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| Angus - Local Initiatives |
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Tayside Police and other local partners are committed to Community Planning in Angus, in order to provide a first class quality of life for all to enjoy, in vibrant towns and pleasant villages, set in attractive and productive countryside. Much of this work involves engagement with young people throughout Angus, in creating a safe and trouble free environment. LITTER PATROLS This is an example of effective partnerships working in local areas. Public opinion continually highlights litter as one of the major concerns of local residents. This regularly occurs during lunchtime periods during the school year. Liaison officers undertake patrols along with Angus Council Environmental Health officers. They target specific areas and concentrate on times where large numbers of school children may be encountered. Environmental Health staff issues fixed penalty notices as and when required. OPERATION DRY UP Over the past eleven years, police in Angus have mounted an operation designed to tackle the problems caused by underage drinking. Alcohol abuse amongst juveniles has always been a problem, which has affected communities across the country. It regularly leads on to acts of anti social behaviour involving vandalism, littering, fighting, shouting abuse etc. An equally disturbing issue is the physical and moral dangers that our young people put themselves at risk of when they consume too much alcohol. Additionally there are a number of health risks associated with alcohol abuse, such as alcohol poisoning and addiction. In 2005 over 600 litres of alcohol was confiscated from underage drinkers throughout Angus. This work forms part of the SAFE project and is carried out as part of the police commitment to the Angus DAAT joint Drug and Alcohol action plan. It also assists in our commitment to the new Antisocial Behaviour strategy and is an opportunity to positively impact upon underage drinking while also visiting licensed premises and drinking dens as part of regular patrolling. The objectives of the operation are to
ADOPT A SCHOOL This initiative was devised to reduce the amount of vandalism taking place in Angus schools. Vandalism tends to occur more frequently when the schools are unoccupied, especially during the holiday periods and as such, provide special attention at these times. Police officers make regular patrols during school holidays, which are augmented by Special Constables and use of the mobile CCTV unit. Patrols alone, however are not always enough and to increase the effectiveness of this operation, and members of the local Community, Crime Prevention/Community Safety Panels are encouraged to walk past and check local schools. SAFE ANGUS FOR EVERYONE INCORPORATING LEISURE TREASURE An initiative which is run in partnership with Angus Council, Tayside Fire Brigade and funded through the Community Safety Partnership Award. It involves detached youth work co-ordinated by a Community Development worker, employed by the project. The aim is to try to encourage young persons between the age of 8 and 18 years to take part in worthwhile activities as opposed to being a 'perceived threat' and includes schemes such as Leisure Treasure, which takes place during the school holidays. This scheme also provides a fast response to vandalism in partnership with the Criminal Justice Service, utilising persons who are on Community Service orders. By repairing minor acts of vandalism promptly, this prevents further acts from taking place. Crime figures and nuisance calls are analysed to identify problem areas, which can then be targeted by Police resources and detached youth workers. MUSIC AT THE YMCA Local Community Liason Officer, Constable Abbott provides equipment and tuition to young people in the Montrose area who are interested in making music, as an alternative to engaging in anti-social behaviour. There is a fully furnished recording studio for use by bands and others wishing to participate in this activity. CYCLE MARKING Chemical etching kits are used throughout Eastern Division to provide additional security to the owners of bicycles. This work is carried out in conjunction with the Cycle Passport Scheme. Community Liaison Officers organise local cycle marking days where members of the public are encouraged to have their cycles chemically etched, photographed and their details entered onto a national database. MIDNIGHT FOOTBALL Midnight football is an initiative which uses football as a diversionary medium. Its basic principle is to engage with local youths in the community and provide a focused activity for them to participate in. The football is aimed at 12-16 year olds and runs between 10pm and 11.30pm on Friday nights. It is currently held in Arbroath at the Saltire Centre and is soon to be introduced in Brechin. Midnight football events have also taken place in Forfar at the Lochside Leisure Centre. This initiative has resulted in a reduction of the number of complaints regarding youths involved in antisocial behaviour during the relevant times. Midnight football is in partnership with Tayside Police, Angus Council Leisure Services and the Football Development Team. SAFER CYCLING This initiative involved the creation of a cycle safety leaflet depicting "Safe Sam" and "Deadly Dan". Safe Sam is shown as using all the correct safety equipment on the pedal cycle during the hours of darkness and Deadly Dan is shown on the reverse side without the equipment with the caption, "How cool will you be? Dead Cool!!!" This leaflet is to be issued to all Primary Schools in the Angus area and in particular to the schools who are participating in the cycle training. Coupled with this the Community Safety Unit have initiated, during the winter months, extra patrols to encourage the wearing of safety equipment during the hours of darkness, as well as having the regulatory lighting systems affixed and in working order. If a youngster is stopped during these times without proper lights, etc. their details will be noted and a letter will be sent to their parents alerting them to the danger and raising their awareness regarding their responsibility for their child's safety while he/she is using a cycle on the road. |
