Since the creation of the single Scottish police force a year ago, Lanarkshire has made significant progress in driving down crime rates. According to Chief Superintendent Nelson Telfer, divisional commander for Lanarkshire, local police officers have performed above expectations and serious crime detection rates have hit record levels.
Telfer said that the past year had seen Lanarkshire Division achieve a significant reduction in robberies, assaults and housebreakings, Motherwell Times reported. The number of robbery victims has fallen by 18, of serious assault by 22 and of common assault by 359. The area has also recorded 9,523 fewer instances of dishonesty crimes – a sector that includes break-ins. In the case of anti-social behaviour, the number of incidents has dropped by 9,733.
Moreover, the divisional force has achieved record levels of serious crime detection, the rate standing at over 80%, Telfer noted. This should serve as a clear warning to potential perpetrators, leaving them in no doubt that committing violent acts in Lanarkshire comes with a strong risk of standing trial without delay.
The divisional commander also pointed out that the local police enjoyed unprecedented levels of public trust and confidence. According to Telfer, over 1.6 million calls have been made to 101, which makes the national non-emergency phone number a successful project.
Combating violence, serious offences and organised crime will remain key objectives for the Lanarkshire Division in the year ahead, Telfer added. Road safety will also feature prominently on the agenda since driving offences are regularly cited as a major concern by local communities.