Fresh calls have been made for weekend police patrols across Aberdeen city centre to be extended to George Street to stop the late-night “trouble”.
George Street Community Council has said extended patrols may deter people from “causing mischief” on the bustling city centre street.
It comes after police were called to a disturbance on George Street involving a large number of football fans last Friday.
Police have announced plans for additional patrols around Pittodrie for the match later today following the arrest of 10 men last week.
However, anti-social behaviour has long been an issue for the residents and businesses on the city centre street.
High visibility patrols were introduced in 2018 following complaints the scale of drug activity in the area had reached “crisis point”.
Now, the community council is calling for bobbies already on the beat to start walking up their street to tackle anti-social behaviour in the area once more.
Andy Macleod, chairman of the community council, explained the group has been hoping the police patrols may be extended as a “simple way” to help for some time.
He said: “There’s a lot of footfall with people walking from Union Street and up George Street worse the weather for drinking and causing mischief.”
Following the incident last week, Mr Macleod is keen to see the patrol operation extended, although he says disturbances during the night is the main problem residents are facing.
“I actually think it would help save the police some time,” he added. “If they’re already there then it doesn’t take people away and it’s included in that response.
“If they’re there, the trouble tends not to happen.”
Increased CCTV to tackle problems
Mr Macleod also said increased CCTV would help to make residents and businesses feel safe.
The CCTV project was “promised” to residents as a way to tackle the area’s drug and antisocial behaviour problems, but efforts to get it up and running have been “dragging on” for years.
He said: “We were promised it a number of years ago, whether it was Covid that got in the way of it or knocked it, it’s certainly something we would have liked.
“Now, that would have been useful for the football disturbance, as there would have been footage of the people involved.”
Stuart Milne, general manager of Finnies the Jeweller and chairman of the Greater George Street Traders Association, added his voice to the calls to speed up the CCTV rollout.
Mr Milne highlighted that CCTV would make residents, traders and visitors feel safe in the area, while also helping the police.
He said: “We would like to see it extended down George Street simply because from a security point of view, like in any city centre area these days, there are all sorts of things that go on, including the disturbance last Friday.
“It’s to the benefit of all, and from our point of view as jewellers and traders in the area, we’ll feel that little bit safer.
“Clearly, it would help the police by giving them that 24-hour surveillance rather than just having officers walking up and down at certain times – because the police are under a great deal of pressure at the moment.”
‘A lot of disquiet in community’
George Street councillor Sandra MacDonald has said the calls for police patrols are “fair”, especially following the disturbance last week.
She commented: “I think there is a lot of disquiet in the community about anti-social behaviour, especially the increased visible drug dealing in the area, and I think that needs to be tackled at the root.”
She is also calling for the partnership CCTV project to be sped up, after starting campaigning with local residents for it in 2019.
Mrs Macdonald added: “The CCTV project will go a long way to give reassurance to the community, it needs to be pushed forward quicker. It’s not good enough it’s still not been enacted all these years on.
“It will reassure local people their concerns are being taken seriously.”
George Street councillor Desmond Blouse has stressed police are “listening” to concerns and agreed improved CCTV would go a long way to making people feel safe.
He said: “People are very right to be concerned about last week’s unacceptable behaviour, I understand that and it is quite sad we’re seeing this increasing level of antisocial behaviour on George Street.
“In regards to the police city centre patrols, I completely understand the view of the community on that and I know the police are listening to those voices, especially under the constraints they have right now in terms of funding.
Funding secured for additional CCTV cameras
Inspector Lesley Clark, from Kittybrewster police station, said: “We work closely with a range of partners to shape our policing of an area, balancing the demand on policing resources to ensure we are meeting the most urgent needs of the community.
“We welcome the joint opportunity with Aberdeen City Council to install additional CCTV cameras in the George Street area, now that funding has been secured following a significant planning process.
“Engagement with local community groups remains ongoing, as we seek to continue a strong track record of successfully delivering effective CCTV projects to help keep our communities safe.”
Aberdeen City Council declined to comment.
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