Kingswells Community Council

Area Inspector's Observations

I read with interest the Minutes of the Kingswells Community Council Meeting of 11 February 2008 and was immediately drawn to the term Sederunt. Not having seen the expression for some considerable time I was somewhat bemused by the criticism proferred by the Council at the lack of clarity in the "clinical" Police Reports. Touché immediately sprung to mind. But as your Area Inspector I am quite used to being held in judgement by Community Councils.

In the spirit of transparent and constructive communication I would again invite any member of the Council or Community to contact me at any time to seek an explanation or clarification on any issue concerning the Policing of your Community or indeed affecting your quality of life.

As can be seen from the figures presented this has again been a quiet reporting period. Please permit me to introduce some clarity as to the expressions used in the report.

STORM is the primary database used by Grampian Police to record all initial reports made by the Public.

Annoyance, which can encompass a variety if incidents that do in fact cause annoyance;

Youth Disorder, which again can encompass a variety of issues where the behaviour of members of our Youth community have deviated from acceptable standards,

Drugs - Illegal Possession of, where individuals have been reported as being in possession of controlled substances, and

Underage Drinking, where the Public report incidents where juveniles have been seen drinking alcohol, generally in public places.

CRIMEFILE is the secondary database used by the Force to record incidents of crime or offences reported that necessitate enquiry to determine whether or not there is a sufficiency of evidence to report the matter to the Procurator Fiscal or Reporter to the Children's Panel.

Theft by OLP from a motor vehicle, the security of a vehicle has been violated and property stolen,

Theft from a motor vehicle not elsewhere classified, property has been stolen from an insecure vehicle,

Vandalism, malicious damage and malicious mischief, where property belonging to another person has been wilfully or recklessly or indeed maliciously damaged, and

Fire-raising, all types excluding muirburn, this can encompass incidents of wilful, malicious or reckless fire-raising or indeed any form of fire call.

Muirburn - controlled burning of heath land.

The report will indicate the number of Incidents reported to the Force and the number of Crimefiles raised. In respect of Crimefile, those detected will encompass incidents where reports have been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal or Reporter and those that may have been dealt with by way of a warning. Those falling outwith that category may still be currently under investigation or have been deemed as closed pending new lines of enquiry or availability of new evidence.

I would seek to remind the Community, that the efficiency of our processes is dependent upon the prompt reporting of incidents and the provision of as much information as possible. Please ensure that you exploit all possible lines of communication to get your message through to us.

Violence is being used or threatened,

There is a danger to life,

A crime is in progress or the offender has been recently disturbed,

A road accident with injuries has occurred, or

A non-injury road accident has occurred and there is serious traffic congestion.

Our text number is 07739 93 4444

Raymond Munro

Area Inspector.