News

3 July 2009
POLICE SET OUT CRIME FIGHTING PRIORITIES IN NEW DOCUMENT

THE police in Scotland have identified six priority issues which have the biggest impact on communities and laid out plans for tackling them.

Following a careful assessment of information from forces and law enforcement agencies up and down the country, as well as partners and the public, these priorities have been identified as:

It is hoped that the publication of the Scottish Strategic Priorities document will assist in increasing public awareness of the challenges facing policing in Scotland and provide an opportunity to engage with and involve the public more in influencing priorities and tackling issues. The document also outlines outcomes which the Scottish Police Service are committed to achieving in respect of these issues in order to assist in creating the Scottish Government’s vision of a Safer Scotland.

ACPOS President, Chief Constable Patrick Shearer of Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary welcomed the document and added: “I believe that this document is a rich source of intelligence and information and has assisted in creating a prioritised strategic picture of the crime and disorder issues which the police service face and firmer proposals around effective prevention, intelligence and enforcement responses to tackle them.

“My clear expectation of the document is that the agreed priorities will have the strongest influence on resource decisions taken collectively and unilaterally by forces.”

Anne Lavery, principal analyst with ACPOS, said: “The Scottish Policing Strategic Priorities document identifies national policing issues which impact at a local level across the country.

“The document provides the most comprehensive picture possible of the true nature and scale of crime and disorder in Scotland.  This picture is formed principally from information received from members of the public, businesses and other partner agencies about what is happening in their local area.  This is combined with data sourced nationally and internationally about trends which may impact on current and future levels of crime and disorder, and risk assessed, using a robust risk model, to determine the six very high priority issues.”

Cabinet Secretary for Justice Kenny Macaskill, said: “I welcome this document which for the first time identifies the six policing issues which have the most significant impact on our communities.

“The police need the help of people in our communities to identify those individuals involved in crime including serious organised crime, peddling drugs and antisocial behaviour and to take action against them. By publishing this document, ACPOS are making the public more aware of these problems and their determination to tackle them. 

“This Government recognises the vital role that our police service plays in making Scotland’s communities safer and stronger. They do a difficult, varied and sometimes dangerous job, but do it remarkably well.

“That is why we are funding the recruitment of an additional 1000 officers. We now have more than 17,000 police officers in Scotland, tackling crime and serving our communities.”