Recently, one of the residents of St.Andrew’s Square contacted Police Scotland, CCC, local MPs and MSPs to complain about the drug taking and associated anti-social behaviour in the area. They received the following reply from Chief Inspector Max Shaw.
“Good morning
Thank you for taking the time to write and for setting out your concerns so clearly. I want to acknowledge form the outset that I understand why some residents are feeling frustrated, anxious and, in some cases, unsafe.
Police Scotland has a clear duty to respond to the needs of our communities and I want to be absolutely clear that concerns raised by residents in the Calton area are not being ignored or dismissed. Feeling safe in your own community is fundamental and when that sense of safety is affected, it rightly causes distress.
As a service, we remain committed to reducing the harm associated with problematic substance use and addiction. Our approach to any initiative intended to address these harms is to consider how best we can support it within the confines of the law, while continuing to uphold our core responsibility to community safety. That balance is not always straightforward, but its one we take seriously.
While it would not be appropriate for me to comment on specific policing tactics, deployments or future plans, I can reassure you that we continue to actively engage with partners and with members of the local community to understand what is being experienced on the ground and where concerns are being felt most acutely. Community feedback, reporting and lived experience all form an important part of how we assess impact and shape our response.
I would continue to encourage the reporting of any incidents or concerns to Police Scotland. This helps us build a clear and accurate picture of demand, threat, risk and harm, as well as ensuring emerging issues are properly recorded and addressed. Engagement with local officers and community forums also remains an important way for resident’s voices to be heard.
I appreciate the strength of feeling expressed in your correspondence and the time taken to raise these matters. Please be assured that community safety in the Calton remains a priority and that we will continue to listen, engage and work with partners to respond to concerns as and when they are raised.
Yours sincerely
Max
T/Chief Inspector Max Shaw
Local Area Commander
Glasgow East (GK) Sub-Division”