Stop and Search Statistics Indicate a Worrying Change in Policing on Our Streets

In the first year of Police Scotland there has been an 82% increase in the number of stop and searches undertaken in Dundee. Since there has not been any dramatic increase in crime in our city, it is clear that there has been a very marked change in policy and practice of policing on our streets. 

The recently published policing statistics, show that 12,420 stop and searches were undertaken in our city during 2013/14 2. Of these:

2 searches were of children 0-9 years, 

776 searches were of children 10-15 years and 

2046 searches were of young people 16-19 years. 

Police Scotland state that the use of stop and search should always be 'lawful, proportionate, intelligence-led and respectful to the member of the public involved' but this dramatic increase in stop and search, particularly of young people, really concerns me. I am worried that young people will feel alienated from the Police if they feel unfairly picked on for stop and search.

A recent inquiry by the Scottish Police Authority (the SPA is the sucessor body to the seven Police Boards) reports that, 'younger age groups are significantly more likely to be searched. However, the detection rate for this population is broadly similar to that of other age groups.' This calls into question whether the dramatic increase in the use of stop and searches inDundee is justified. There are also gaps in the information recorded by Police officers. It is currently not possible to know whether some individuals have been stopped and searched more than once in a year. 

According to the SPA report, 'Most officers have not received any training in the use of stop and search since their probationary training. While many (in their research inteviews) did not perceive a need for training, we consider that officers would benefit from refresher training and further knowledge and skills development.' This is worrying.

Now that more statistics and this SPA review are available, I think we need more local scrutiny of what is happening to policing on our city streets; especially the dramatic increase in 'stop and search'. 

There is more than a suspicion, Chief Constable House is standardising across Scotland forms of Policing he brought with him from the Metropolitan Police in London. But Dundee is not London and Broughty Ferry is not Brixton. 

I think what we want in Dundee and in The Ferry is Policing that is a genuine and proportionate response to law and order issues on our streets and in our communities; not one that that is imposed from elsewhere.

Road Traffic Accident Close to Forthill Primary School

On Wednesday afternoon a man was knocked down at the end of Marlee Road in Broughty Ferry. An ambulance was called and took the person involved  to Ninewells hospital. This occurred close to the leaving time for pupils at the nearby Forthill Primary School. 

I hope the individual involved was not seriously injured in this accident and that that they make a speedy recovery.

According to a resident, who lives near the street end in the vicinity of Marlee Court, the road was, as usual, congested with cars coming and going as parents and carers were picking up their children from Forthill Primary School.

Since more traffic controls were put in place directly outside Forthill Primary School, some of the traffic has been been displaced into surrounding streets such as Marlee Road. Children can walk or be accompanied on a pathway that leads from the road end  through the play park to Forthill Primary School.

Residents have complained that twice a day their otherwise quiet street is overwhelmed with traffic. Their inconvenience would be reduced if some of the car drivers were more considerate with their parking and avoided blocking residents wanting to drive on or off their their own driveways. 

They are worried  that the level of congestion poses dangers to pupils at the school and their own children as well as other road users. They are convinced that, ''this was 'an accident waiting to happen'.

Since I was informed about this accident, I have been in touch with Police Scotland, and the Community Safety Team to ask that they step up their presence in the area. I have also written to Neil Gellatly the Head of Transportation at the City Council to ask him to assess what can be be put in place to prevent a similar  incident occurring and to minimise parking disruption for the residents. I have also contacted the Headteacher.

Police Scotland in Transition - Commenting on their First Six Months

Tuesday marked six months from the merger of the eight former Police Forces in Scotland into a single Police service for Scotland. These are my impressions about Policing in The Ferry drawing on my knowledge as a former member of the Tayside Police Board.

The merger of eight police forces into one came with financial strings attached by the SNP government. This merger was meant to deliver unrealistic levels of immediate savings. This has made the process of merger much more difficult. To protect the jobs of the uniformed Police men and women, job cuts have been focused on the civilian staff. As a result, too many of our Police Officers aren't patrolling the streets but are sitting behind desks, having become backroom bobbies.

The deployment of a single national police force is more fluid and flexible. This can work to our advantage when specialist teams drawn from elsewhere move into Dundee for an operation to tackle a specific issue. The other side of the coin it seems is that 'local' officers on the beat in our communities are more likely to be re-deployed to help police events outside The Ferry. This also reduces their visibility on our streets.

Ominously Police Scotland have been undertaking a review of their properties with a view to rationalisation. I am worried that our Police Office in Broughty Ferry will be on some future list for closure. I know many members of the public and the Community Council would like our Police Office to operate as a Police Station with a public access counter rather than merely as an office base for Police Officers working in the area. Unfortunately this prospect seems even more unlikely following the publication of the Public Counters and Traffic Wardens Review on Tuesday. The associated Tayside Public Briefing Paper proposes the closure of the public counter at the exisiting Maryfield and Longhaugh Police Stations in the East of the City. This would mean there would be no Police public counters left in the entire east of the City. It may save money, but its cutting off access for people who prefer to speak face to face rather than use the telephone and negotiate multiple numbered options.

All Councillors in Dundee are now kept informed about Policing activities through special meetings of the Policy and Resources Committee focused on Police, Fire and Community Safety. The Police are also good partners attending and reporting to our Local Community Planning Partnerships. It is however too early to say whether these structures will have much clout about major decisions that affect Policing in our area.

In the year marking the centenary of Broughty Ferry losing its independence and becoming part of Dundee, it is salutatory to remember that one hundred years ago we had our own Broughty Ferry Police accountable directly to the Burgh Council. I am sure those Broughty Ferry Police were accessible to their public on the Street and at the Burgh Chambers.

Police Appeal for Help to Track Down Vandals That Spray Painted Property in Broughty Ferry

Police Scotland, Tayside Division is looking for the public's help in trying to track down the vandals who spray painted graffiti on a number of cars, garages, walls and phones boxes in the Broughty Ferry area of Dundee.

The vandalisms happened sometime between 10pm on Thursday, September 26 and 6am on Friday, September 27.

The green-coloured paint was sprayed on property in Montague Street, Strathmore Street, Hamilton Street, Abercromby Street, Fettercairn Drive and Guthrie Street.

Vandalism is unacceptable no matter what form it takes. It creates unnecessary expense for individuals and organisations. Where offences are reported to Tayside Division it will carry out appropriate enquiries and where offenders are identified they will be robustly dealt with. 

Police Scotland urges people not to tolerate vandalism but to report them immediately.

Anyone who can assist Police Scotland with their inquiries should get in touch with Tayside Division on 101 or speak to any police officer.

Alternatively information can be passed anonymously via the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Ferry Fishmongers Shop Sign Stolen

Police Officers in Broughty Ferry are appealing for information after a sign was stolen from the fishmongers shop  in Gray Street some time between 4.30pm on Saturday 25 May and 8am on Tuesday, 28 May.

The sign worth £1,000 had hung above the front door of the shop premises. It is wooden and carved in the shape of a fish. It measures 18 inches by 9 inches and is orange and gold in colour. 

If anyone knows where the sign is now, please contact Tayside Division on 101 or alternatively information can be passed anonymously via the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.