TACKLING antisocial behaviour is a police priority, according to the region’s police chief.
Chief Inspector Duncan Cameron gave a firm commitment to councillors this week that reckless youths and irresponsible adults causing disruption in communities are on his radar.
Speaking about antisocial behaviour at Annandale and Eskdale area committee on Wednesday, Mr Cameron said: “It’s absolutely a priority for me as area commander, and I know the impact it’s having.
“I want to give a commitment to you that it’s front and centre a priority for me, working with the partners we have good established links with.
“We have had some successes. But there’s more that we can do – and more that we will do.”
The police chief attended the meeting to present a police performance report for Annandale and Eskdale between April 2024 and September 2024.
The figures showed that there were 305 crimes of violence during that six-month period, which was an increase of 31.6 percent on the five-year average.
Antisocial behaviour didn’t feature as part of the crime statistics listed in the report because this is a broader category covering various issues.
However, Mr Cameron told councillors he wanted to meet with councillors and partner agencies to discuss more in-depth the specific actions being taken to tackle antisocial behaviour.
Annandale South Councillor Richard Brodie said that he had been receiving more reports of assaults on shop workers and people working in bars.
He asked: “What assurances can you give to those people who are working in our communities that they are going to be kept safe with the help of the police?”
Councillor Brodie also inquired about what measures are being taken to help deter young people from committing acts of antisocial behaviour.
Chief Inspector Cameron said: “Antisocial behaviour itself is not a crime. It can encompass a variety of different crime types, whether that be assaults, vandalism, or driving in an antisocial way.
“I want to be clear that policing absolutely has an important role in this, I do think that the partnership approach is the best approach and something I want to harness – whether that’s with council social work, social justice, youth service, housing and education colleagues.
“First and foremost, we’re talking about young people. Young people themselves need to have some sense of self responsibility for their actions, but also their parents in terms of knowing and being accountable to a degree for what their children are doing quite frankly.
“That’s something that’s an ongoing challenge.”
Councillors were told that the police were involved in various youth diversionary projects, such as after school football, rugby initiatives, fishing, and activities with partners at DG Youth Work.
Chief Inspector Cameron said he was passionate about these types of proactive youth projects and wants to see more of them.
