The scourge of drugs remains the ever-present and negative backdrop to a positive Tayside crime picture of falling incidents and increased detection.
That was the message delivered to councillors on Monday by the region’s chief constable in an end-of-era document for the force as Scotland prepares for the move to a single force in 2013.
In her third and final annual report, Justine Curran told newly appointed members of the Tayside Joint Police Board meeting in Forfar that the 2011/12 document reflects a ”real solid performance” by the force.
Tayside Police met 17 of its 20 targets during 2011-12. Improvements were recorded in all areas of crime reduction and detection, the exception being the detection of incidents of vandalism, which dipped from 32.1% to 30.4%.
In all, there were 3,248 fewer crimes in Tayside during 2011-12 compared with 2010-11. Within that were 208 fewer victims of domestic housebreaking and 1,334 fewer victims of vandalism.
”’As we prepare for a new Police Service of Scotland in 2013, I promise you that the communities will remain at the heart of everything we do,” added the chief constable.
”We move into a new era with a strong legacy of good quality policing and commitment to Tayside. We take that with us as we aim for more in 2013 and beyond.”
But the challenge of tackling the drugs menace remains a major one for Tayside officers.
Angela Wilson, temporary assistant chief constable, said: ”We are just scraping the surface with the amount (of drugs) we are seizing probably 20-30% if we are lucky.
”Drug seizures are important, but are only part of a holistic approach, working with our partners to make sure that those on drugs are treated to help them turn around their lives.”
Board member councillor Alexander Stewart said: ”There’s no doubt about it, this report is full of highlights and proves once again that Tayside is a safe place to live, a safe place to work and a safe place to play.
”The biggest challenge to us is drugs it’s a blot on our communities. At the end of the day we all have to do as much as we can to fight this.”