Roads and drug crime on council’s mind

Aberdeenshire Council has urged police to plough more resources into improving road safety and tackling drug crime in the north-east.

The local authority was asked to put forward issues that should be “considered for scrutiny for Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland”, as part of its year-long plan to reduce crime.

Aberdeenshire Council has highlighted road safety, so-called “county lines” drug schemes, internet and phone fraud, community policing and partnerships and

“Road safety has been highlighted as a major concern”

sustainability as areas which should be given priority.

Ritchie Johnson, the authority’s director of business services, wrote in a report to be debated by councillors tomorrow that road safety “has been highlighted as a major concern for most rural communities”.

He added: “Inspection is required for road policing due to the lack of enforcement for speeding, driver behaviour and appropriate on-street parking. The latter includes parking on double yellow lines and driving and parking in pedestrian precincts.”

The council has also suggested addressing driver behaviour would be beneficial.

In addition, the council has reiterated calls for more to be done to tackle the drug-related country lines and cuckooing schemes.

Councillors will discuss the issues and pull together their response to the consultation today.