The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
OAP mugged in broad daylight by masked attacker
A79-year-old Dundee man was robbed in broad daylight by a masked, crutch-carrying assailant.
The pensioner was walking in the city’s Glenmoy Avenue between 12.10pm and 12.30pm on Sunday when money was stolen from him.
He was unhurt shaken.
The attack has left many of the street’s residents shocked.
Irene Middleton, who has lived on the street with her husband for a year, said: “I was going out with my grandchildren at around 12.30pm and I saw a police car and an ambulance.
“It’s definitely very surprising, I’ve never heard of anything like that here but badly before. It’s kind moved here.
“There was also van here earlier.”
Patrick Malone, who lives further down the street, added: “It’s quiet around here, usually. You don’t hear stuff like that and I’ve never seen the police.
“I had a break-in once, but that’s about it honestly.
“Obviously you don’t want to see old people getting mugged anywhere, of why a we police but it’s definitely to see it here.”
Another resident, who asked to remain anonymous, agreed. She said: “I was really quite shocked.
“It’s so quiet up here, the street is all older people so it’s not like there’s a lot of noise.
“I only moved up here recently and I’ve never seen anything like that at all.”
Police Scotland have issued a description of the man they are looking to trace in connection with the robbery.
PC Scott Ferrier of Downfield Police Station said: “The victim was shocked by the incident but thankfully he was unhurt.
“We are keen to trace a man described as being around 5 feet 10 inches tall and of slim build. a concern
“He was wearing a black beanie hat, a black face mask, a blue/grey coloured jacket with a logo on left chest, black jogging bottoms and black trainers.
The officer added: “He was carrying crutches.
“He made off with a twofigure sum of money and was seen walking along Glenmoy Avenue and Glenprosen Terrace.
“I would appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time who witnessed anything suspicious, or who has information that will assist this investigation to contact us through 101 quoting reference number 1675 of Sunday February 28.
“Alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained.”
It’s quiet around here... I’ve never seen the police
ADundee health chief has questioned whether a single 24-hour centre is the best way to help those experiencing a mental health crisis in the city.
Chief social work officer Diane McCulloch told members of the Dundee health and social care partnership’s integration joint board there could be “other” solutions to crisis response.
She said: “I know we’ve had lots of conversations about do we need a centre. I know Councillor (Ken) Lynn has been out and looked at a centre in Glasgow. All of these things have good bits and not so good bits.
“We want to get right as we can.
“So part of that work will then be what is that crisis response – is it a centre? Is this as it a centre things? Or things?
“But we need to do that. I know there is a commitment to go some place and we want to get that right. It may be one; it may be more than one, but we need to do that work,” she added.
She was responding to a question about the Tayside mental health and wellbeing strategy and discussion about a timeline for delivery of improvements to mental health services, including a potential crisis centre.
Mental health campaigners have made the demand for a physical 24-hour, non-referral, mental health crisis centre a key part of the fight for better services in the city.
Campaigner and is it
Phil other other
Welsh, father of Lee Welsh who died by suicide, said the facility was “the raison d’être of our entire campaign”.
He said: “I would be concerned if she wasn’t committing to a dedicated 24-hour centre.
“The centre in Edinburgh works incredibly well. You can phone these guys up and they’ll get you in and you can stay overnight if you feel that’s helpful.
“You can get access to professionals to discuss whatever it is that is going on in your life.
“At the moment, you can’t get that. That point of crisis can be over quite quickly if you get the right support.
“The 24-hour nonreferral mental health crisis centre is essential for people who are at that point.”
Councillor
Ken
Lynn,
SNP, chairman of the integration joint board, said he was “committed” to the idea and had scheduled a meeting with council leader John Alexander and health and social care partnership head Vicky Irons.
Dundee MSP Jenny Marra, Labour, suggested the comments showed little or no progress had been made on creating a centre since the idea was mooted several years ago.
She said: “The comments from the council officer confirm what I have long suspected, that there is absolutely nothing been done whatsoever over the past three years by the SNP to open a crisis centre in Dundee.
“No centre will be perfect and will meet all needs, but it is a vital start.
“They managed it in
Edinburgh and Glasgow. Why not in Dundee?”
A spokeswoman for Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership said: “Providing a safe and compassionate response to people experiencing emotional distress remains a key priority in Dundee.
“Our response will include the provision of ‘always open’ safe spaces in a number of community locations to supplement the broader developments of Distress Brief Interventions and peer support in order that people can be fully supported to address the reasons behind their distress.
“This work will develop in tandem with the Tayside-wide revision of crisis care for those people who require access to mental health treatments.”