Kingswells Community Council

See full report from here, or link at bottom of page.

Note that permission has been provided by Inspector Munro to publish this article.

Issues Of Note

Reminder to Parents to -

• Be aware, as far as is reasonably practicable, of what their children are up to when they are abroad the Community,
• Discourage at every opportunity consumption of alcohol, and
• Encourage and promote Good Citizenship,

Encourage and promote use of  -

Beat the vandals by sending a text message to 0773 993 4444 putting the word Vandal first.

CRIMESTOPPERS - 0800 555111

Area Inspector's Observations

On Monday 30 July 2007, Gypsy / Travellers set up an unauthorised encampment at the upper tier of the Park & Ride Car Park, Kingswells.

Aberdeen City Council have primary responsibility through their Policy on the Management of Unauthorised Gypsy / Traveller Encampments for the day to day supervision of the

encampment (s) and this is undertaken by their Gypsy / Traveller Liaison Officer.

Grampian Police have publicly stated through their Mission Statement that we will -

• Promote well-being and safety in our communities,
• Provide excellent, visible, accessible services, and
• Enhance the quality of life of all those we serve.

We will endeavour as far as we possibly can to ensure that this statement is adhered to.

The point that I am keen to make is this. As your Area Inspector I have a responsibility to ensure that the principles contained within that statement are applied to all sections of the Community, including the Gypsy / Traveller Community for the duration of their residency in my Area of responsibility.

The statutory obligations placed upon the Police Service will be applied to all sections of the Community. There will undoubtedly be occasions when the perception of one section is that undue bias is being extended towards another. What does not aid good order in any community is inflammatory and ill-informed comments.

To that end I have sought as far as is reasonably practicable to ensure that effective lines of communication are maintained between myself and the Elected Members and the Community Council. I would rather have a busy telephone line, e-mail folder or sore ears if it means the difference between ensuring the Community are kept informed or, as has recently been experienced elsewhere, experiencing an undercurrent of what can only be described as behaviour verging on being perceived as racist. The Gypsy / Traveller Community are regarded in Scots law as being an ethnic group and as such have the same attendant rights as any other ethnic group.

I make no apology for reiterating my observations from the previous report, as I believe they are as pertinent now as they have been over the last two months.

I have over the past week sought a crime analyst's report covering the period of the occupancy to date. There is no evidence that the presence of the unauthorised encampment at Kingswells Park & Ride has impacted upon the levels of recorded incidents or crime within the immediate or wider geographical area. Similarly, there is no evidence linking the travelling community to criminal activity.

I would urge the Community Council to work with me and the Partner Agencies to ensure that whilst the Gypsy / Travellers remain in our Community that, as difficult as it may be on occasion, a degree of tolerance is exercised by all. The Partner Agencies will ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that we address the Community's concerns and complaints within the statutory parameters by which we are bound.

Raymond Munro

Area Inspector.