Weapons are off the streets
Weapons including knives, poles and knuckledusters have been taken off Wishaw streets during a new police operation.
Operation Forward is a crackdown on violent crime, drug dealing, antisocial behaviour and housebreakings which have all been highlighted as being a major concern to residents.
Over an eight-week period, officers from across a variety of departments, including community policing and criminal investigation, will work solely on the community concerns which have been raised during recent consultations with the public.
The new local policing commander for Lanarkshire Division, Chief Superintendent Alan Waddell, said: “In my short time as local policing commander at Lanarkshire, I can see what a vibrant and diverse area it is, and it is my absolute commitment to deliver the best policing I can to people who live, work or socialise in the area.
“The focus of Operation Forward is upon reducing harm, and to do so, we will be actively targeting those who commit violence, deal drugs, or break into people’s homes.
“Anyone involved in such activity should expect to see my officers in the coming days and weeks.
“These types of crimes have a real impact on people and we are determined to do all we can to reduce the instances of this happening.”
The crackdown on weapons continued this week when officers seized three machetes and a short handled axe from a house within Craigneuk.
Chief Superintendent Waddell added: “We are proud to have strong relationships with a number of partners across Lanarkshire, and we’ll be liaising with them throughout this operation.
“For example, we’ll have officers working with local authority colleagues to tackle antisocial behaviour.
“We would be very keen to hear from any local residents who have any particular concerns in their area to contact police to highlight these.
“Working together with our communities is incredibly important for Lanarkshire Division.”