Joint efforts of police, youth workers and centre staff have seen a drop in anti-social behaviour in Livingston.
Police have been working with shopping centre staff as part of ongoing efforts to clamp down on youth disorder. Community officers have also been joined by special constables on evening weekend patrols.
Community Sgt Liam Arbuthnot told councillors that high visibility patrols “deter any youth disorder, whilst providing reassurance to local businesses. iis report to Livingston South Local Area Committee Sgt Arbuthnot said
gt Arbuthnot said: “Officers continued patrols in relation to ASB, which we are pleased to report, has declined with the improving weather.
“In addition, conflict resolution and additional training was held for management and staff of both venues by a Preventions Officer. Further to these efforts, there was a period of six weeks in April and May where officers provided a patrol for the centre at weekends.
He added: “Continued ASB meetings with management from both buildings take place on a monthly basis with any issues addressed. Police, Youth Action Project and Safer Neighbourhood Teams, have continued high-visibility patrols in ASB hotspots to deter any youth disorder, whilst providing reassurance to local businesses.”
Councillor Maria MacAulay asked: “How has the police visibility in the centre been received?
Sgt Arbuthnot said; “Good. The centre management has been really positive. Dialogue has been ongoing with my inspector and commander towards a more joined up approach going forward. It is something that is ongoing and we are quite happy at the way the relationship has been building.”
Proactive patrols have spread into the wider community on Friday and Saturday providing more visible policing between 5pm and 3am.
The police report said: “We continue to have a weekend proactive policing plan where our cover shift officers carry out high visibility patrols in any identified hotspots across the county.”
Sgt Arbuthnot told the meeting: “Our response officers are assisted by our Special Constables who regularly work on Friday and Saturday nights. Our weekend plan includes regular visits to licensed premises to ensure adherence to licensing laws by patrons and licensees in order to prevent ASB and violence.”
Police also arrested an individual who tried to hold up staff in the Asda store and at another store in Livingston after threatening them with scissors.
Community Sgt Liam Arbuthnot told councillors that high visibility patrols “deter any youth disorder, whilst providing reassurance to local businesses.”
In his report to Livingston South Local Area Committee Sgt Arbuthnot said that the attempted robbery incidents had occurred within the first quarter of the year between April and June. There were calls to a mini market in Huron Avenue in Howden as well as Asda in the town centre.
He added: “It was established that both incidents were linked to the same suspect who had presented scissors to members of staff in an attempt to obtain money and goods.
“Following an extensive area search the suspect was traced and found in possession of bladed articles and charged with theft, under the Protection against Workers act, and attempted robbery and possession of an offensive weapon.”
Police have also scored successes in controlling issues of anti-social behaviour in the shopping centre.
By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency. It is funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector (in Edinburgh that is Reach plc (the publisher behind Edinburgh Live and The Daily Record) and used by many qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover news about top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.
