MORE than 50 specialist officers took to the streets in the biggest-ever crackdown on violent criminals to be undertaken in Monklands. Members of the Strathclyde Police Gangs Task Force and officers from neighbouring divisions supported local officers in tackling weapons carriers, violent criminals, suspects and bail offenders. The team of officers flooded the division, calling at the homes and associated addresses of people who are wanted on warrants relating to violent crime. They visited individuals who were subject to bail conditions, including curfews, to confirm that their bail was not being breached. More than 30 people were arrested on a one-day local warrants initiative last Wednesday evening throughout North Lanarkshire. And, in Monklands, there were six apprehension warrants, six means-enquiry warrants, 49 bail checks for persons previously arrested in relation to domestic violence, two arrests for breaching bail conditions in relation to domestic violence, one person arrested for attempting to pervert the course of justice, one person charged with breach of the peace and police assault and one person charged with possession of drugs. Divisional Commander Chief Superintendent Caroline Scott said: “Many of these criminals are persistent offenders who have used violence and created fear within their neighbourhoods and community. All of those wanted on warrants have failed to accept the justice of the court. “The officers of this division will continue to relentlessly pursue violent criminals and ensure that the people of North Lanarkshire can go about their business safely. “The activity focused sharply on wanted individuals, but this is just one element of a broad range of longer-term, planned activities, designed to impact on the circle of violence, through law enforcement, diversion and education.” Monklands superintendent Henry Campbell said: “The police cannot do this alone, however, and the support we have from partners, the community and parents will help us to ensure that crime, disorder and the fear of crime will continue to be driven down.” Superintendent Bob Hamilton, head of the Violence Reduction Task Force, said: “In the months ahead, our campaign will get deeper into the heart of our communities to tackle that minority whose mindless behaviour impacts so heavily on the lives of others.” Looking to the longer term of the Breaking the Circle of Violence Campaign, Chief Superintendent Scott stressed that the impact was already being felt, not only in respect of violent crime, but across the whole crime spectrum. Releasing the first full month’s crime figures (for April 2008) since becoming divisional commander in mid-March, Chief Superintendent Scott reported: Serious assaults down by 50 per cent from 44 crimes to 22. Detection rate up from 36 per cent to 64 per cent. Robberies down by 22 per cent from 14 crimes to 11. Detection rate up from 7 per cent to 54 per cent. Over 1500 stop searches resulting in:- 47 knife and weapons recovered, 158 people were found in possession of controlled drugs, 201 people were found drinking alcohol in a public place. Petty assaults down by 15 per cent from 425 crimes to 359. Indecent assaults down from seven to two. Detection rate 100 per cent. 100 per cent increase in drug dealers detected — up from 19 to 39. Break-ins to houses and other properties down by 40 per cent from 165 crimes to 99. Detection rate up from 18 per cent to 28 per cent. Break-ins to and thefts of vehicles down by 23 per cent from 213 crimes to 163. Detection rate up from 17 per cent to 25 per cent. Fraud down by 67 per cent from 36 crimes to 12. Vandalism down 10 per cent from 795 to 713 crimes. Chief Superintendent Scott added: “It is early days in my tenure as divisional commander, and our anti-violence campaign is still gathering momentum, but the results are promising.” | 
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