Police to adopt Better Blantyre on wider scale

May 1 2008 By Graham Fraser

AN AWARD-WINNING police initiative in Blantyre is to be integrated into wider police plans across South Lanarkshire.

Archie Strang, the chief executive of South Lanarkshire Council, recommended the Better Blantyre project should join with the rest of the force as the police aim to prioritise their resources towards community-based activity rather than centralised control.

The plans for a ‘fundamental policy shift’ in policing are the brainchild of Steve House, the Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police.

The announcement comes as overall police numbers in South Lanarkshire are set to increase by up to 70 as part of the SNP Government’s pledge to increase police numbers across the country.

A report presented at the council’s executive committee meeting on Wednesday (yesterday) by Mr Strang stated: “Better Blantyre, a locally focused successful community policing initiative, has been in place for three years.

“It has been resourced by Community Regeneration Funding over the last three years and it has been proposed that it continue to receive Fairer Scotland Funds in 2008/09.

“Given the significant reduction in Fairer Scotland Fund resources beyond this, it will be essential that Better Blantyre is reviewed during the year with a view to it being subsumed within the wider initiative.”

Councillor John McNamee commented: “I have spoken with the local police inspector and we are happy with the integration as long as the period of transition runs smoothly.

“However, I will follow this closely to make sure no resources are lost from Blantyre.”

In February, news emerged that three violent youths from Blantyre were jailed thanks to the efforts of the Better Blantyre scheme.

The joint initiative of South Lanarkshire Council and Strathclyde Police led to their sentencing.

The project also led to an increase in the number of detections for drug- and alcohol-related offences and reduced the extent of public drinking and youth disorder in several areas of the town.

Furthermore, it solved a long-running neighbour dispute and reduced disorderly behaviour in the town’s Main Street thanks to a temporary CCTV unit.

As a result, the Better Blantyre project received recognition in the operational category at the annual Strathclyde Police Excellence awards.

However, the murder of Brian McQueen in the town on February 13 and a number of serious alleged crimes since have overshadowed the good work of Better Blantyre.

The project involves teamwork among police officers, community wardens and the antisocial investigation team at South Lanarkshire Council, as well as social work, housing, environmental services, Universal Connections and a number of voluntary groups.

Yesterday, South Lanarkshire councillors also agreed to fund 15 new community-based police officers across the county at a cost of £500,000 a year.

Council chiefs will have a say on where and how those 15 officers are used but it is understood some will be heading for Blantyre.