PUBLIC'S ROLE IN TACKLING ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
THE importance of intelligence provided by members of the public to the Police in a bid to deal with anti-social behaviour was outlined at this month's meeting of Forfar Community Council.
Last Thursday's meeting heard of a growing drug problem in one area of the town which resulted in parents having to escort their children up and down common stairwells.
There was regular shouting and screaming in the streets and reports of drug dealers "hanging around the streets."
Chairman Mrs Isobel Ross stated she was "very disturbed" by the drug dealing activity.
She said: "I believe there is a sign in a window which reads "smack for sale".
She called for more work to be done to protect residents whose civil liberties were being affected by drug dealing activity.
Forfar councillor Glennis Middleton explained the matter was more than just a housing issue with other agencies including health, social work, police and voluntary organisations all involved.
She said: "It is not a sub-culture any more. It is a culture that exists within our society. Some people feel they have a God given right to live their life the way they want to at the expense of everybody else, and they will not conform."
She had spoken to people who have said they can cope with a neighbour who is using and dealing drugs, providing it is done within their home and it is not impacting on anyone else's life.
"But the trouble is, 99 times out of 100, it does impact on other people's lives.
"It is not a sub-culture, it's an alternative culture that blights our society."
Constable Ally Smith, Community Liaison Officer for Tayside Police, told members there were ways and means of allowing members of the public to inform the police of criminal activity in an anonymous way.
It wasn't a case of police arriving in a patrol car at someone's door to take a statement, but rather a convenient meeting place can be arranged.
He praised the efforts of those who had already come forward with valuable information for the police.
"Quite often with the drugs culture people living round about don't want to get themselves involved. But there are means of reporting things. There's a drugs hotline where information can be given anonymously.
"We need the help of the public."
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Weather for Forfar
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 3 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 2 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 5 mph
Wind direction: East
