Aberdeen’s city centre police chief has said the city will be “thrive again” soon – but urged people to stay at home in the meantime.
Chief Inspector Davie Howieson said plans are being worked on to help the city bounce back after coronavirus, but urged the public to be patient and follow lockdown guidelines.
He praised communities for generally complying with the rules so far and confirmed there had been a drop in crime since the restrictions came into force.
Although it will take months, if not longer, to fully understand the impact lockdown has had on crime levels, he said thieves did not seem to be taking advantage of the emptier streets.
Nationally, assaults are down as more and more people stay indoors.
Officers throughout the city have stepped up patrols, both on foot and in marked and unmarked cars however, to reinforce the message and keep the city safe.
Their main priorities have been checking businesses which may be vulnerable to theft, protecting essential businesses that remain open and reassuring members of the public.
And Ch Insp Howieson, area commander for Aberdeen South, believes the drop in crime and strong levels of lockdown compliance could be “testament” to his officers’ hard work.
He said: “I would like to thank everyone for their support so far in keeping the city centre safe. We need this to continue though if we are to protect as many people as possible and therefore the guidance to continue to stay at home remains.
“For those looking forward to the return of the city centre after lockdown, rest assured that we have a plan in place and will flexibly work towards that to collectively get the city thriving again.”
He admitted it was a challenging time for the team, who are leaving families at home in an uncertain time to come into work and focus on their jobs, and that there were big changes to the strategy for those working out of Queen Street HQ – particularly over the usually-busy weekend nightshifts.
Ch Insp Howieson, whose patch includes the city centre, Torry, Nigg, Rosemount, Hazlehead and the west end, said: “Our normal weekend policing plan is no longer in place – this is a significant change and certainly for the first time in at least a decade there has not been a policing plan in place on a Friday/Saturday night in Aberdeen.
“The restrictions in place have obviously reduced footfall and the traditional role of the police in the city centre has adapted to support lockdown measures.
“Our officers will continue to engage with people where necessary, explaining the legislation and encouraging them to comply. Only where people continue to defy that very clear advice is enforcement action being used as a last resort.”
He stressed that ongoing work with partners such as NHS and the Alcohol Drugs Partnership was “absolutely crucial” to identify vulnerable people who may be unable to comply with lockdown and get them appropriate support.
Officers are also working alongside Aberdeen Inspired as it attempts to ensure there is a plan in place to support the recovery of the city centre after coronavirus.
“We have always taken great pride in the strong relationships we have with the city centre community, and we continue to value your trust and remain absolutely committed to supporting you as the restrictions continue,” Ch Insp Howieson added.
“This has been a challenging time for everyone, including our officers who have family and a life outwith work.
“We have been implementing distancing and some things have changed. I think key workers are as concerned about the wider issues as everyone.”