaviour this summer.
The Reformer can reveal they will target the border areas between Rutherglen and Glasgow as part of a joint operation with their partners in the city.
Rutherglen Police are preparing a crackdown on antisocial behaviour this summer.
The Reformer can reveal they will target the border areas between Rutherglen and Glasgow as part of a joint operation with their partners in Glasgow.
Operation Boundary will run alongside the national Safe Summer campaign, which was launched last week by Police Scotland.
The campaign will tackle alcoholrelated violence, offensive weapons and disorder and antisocial behaviour. It will be delivered by local police divisions, which will target hot spots specific to their local violence profile.
It is hoped the crackdown will reduce crime through effective deployment of resources, prevention techniques, enforcement operations and education and awareness activity.
Inspector Jim Gillespie told the Reformer his officers would be working hard in both campaigns.
Areas between Burnhill and Toryglen and Castlemilk and Fernhill will be given additional attention, as will the site of the former Blairbeth Golf Club.
Inspector Gillespie said: “We have run a joint operation with our colleagues at Glasgow for the last few years.
“We will have joint patrols around the border areas as there have been issues before, and high visibility patrols in traditional hotspots.
“The complaints we get around the school holidays tend to be about antisocial behaviour, street drinking and violence. We will robustly deal with anyone conducting themselves in a way they shouldn’t.
“We already have the local problem solving teams up and running and they will be interacting with the communities.”
The Safer Summer campaign was launched by Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams.
The focus will be on reducing violence, especially alcohol-related violence.
ACC Williams said: “Violent crime has a substantial economic and social cost to Scotland’s communities and it is really clear that the over consumption of alcohol is a major factor.
“Local crime analysis indicates that alcohol is a factor in over half of all violent incidents we deal with and, whilst understanding the root causes of violence is complex, this clear link is very concerning.
“Over the summer ahead local officers will be working closely with the licensed trade to implement measures that can reduce violence such as ‘Best Bar None’ staff training, or education and diversionary work with young people on the triggers and consequences of violence.
“This work will complement the range of operations carried out by divisions to target violence that is specific to them at a local level.”