Increased numbers of police officers will be available to tackle anti-social behaviour, disorder and violence in the coming months thanks to a summer safety taskforce.

The approach is part of a multi-faceted summer safety campaign which will run until the end of August and will see cops take a different and more flexible approach towards addressing the problems over the warmer months.

In a bid to learn lessons from last year’s issues, officers have been pooled from other sections of area command to create the taskforce.

They will be deployed to where needed, with greater access to vehicles and more officers on duty at key times.

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Area Commander, Chief Inspector Scott Carlin, said: “We want people to enjoy themselves, but we must create a safe environment for that.

“Increased visitor numbers and call volume are the drivers [for the initiative]. Alongside that we have an increasing crime trend of violence in terms of common and serious assaults.

“The call-demand spreads resources thin, as does this increasing trend towards violence.

“Last year we had some disorder hotspots where people were gathering in larger numbers and we did not always have the resources to effectively deal with that.

“For the summer safety taskforce, we have pooled resources from other places to augment the existing police structure. We will have three teams, with enhanced numbers, working seven days a week.

“We have taken officers from the local policing team and divisional support team and increased the numbers on the shift pattern for the taskforce.”

The disorder hotspots identified are St James Retail Park, Bowling Harbour, Balloch Park and Balloch in general, the Dalmuir area and Dalmuir Park and Cochno and the Jaw Reservoir.

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The vast majority of anti-social behaviour and disorder in these hotspots is fuelled by alcohol and licensed premises will be lettered to remind them of their responsibilities while increased police visits to off-sales and pubs will be made, particularly around these areas.

Engaging with young people is a major aspect of the campaign, and youth engagement officers have been visiting schools with the message alcohol increases vulnerability.