Police crackdown sees fewer assaults in city
Fewer city centre assaults took place over the festive period - but more crimes were reported in the area.
Latest figures were revealed at a recent meeting of Stirling Council’s public safety committee.
Members were updated on Operation Steadfast Festive, the latest rollout of a scheme to improve public safety in Stirling city centre.
Both the police and the council were visible in the area, with support from the council’s Safe Base and Youth Participation Teams, along with the Street Pastors and taxi marshalls.
A mobile police unit was located in Port Street during the day and then in Friars Street at night.
Officers told the committee that, while 11 more crimes were reported compared to the same period last year, the increased police resource and the activities of the various safety schemes enabled enquiries to be undertaken “at the earliest opportunity”.
Assaults fell by seven from 19 to 12, more than a third of targeted stop and searches proved successful and only two crimes were reported on Friars Street, an area with previous issues of antisocial behaviour.
Committee convener, SNP councillor Maureen Bennison, said: “It’s pleasing to see Operation Steadfast deliver further positive results over the festive period, particularly in the reduction of assaults, and I would like to thank everyone involved.”
Chief Inspector Gill Marshall, Local Area Commander for Stirling, said the initiative was aimed at providing a “visible and reassuring presence” during busy periods to deter criminal activity, or respond to any incidents that arise.
She added: “Both ourselves and Stirling Council will now begin the planning discussions for the next phase of Operation Steadfast later this year.”
In 2019, Operation Steadfast was also rolled out over the summer and during Stirling University’s Freshers’ Week.
City centre Tory councillor Ross Oxburgh, said: “This is what Stirling city centre needs all the time and not just at Christmas or other short periods.”