Bobbies back on Blair beat

Politicians welcome return to community policing

Local councillors and community councillors in Blairgowrie have welcomed Police Scotland’s announcement that there is to be a return to community policing.

The national force’s Tayside Division announced last week that it has put in place the final pieces of a new structure which it says has been months in the planning.

The move comes just weeks after concerns were raised over the current level of service experienced by residents of Blairgowrie and Rattray at a meeting of the town’s community council.

Blairgowrie and the Glens councillor, Caroline Shiers, has repeatedly raised similar concerns over a number of years.

However, she welcomed this latest move, commenting: “As a member of the Community Safety Committee since being elected in 2007 I have seen many changes in policing in Perth and Kinross.

“I raised many concerns on behalf of the community during the period when policing in this area was in an almost constant state of change.

“I really welcome this return

to community policing with identifiable officers serving individual communities.

“This is what rural communities respond well to and I look forward to meeting the new inspector and his team in the near future and working with them in our shared goal of keeping people safe.”

This view was echoed by the chair of Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Council, Morag Young.

Mrs Young said: “I’m hopeful that the new policing structure will bring about the change that is necessary to make the community feel safer.

“A much more visible presence of officers is what has been needed for some time and I hope that the police are able to make this happen.

“It has been felt that many of the thefts and acts of vandalism in and around the area have been a result of opportunism fuelled by the lack of police visibility.

“However if the police can deliver on their more localised plan I would expect to see a reduction in these figures.

“Having our own dedicated permanent team for the area will obviously be hugely beneficial and should help to familiarise the police with the people and area quickly and ultimately assist them in making their time on duty more effective.

“I would like to welcome Inspector Gordon Thomson and Sergeant John McKeag to the area and wish them well in their new roles.”