POLICE REPORT

First the good news! So far, so good as there has been little crime of note. Since the 1st of January, there have only been five break-ins.

Three to commercial premises

• Culter Mill Club,

• Richmond Arms

• The Hair Salon on North Deeside Road and two residential properties

• one house on the North Deeside Road and • a flat in Millside.

That does not mean we get complacent, as Cults has had a spate of house- break-ins. Please report anything suspicious right away. Grampian Police would rather have a call which turned out to be alright (a call with good intent) rather than an ongoing crime go unheeded.  It is also easier for us to deal with the crime at the time and there is a better chance of success.
In February there was a disturbance on the North Deeside Road, which had started at Spar, and several youths were reported. `Planning for Real' came to Culter and was successful as the events were well attended and many residents got their views across. The main concern for Culter, involving the Police, was Malcolm Road. The problems being highlighted were
• dangerous driving • speeding • the volume of articulated lorries that use the road.

As a result North East Safety Camera Partnership (NESCAMP) were contacted and they assessed the problem in Malcolm Road. Not long afterwards, a gateway i.e. speed camera signs and markings on the road, were put in place. This is going to be updated by having a Vehicle Activated Sign. This flashes a warning at you if you are exceeding the speed limit.
NESCAMP have also been carrying out speed checks and a number of people have been reported by way of Conditional Offer, that is 3 points on your licence and a £60 fine. One person was reported directly to the Procurator Fiscal, as he was driving well in excess of the speed limit. Ironically the majority of those caught were local residents.

If anyone wishes more information on NESCAMP then you can find out more on their website
www.nescamp.co.uk

There have been requests for a permanent speed camera. The government stipulates certain criteria for this to happen. This can be found on the following website www.transport2000.org.uk/communityaction/SafetyCamera.htm. Drugs was also an issue with 14 persons - highlighting a drugs issue in their area. We recognise that heroin is in Culter. Unfortunately how we deal with it is very much down to the Community. Intelligence-Led Policing is how Grampian Police approach these problems so, apart from our own knowledge, we are dependant on YOU to pass information to us. If we get enough information, we will be able to deal with it. Please do not rely on others to do it as it may not get reported and the problem will continue. If you do provide information, it will be treated in the strictest
confidence. As a result we may do a DITCH THE DEALER LEAFLET DROP where we put out questionnaires and self addressed envelopes to all the residents in the area where drug misuse occurs. You can return the information in the envelope anonymously. This often gives us enough information to effectively deal with the problem.

Some Heroin addicts may have a habit of £40 a day or £280 per week or £14,560 per year. If they are on benefit (£60 per week or £3,120 per year) this leaves a shortfall of £11,440. If the burden is not met by the parents or friends, they often resort to crime. If it is break-ins to houses or thefts then there has to be a considerable number of break-ins to achieve the shortfall.
The property stolen may be sold on at a fraction of the retail price but the cost financially in dealing with this is high and let's not forget the psychological cost to the victims and their family and friends.

In recent years street crime has been a problem with robberies, some effecting more vulnerable members of the population. Fortunately this is NOT COMMON in Culter but that does not mean to say the dealer in Cutter is not supplying those who commit crimes elsewhere. If you do not want drugs misuse in your area, you have to be proactive and keep us informed. Youth problems in the main have been at Johnston Gardens and Dalmaik Terrace albeit it has been very quiet on the whole. At these two venues, youths have been gathering there but, due to several reports of anti-social behaviour, they are to be discouraged from doing so. Parents please be aware where your kids are. I started of with the good news and fortunately now for the bad news. Well, on the whole, there really isn't any but bearing in mind what is happening in Cults, with the increase in break-ins, please be vigilant and report anything suspicious so we reduce the chances of it occurring in Culter.

Finally we have a new addition to the Police strength at Peterculter. David Cowie has just joined us and will be here possibly for the next six months. Sorry ladies but he is already spoken for.
That's all for now.

Take care Alasdair MacHardy (Culter Police Office)