Policing in Moray: Are reports of anti-social behaviour being taken seriously?
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Concerns have been raised that reports of anti-social behaviour made to Police Scotland's call centre are not being taken seriously.
The issue was raised during yesterday's meeting of Moray Council's police and fire and rescue services committee.
Councillor Donald Gatt (Keith and Cullen, Conservative) highlighted a drop over the last decade in the number of police officers working across Moray, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
As of September 2021 there were 1064 full time equivalent officers serving across the three areas which, together, are known as the North East Police Division.
Cllr Gatt stated numbers had fallen from 1115 in 2017, and from 1428 in 2012 when it was still known as Grampian Police.
Speaking to Chief superintendent Neil McDonald, who was also at the meeting, he said: "You need the staff to be able to do the job that the public wants you to do, and I appreciate you have a hard time in actually doing it.
"The biggest thing that’s reared its head with communities in Keith and Cullen is anti-social behaviour, which has been on the up in some areas which you would never dream of it actually happening.
"Constituents of mine have contacted me regards the 101 call centre.
"The accusation has been made the call centre did not want to know about reports of anti-social behaviour after they had happened.
"You could take one report of that incident in isolation but I’ve now heard three or four.
"That leads me to bring it up as a matter of concern."
Ch Supt McDonald explained that officers now work as part of national teams when it comes to policing matters, such as roads, organised crime, terrorism and intelligence.
This, he said, had made an impact on numbers locally.
He also acknowledged there had been difficulties with people getting through to the call centre, with Covid-related staff absences and additional social distancing measures impacting on response times.
Ch Supt McDonald said: "We prioritise 999 calls which are answered primarily in under 10 seconds, and the 101 calls then get managed thereafter."
Cllr Derek Ross (Speyside/Glenlivet, Independent) asked if there had been an increase in vandalism since lockdown ended.
He added: "I heard anecdotally in some areas groups of youths have been a problem within our communities."
Ch Supt McDonald told the meeting while there had been an increase compared to the early lockdown period, the problem had now returned to pre-pandemic levels.
