The good-natured celebrations at Dundee’s biggest party for years show the success of the back-to-the-future community policing model adopted in Tayside, councillors on the force’s board have been told.
The weekend’s large-scale jubilation after Dundee United’s success in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden saw thousands throng the city’s pubs and bars on Saturday night, and many more pile into City Square on Sunday to see the cup being held aloft on the balcony of the City Chambers.
Extra, high-visibility police patrols were on duty over the weekend but Tayside Police Joint Board’s personnel sub-committee was told the number of arrests was “low” and that officers were “well engaged” with fans.
They were also told that a similarly high-profile community officer pilot had proved successful in the Perth and Kinross area and was now set to be extended across Dundee and Angus.
Officers in the west of the area have been getting out from behind their desks to build long-term relationships in the towns and villages they serve and deal with local matters locally.
Police board convener and Angus councillor Ian Mackintosh said the move was like “turning the clock back 40 years,” while depute convener and Perth councillor Archie Maclellan said it had been a “tremendous success.”
“People know who their community officers are and they attend just about every event that’s happening in the area,” he said.
“They have even given up their own time to attend community council meetings. They are very, very prominent and it’s a highly successful initiative.”TestamentForce director of personnel and development Moira Docherty said the weekend’s events in Dundee “were testament” to the success of the idea.
“We had a large number of fans who had significantly enjoyed the cup final and were enjoying the hospitality in the city centre,” she said.
“However, our police officers were well engaged and there were very low arrest levels. There was policing by consent, and that’s what we’re all about.”
Earlier in the year, newly-appointed chief constable Justine Curran said one of her priorities was to introduce “Heartbeat”-style policing to the force.
Questioned by councillors, Mrs Docherty continued, “We got a bit backlogged with initiative after initiative, but now we are looking at what we do in the simplest terms.”
She said that 67 officers had been freed from the bind of admin so they could be deployed on the streets.
“That’s a significant benefit,” she added.
The committee was told that 600 officers more than half the number in the force would need specialist training to enable them to take up their community postings by next spring.