Serious assaults in Fife’s town centres fell by 50% over the festive period, after a police crackdown on problem drinkers.
A total of 176 visits were made at licensed premises as part of a police campaign to keep revellers safe over Christmas and the New Year.
These intervention tactics paid off, police claim, as the number of serious assaults reported in town centres fell by half compared with last year.
The division’s festive crime campaign was launched throughout Fife in December, aimed at targeting a number of offences which regularly occur during the holiday season, such as domestic incidents andserious assaults.
The number of domestic incidents over the festive period was reduced by 20% 83 fewer victims.
Road policing officers and local policing teams also provided a robust presence across Fife’s road network during the holiday season, according to police.
As a result, 41 people have been reported to the procurator fiscal for driving under the influence of drink or drugs.
During the month-long operation, 80 antisocial behaviour tickets were issued to offenders for minor offences, mainly alcohol related.
Fife division operations superintendent Dougie Milton there was traditionally a rise in crime over the festive period, largely due to increased alcohol consumption.
He said: “We launched this operation to provide reassurance to the public over the festive period, but also to send a clear message that crime within Fife would not be tolerated.
“Local policing teams were out in large numbers to speak with communities and offer information on personal security, as well as to detect and deter criminal activity in the region.”
Offences such as violence, domestic abuse, antisocial behaviour and road safety are all policing priorities for Fife, which resulted in significant enforcement activity in those areas to safeguard the public from harm, the force said.