POLICE IN Dundee have met their own targets for cutting violent crime, robbery and vandalism, a new report has shown.
But they were unable to prevent a rise in housebreaking, which was up by more than a quarter. One person was responsible for many of these crimes and he is now in prison on remand.
The results are revealed in a report prepared for councillors as part of the new arrangements for keeping local authorities up to date on policing matters once a single Scottish force is created.
Chief Superintendent Hamish Macpherson, who is in overall charge of policing in the city, has provided figures from the start of the 2012/13 financial year in April up to the end of November.
These show serious violent crime down 42.6% compared to the same period in the previous year, with robbery down 12.8% and vandalism down 18.2%. The overall crime rate fell by 5.3%, with 4,999 cases of violence, sexual offences, crimes of dishonesty and vandalism recorded.
But Mr Macpherson said housebreaking was up by 26.5% an increase of 68 incidents and the force failed to meet three of its five crime detection rate targets.
He added: “The number of offences recorded at the end of November for supply/possession with intent to supply drugs was 126. This represents a 10% reduction on 140 offences recorded last year.
“The number of domestic abuse incidents recorded between April and November was 1,711, of which 452 involved alcohol.
“Overall this was an increase of 9% on 1,562 incidents recorded last year.”
Superintendent Brian Weir, who is responsible for operational policing in Dundee, said the reduction in violent crime meant there has been 87 fewer victims in the first eight months of 2012/13 compared to the same period the year before.
“These results are due, in part, to targeted operations such as Operation Centresafe which involves additional officers being deployed to the city centre to police the night-time economy.
“Domestic housebreaking has seen another increase over the period, with 68 more houses broken into than the same period last year. We recognise the devastating effect having your home broken into can have on families and communities, and each crime is treated as a priority.
“It has been apparent this year that spates of this type of crime have been caused by individuals who live chaotic lifestyles.”
grsmith@thecourier.co.uk