Tackling antisocial behaviour is top priority
The latest ‘Your view Counts’public consultation survey results have been published.
It was hosted on the Police Scotland website and enables people from across Stirling and the Forth Valley area to have their say and help to influence the setting of policing priorities.
Information provided is broken down by geography so we have a very clear picture of those priorities which matter to our communities.
Once again Forth Valley respondents have indicated that antisocial behaviour (including alcohol related disorder) remains as the top priority (19.5 per cent). This is followed by road safety (13.7 per cent) which I highlighted in my last column.
Antisocial behaviour takes many forms and in Stirlingshire the types of incidents reported include noise, loud music, public nuisances and disturbances. Stirling Area Commander Gill Boulton gives details on an operation to crack down on antisocial behaviour in the city centre. A large proportion of these matters arise within private homes or residential streets and often police attendance at these incidents is dependent on neighbours and residents reporting things of concern as they arise.
We also have more easily identifiable ‘hot spots’, often related to the nighttime economy and the consumption of alcohol, and we can predict a rise in this behaviour in the summer months.
As a result we have launched Operation Steadfast Summer’This is a joint approach by officers from Stirling area command and Stirling Council which aims to combat antisocial behaviour within the city centre.
Main aims of the operation being to prevent crime and disorder, including drug misuse; prevent public nuisance and to protect children and young people from harm.
One of the methods we are deploying to influence behaviour is to target sales of alcohol to under age people ,whether directly or via a third-party.
Within just the first few days of the start of Operation Steadfast’, three arrests were made and a number of Formal Police Warnings issued for offences including drug taking and drinking in public.
Officers will be based in the city centre during the initiative which will run throughout the summer. We will be working alongside licensing and council colleagues to tackle any issues that arise and to ensure that Stirling retains its reputation as a safe and enjoyable place to enjoy a night out and as an excellent destination for visitors and tourists.