Police are stepping up patrols across Aberdeenshire as part of a drive to stamp out alcohol-fuelled and violent behaviour in the countdown to Christmas.
The Safer Streets campaign was launched yesterday, with the officer leading the initiative vowing to keep people safe this festive period.
Chief Inspector Richard Craig, area commander for Aberdeenshire, said: “My message is fairly clear, I want people to go out and enjoy the festive period and the night time economy, and the many events in the run up to Christmas during the New Year. I am looking for people to be safe and for people to be aware.”
A total of 50 officers will be drafted in to carry out high-visibility patrols in towns including Stonehaven, Inverurie, Banchory, Fraserburgh and Peterhead during the campaign.
Ch Insp Craig said the teams would be working hard to “minimise” alcohol-related disorder on the region’s streets, adding: “Fifty officers will be patrolling the streets in Aberdeenshire towns. There will be high visibility patrols on times and dates where we have identified there will be a greater footfall of festive revellers.
“Friday evenings tend to be busier evening, Christmas Eve is busy, Hogmanay is busier – including things like Stonehaven’s fireballs, the Gig at the Brig in Ellon, the vast majority of which don’t result in antisocial behaviour or violence.
“But if there are people there causing disorder we have all our plans in place to deal with it.”
He said the patrols would also be visiting pubs and clubs to “reduce the likelihood of violence and antisocial behaviour associated with the excessive consumption of alcohol”.
Last year there was a large drop in violent crime in Aberdeenshire throughout the festive period.
In Aberdeenshire there were 145 assaults, down from 204 in 2012, with two serious assaults in the region, down from seven on the previous year.
Ch Insp Craig added: “Aberdeenshire is one of the safest places to live in Scotland and incidents of anti-social behaviour and violence are still relatively low.
“It is a very small amount of people that engage in such behaviour. My message to those involved in such behaviour is we would take a very robust approach.”