In response to today’s report published by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland, Chief Superintendent Mark Williams, Local Policing Commander, City of Edinburgh, said: “I welcome today’s HMICS report, which has highlighted some key areas for improvement to ensure we are continuing to keep our communities safe. The report has also been valuable in highlighting some of the innovative work introduced and pioneered by Edinburgh Division and provided a focus for us to continue to deliver on the policing priorities we’ve set with the public through our local policing plan.
“We’ve already made real advances to address issues such as housebreaking and, since our specific operation to tackle the issue launched early in 2015, we have halved the number of break-ins per month and doubled our detection rates. We have also seen a reduction in violent crime of over 18% against the five year average with robberies alone down over 28%.Theft is a real focus for local policing teams and overall it has reduced by 12% against a 5 year average with motor vehicle thefts down over 26% in the last year alone.
We are not complacent and will continue to focus on reducing antisocial behaviour and violence fuelled by alcohol in the city. As the report highlights we are building strong partnerships focused on collaboration and early intervention and examples such as Stronger North, the Safezone Bus, the Violent Offender Watch and our new dedicated ward officers show that we are genuinely committed to preventing crime.
“As today’s report shows, the demand for resources in Edinburgh is unique but we will always seek to respond as effectively as we can, calling upon all the resources available to us at both a local and national level.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
