East Lothian Courier | News | Crackdown on crime

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Thursday, 14th February, 2008 09:00

Crackdown on crime

A police ‘‘flying squad’ is to be launched to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour across East Lothian.

The six-strong Lothian and Borders Police Community Action Team (CAT) heads up a £1 million council budget package aimed at making the county a safer place in which to live.

Comprising a sergeant and five constables, the specialised squad will be rapidly deployed to local trouble spots as and when required.

It will be supported by a new mobile CCTV van, an expansion of the county’s CCTV network, community wardens and a new team of environmental wardens.

Announcing a range of security measures at Tuesday’s budget meeting, depute council leader, Councillor Stuart Currie, said: “My colleagues and I have been impressed by the work of the (council’s) anti-social behaviour team. There is no doubt it is already making a huge difference for many residents.

“I believe we have a duty to support, as fully as possible, the work of this team.

“If you look at the cumulative effect of community wardens, environmental wardens plus additional police coming from Central Government, more CCTV and a mobile CCTV van, this is a huge range of tools to fight crime and it will make a huge difference.

“I have been told a bid has been made by the divisional chief to recruit 19 extra officers in recent weeks and that was before our budget was finalised.”

Mr Currie said the CAT would be a similar operation to that already established in Midlothian.

“I looked at Midlothian Council’s website and their community action team is doing excellent work, producing real results on a day-by-day basis,” he added.

“The police have said to us loud and clear that a CAT in East Lothian would make a huge difference.”

Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent Terry Powell, said: “We are delighted the council has decided to give this additional significant commitment to policing East Lothian.

“We will do out utmost to ensure the additional officers this will enable us to recruit are in place as soon as possible. The team will have a significant impact on a wide range of community issues in East Lothian.”

Under the budget proposals passed on Tuesday, the East Lothian Council CCTV network will be expanded to include Port Seton and Dunbar. The council will also fully-fund a CCTV scheme that has been developed by North Berwick Community Council, in addition to the purchase of a mobile CCTV van for community safety use throughout East Lothian.

The value of CCTV in targeting urban crime was emphasised when footage was used to trace a suspect in connection with an assault in Haddington’s Market Street on January 26, in which a man sustained a head injury. A

20-year-old local man was later arrested and charged with assault after officers studied pictures recorded by street cameras.

The proposed environmental wardens will deal with issues such as noise. “Previously most of our residents had to call the police to report complaints of noise and therefore this will free up police time,” added Mr Currie.

Council leader, councillor David Berry, said: “We are concerned that people don’t feel there is an adequate level of policing. We recognise that the police have a job to do and that they have limited resources.

“All these contributions add up to an effective use of money, rather than just throwing it at the police and asking them to get on with it.”

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