Angus residents will see a return to “beat policing” with named contacts for people with local concerns.
The local policing model in Angus, where community officers were assigned to work in all eight of the county’s burghs, came to an end with the introduction of Police Scotland in 2013.
But Tayside Division has launched a trial heralding the return of community coppers in a “more traditional” model, called the Local Community Policing Team.
This will be run by new community co-ordination sergeants, Grace Morrison and Colin Echevarria.
Sergeant Echevarria told The Courier that the community officers would be able to call on “huge” Police Scotland resources in a way that was unavailable before 2013.
He said: “By day they will meet with head teachers, council housing department, and councillors.
“At night they will be on patrol and highly visible. The residents of these areas will get to know who their local officer is.
“It’s about going back to being a local beat officer. They are going to be experts of the area.
“They can also call upon the assets of the national force.
“We have huge resources as part of Police Scotland and all we have to do is ask and we will get them.”
The officers will be freed from response duties but made available for “serious” call-outs.
Based at Arbroath Police Station, Sergeant Morrison will have responsibility for the south section of Angus which includes Arbroath, Carnoustie, Monifieth, Birkhill and surrounding areas.
Mr Echevarria will look after the north section which includes the towns of Forfar, Kirriemuir, Montrose, Brechin and Edzell.
They will both lead a team of PCs in each area – Scott Anderson in Forfar and Kirriemuir, Alistair Hutchison in Montrose and Brechin, David Voigt in Arbroath, and Steven Wilson in Carnoustie and Monifieth.
The officers will be the first point of contact for a spectrum of community concerns including youth crime and antisocial activity.
Residents will be able to give feedback on the strategy, driven by area commander Chief Inspector David McIntosh, via the Yourview survey online.
Mr Echevarria said the trial may result in additional officers being deployed on the beat.
“I would like to encourage our communities to participate in the new Police Scotland online public survey,” he added.
“This survey will allow the Angus community to tell the police what is important to them.”
Sgt Morrison, who recently led the Community Investigation Team in Angus said: “I look forward to establishing good community relationships with all our partners in Angus and will be working closely with the local community, responding to their concerns and striving to finding long-term solutions to ongoing issues.”
