27/3/200874 held after crackdown on city thugs
KNIFE-WIELDING thugs and teenagers high on drink and drugs were among more than 70 people caught by police during a three-day crackdown.
Officers involved in a high-profile blitz on youth disorder say a total of 74 crimes were committed in Glasgow's Drumchapel and Knightswood over the weekend with 38 arrests made.
Of the 38 arrests, eight were charged with carrying offensive weapons, five with drug offences, one with serious assault, seven for resisting arrest/police assault and 17 for breach of the peace.
Police say the remainder of the 74 people caught were issued with on-the-spot fines or reported to the Children's Panel for minor offences.
Superintendent Tom Doran of Drumchapel Police said: "We are sending out a strong message to the minority who are actively involved in anti-social behaviour that it will not be tolerated."
The majority of the arrests were made on Friday night when a new gang task force hit the streets to target youths involved in long-running territorial battles.
Violent clashes can happen between youths from Knightswood and Clydebank and sometimes between rival factions within Drumchapel.
Police who are working alongside community safety wardens as part of a three-month pilot project say their increased presence in the two communities is already deterring troublemakers.
Calls from the public about youth disorder were down 50% on the previous weekend, according to their figures.
Young people in the area were also given the chance to use a mobile football pitch and media bus with games consoles - in order to promote alternatives to drinking, disorder and vandalism.
During the weekend, officers carried out a total of 272 stop and searches as well as visiting 28 licensed premises to make sure drink was not being sold to under 18s.
Superintendent Doran is delighted the new scheme is proving such a success.
He said: "The statistics from the weekend prove that an increased police presence has a positive impact in reducing crime."
Mobile CCTV footage from the weekend is currently being scrutinised and could help with future detections.
Six dedicated officers have been gathering intelligence on persistent offenders and patrolling trouble spots in Knightswood and Drumchapel as part of the project.
The Evening Times told last Thursday how 100 wanted people - many of them violent offenders - were caught in just two weeks of the three-month crackdown.
Warrants had been issued for the arrest of the 100 people because they had either dodged court appearances or failed to pay fines.
Thanks to the project they were all either arrested or ordered to pay the outstanding fines.
Phil Walker of Glasgow Community and Safety Services, which is working closely with the police, said: "By working together with local communities and our partners we can provide a targeted approach to anti-social behaviour."
Officers involved in a high-profile blitz on youth disorder say a total of 74 crimes were committed in Glasgow's Drumchapel and Knightswood over the weekend with 38 arrests made.
Of the 38 arrests, eight were charged with carrying offensive weapons, five with drug offences, one with serious assault, seven for resisting arrest/police assault and 17 for breach of the peace.
Police say the remainder of the 74 people caught were issued with on-the-spot fines or reported to the Children's Panel for minor offences.
Superintendent Tom Doran of Drumchapel Police said: "We are sending out a strong message to the minority who are actively involved in anti-social behaviour that it will not be tolerated."
The majority of the arrests were made on Friday night when a new gang task force hit the streets to target youths involved in long-running territorial battles.
Violent clashes can happen between youths from Knightswood and Clydebank and sometimes between rival factions within Drumchapel.
Police who are working alongside community safety wardens as part of a three-month pilot project say their increased presence in the two communities is already deterring troublemakers.
Calls from the public about youth disorder were down 50% on the previous weekend, according to their figures.
Young people in the area were also given the chance to use a mobile football pitch and media bus with games consoles - in order to promote alternatives to drinking, disorder and vandalism.
During the weekend, officers carried out a total of 272 stop and searches as well as visiting 28 licensed premises to make sure drink was not being sold to under 18s.
Superintendent Doran is delighted the new scheme is proving such a success.
He said: "The statistics from the weekend prove that an increased police presence has a positive impact in reducing crime."
Mobile CCTV footage from the weekend is currently being scrutinised and could help with future detections.
Six dedicated officers have been gathering intelligence on persistent offenders and patrolling trouble spots in Knightswood and Drumchapel as part of the project.
The Evening Times told last Thursday how 100 wanted people - many of them violent offenders - were caught in just two weeks of the three-month crackdown.
Warrants had been issued for the arrest of the 100 people because they had either dodged court appearances or failed to pay fines.
Thanks to the project they were all either arrested or ordered to pay the outstanding fines.
Phil Walker of Glasgow Community and Safety Services, which is working closely with the police, said: "By working together with local communities and our partners we can provide a targeted approach to anti-social behaviour."