Police have expanded a successful scheme which has placed more bobbies on the beat in Aberdeen city centre and helped reduce violent crimes to “an all time low”.
The force organised the return of the old fashioned approach in March, with its “problem solving unit” deployed throughout the heart of the Granite City.
The team relies on time-honoured tactics, with officers keeping a watchful eye over the area on foot and bicycle.
The six-month scheme was due to finish in September, but has been continued and beefed-up due to its success in cracking down on street drinking, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.
And the group has now been extended from four to six officers – taking in two probationers.
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Sergeant Gavin Jardine told a meeting of Aberdeen City Centre Community Council that pounding the streets in the busy area was providing his fledgling staff with some invaluable experience.
He said: “The probationers are getting to learn their trade on the street for their first three or four months and we have an enthusiastic young team.
“The street is where you learn how to do it. You can get all the theory you like at the college but you get up to speed by dealing with real people.
“It was felt that a dedicated unit within the city centre would be quite beneficial and I think that has proved 100% accurate.
“Crimes of violence are now at an all-time low in the city centre and we are now having to write up reports to the powers that be explaining why we are doing so well.
“The area still has its issues, as every city centre does, but it is a pretty safe place to be compared to others of its size.”
The squad is not sent to any calls outwith the city centre, allowing it to focus on and become wholly familiar with the issues in one area.
Sergeant Jardine said the unit had helped stamp out street drinking in The Green – which had been a “problem area”.
He added: “We used to received a lot of complaints and calls about that, but now it is pretty much gone.
“Our guys know the repeat offenders and the offenders know them.
“We issue a warning first, but some people have ended up receiving custodial sentences – which in the end we hope will enable them to overcome their alcohol addiction.”
