Wishaw & District Area Partnership Police Report 1 January
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Wishaw & District Area Partnership Police Report 1January - 22 February 2007 1. GENERIC ISSUESRELATINGTO ALL WARDS Safer Scotland The Safer Scotland Anti-Violence Campaign is supported by the Scottish Executive and delivered nationally by the Association of Chief Police Officers (Scotland). The aim of the campaign is to build appropriate alliances to respond to the respective levels of violence in the country. The campaign’s main theme is to find sustainable, innovative solutions to our violence problem through a series of targeted and locally focused campaigns. The campaign is continuing to focus on youth alcohol consumption and associated acts of disorder / antisocial behaviour. For the period covered by this report the following results have been achieved for ‘NE’ Sub-Division, which covers Wishaw and Motherwell. 0 1001 stop searches 163 visits to off sales 0 307 visits to other licensed premises 0 19 litres of alcohol seized from adults 30.5 litres of alcohol seized from juveniles 0 28 under 18s reported for street drinking 0 67 over 18s reported for street drinking Violence Reduction Strategy The Safer Scotland Campaign will be underpinned by the divisional Violence Reduction Strategy that will set out what the Division’s intentions are and how it intends to achieve a reduction in the number of victims of violent crime. This initiative will run until 31 March 2007. Divisional Control Strategy The sub-division will continue to deliver the Divisional Control Strategy in relation to local crime, community safety and antisocial behaviour priorities and will seek to involve partners and the local community to positively impact on community concerns. The priorities identified in the Control Strategy are Terrorism 0 Violent Crime 0 Child Protection 0 Drugs 0 Public Disorder Active Citizenship The Police Schools Liaison Officer continues to deliver the Citizenship and the Law Programme in local schools, which aims to develop young people as active citizens and encourage them to take pride in their communities. Antisocial Behaviour Joint working opportunities with the Police, housing providers and NLC Antisocial Task Force will be realised in an effort to tackle recurring antisocial behaviour problems. This will include sharing of information, joint visits to problem tenancies and instigating effective enforcement techniques. Wishaw Young Offenders Forum The inaugural meeting of Wishaw Young Offenders Forum took place on 24 January 2006 at Wishaw Police Office and involved key partners such as the Police, SCRA, Social Work Youth Justice, CLAD and others who can impact on persistent young offenders in terms of altering their behavioural trend. Individuals have been identified and will be subject to focussed discussion and action by the group. 2 WARD6 - CRAIGNEUK Community Police Officers - Constable Bob Chalmers, Constable Alan Kerr, Constable Jim McCormick 2.1 Ongoing Police Issues The area experiences typical criminal issues expected of a deprived area such as violence and drugs misuse, however the predominant trend is currently youth anti-social behaviour manifesting itself in vandalism, disorder, drunkenness, drug misuse and violence, Youth disorder is particularly prevalent in the area with the following areas of particular note. Shie/dmuir Station - This is a Strathclyde Passenger Transport station on the main line to Glasgow. It is unmanned and currently has no CCTV coverage. It is the responsibility of British Transport Police and causes no problems in its own right however, due to the presence of a footbridge linking the Muirhouse area with Craigneuk, it has become the focal point for youth disorder involving gang fighting between the two factions. This is cyclical but can result in mass disorder and vandalism to the immediate area, which causes distress to the mainly elderly residents. A number of proactive measures have been undertaken to address the problem Viz. 0 Schools visits have been undertaken in both areas to highlight the dangers of gang-fighting and warn those involved of the consequences. 0 Individuals involved have been identified, arrested and reported to the Criminal Justice system. 0 Partners continue to work together to devise various interventions that will impact on the problem. 0 Intelligence-led, targeted patrols continue in the area. 0 Sharing of information between the Police and Housing has led to joint visits. This appears to have had the desired effect and incidents of disorder at Shieldmuir Station are minimal. i/axmi// Avenue/G/encairn Ave - This area suffers from general antisocial behaviour caused by a number of youths who are known to the Police. In particular the lane connecting Glencairn Avenue to Glenclelland Road is problematic in terms of youths congregating, drinking and causing general disorder ranging from low-level antisocial behaviour to serious violence. Discussions are currently ongoing with a view to environmental improvements that will assist in securing a reduction in antisocial behaviour. Alternative measures such as antisocial behaviour orders are also being progressed in the area with a view to disrupting youth gang activity. The first of ten writs has been lodged with the court and it is anticipated that the first interim ASBO will be secured on 29 March 2007, with the other nine following soon after. Gateside Road - This is one of the longest streets in Craigneuk and is the source of numerous complaints, the majority of which concern youth disorder. The Police have been required to attend an excessive amount of calls mostly relating to vandalism and verbal harassment. The core group of offenders has been identified and joint housing / police visits have taken place, which has resulted in a reduction of incidents. Heathery Park/ Sid/aw Drive - Although there is not the same number of incidents of youth disorder in the Wishawhill area, a perpetual complaint exists in relation to the use of trail and quad bikes in Sidlaw Drive and Heathery Park. A number have been seized and the offenders have been charged with road traffic related offences. As a consequence the number of incidents relating to quad bike use has all but disappeared. Old Ravenscraig Site - The site of the former Ravenscraig Steelworks is a massive area of land situated between Craigneuk and Jerviston in Motherwell. It is currently being prepared for redevelopment. There are no particular issues with this area although it is sometimes used to dump stolen vehicles or as a pre- arranged meeting place for rival gangs to fight. Winning Quadrant - This is an area of run-down, privately owned flats on the opposite side of Glasgow Road from the main estate. It is characterised by a high turnover of residents due to the amount of private lets. Currently there are a number of Polish residents who have recently come to the UK in search of work and numerous issues have already emerged, which have necessitated police involvement both in terms of integrating them into the community and antisocial behaviour. Wishaw Genera/ Huspita/ - Wishaw General Hospital is a modern NHS hospital which opened in 2001. It has an A&E dept, secure mental health wards and the local mortuary. The hospital has suffered in the past from break-ins to motor vehicles in the car parks and minor thefts both by staff and members of the public. A&E is also a source of disorder, generally alcohol related and predominately at the weekend. Local police procedures dictate all arrests from Wishaw General are to be treated as custody cases. 2.2 Emerging Trends 0 Youth disorder. Gang fights are being organised on the internet. 2.3 Ongoing Initiatives / Police Activity Pro&lem Solving - A multi-agency approach is being adopted in relation to recurring problems in the area. Meetings involving key partners continue to develop joint problem-solving approaches. Gang fighting / Youth Disorder - Members of local youth gangs have been identified and all avenues available to the police are being utilised to tackle the associated problems. This also involves co-ordinated action with partners, which has included joint visits by Housing, Police and Antisocial Task Force. The Police and their partners are currently reviewing recent incidents in Craigneuk relating to violence and antisocial behaviour with a view to compiling a community impact assessment, identifying the persistent individuals who are causing recurring problems and reporting offenders to the Procurator Fiscal. Joint warnings with the police and housing continue to have a positive impact with a number of householders being warned regarding the antisocial activity in their house. Glencassells Community Development Project "The Venny" Centre - This is a drop-in centre situated at the end of Glencairn Avenue Craigneuk and is open Monday to Friday between 1100 - 1400 hours and 1830 - 2130 hours. The facility is utilised by all age groups and is an ideal method for the Police to work with staff and positively engage with local youths. Craigneuk Practitioners Group - The Police are now represented at this group, which meets to discuss current issues in Craigneuk and how relevant partners can assist in shaping a positive future. A local action plan is currently being developed. 2.4 Incidents of Note / Noteworthy Arrests 28.0 1.07 Serious Assault Flaxmill Avenue, Wishaw - Two x 17 year old males struck on face with bottle. 23 year old male arrested. 27.0 I .07 Serious Assault Flaxmill Avenue, Wishaw - 28 year old male punched and kicked about the head and body. Enquires continue. 30.01-07 3 x drugs offences Pentland Road, Wishaw - Be concerned in the supply of drugs - 28 year old male arrested for supplying diamorphine. 01.02.07 3 x drugs offences Sidlaw Drive, Wishaw - Be concerned in the supply of drugs - 23 year old male arrested for supplying diamorphine. 09.02.07 4 x drugs offences Broompark Road, Craigneuk - 42 year old male and 28 year old female arrested for supplying cannabis resin.