Peeblesshire News | News | New contact for reporting crime

Monday, 8th September, 2008

Published: Friday, 15th February, 2008 10:30

New contact for reporting crime

By Campbell Hutcheson

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A NEW method of reporting crime has been introduced in the Borders.

Lothian and Borders Police has teamed up with Scottish Borders Council to launch remote reporting services at Council Contact Centres.

Facilities in Galashiels, Peebles, Hawick and Duns will allow the public to report an incident, which will then be forwarded to the police.

As well as offering advice and support to victims, the system maintains contact between the victim, agency and police officer.

The initiative is also being supported by Victim Support Scotland, which has its own reporting office in Bank Street, Galashiels, and volunteer counsellors operating across the region.

Chief Inspector Doug Forsyth, now based at police headquarters in Hawick, has witnessed the success of remote reporting in Edinburgh.

He said: “We need to make sure that the more vulnerable people in our society get the opportunity to report crime.

“For whatever reason, they don’t feel comfortable going to a police station and may prefer to go to a Council Contact Centre, Victim Support or other organisations.

“The police have got to know that crimes are happening and that’s why it’s important that the public can feel confident about reporting crime.

“This scheme will, hopefully, give added confidence to victims that their incident will be properly investigated and those responsible brought to justice.”

The need for remote reporting facilities was one of numerous recommendations resulting from the 1999 Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, which followed the murder of the 18-year-old student in south London in 1993.

It called for communities to be allowed to report racist incidents at locations other than police stations and on a 24-hour basis.

Having introduced a pilot remote reporting scheme in 2000, Lothian and Borders Police has extended it throughout the force.

Borders sites have been operating informally for several months to allow staff to be trained and crimes have already been reported.

Kenneth Lawrie, the head of SBC’s business improvement unit, sees the new initiative as a way of adding value to Council Contact Centres.

He said: “We are always looking at ways of improving our services to the community and this is another way of doing that.

“It’s important that people feel safe about reporting crime and using Council Contact Centres will give them the maximum opportunity to do so.”

Incidents recorded via remote reporting are likely to include those not reported by more traditional means, especially serious assault, indecent assault, threats, extortion and even abduction.

With the under-reporting of crime being a major concern for the

force, the partner agencies hope that remote reporting will help address some of the problems faced in the wider community.

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