Police Report - March 2024

Our Local Policing Unit have issued the monthly report for March:-

This report covers progress we have made in dealing with your priorities for the Braeside & Mannofield Community Council over the last month. 

The report aims to highlight emerging issues in your area, and to provide crime prevention advice and guidance to Community Council members and residents you represent. Our focus is to reduce crime and disorder, help create safer communities and respond effectively to local concerns.

Community Policing Priorities
Antisocial behaviour, Violence and Disorder:
On the 22nd of Feb, Police were called to assist Scottish Ambulance Service with a male in Airyhall Place, the male was within his property and in mental crisis and as a result a few Police Units attended. Officers provided support and assistance to our partner agency and the situation was resolved peacefully. The male was conveyed to ARI where he was provided suitable medical support.

On the 23rd of Feb, officers attended a report of an Assault on Duthie Terrace. The victim received minor injuries and did not require medical attention. The 3 persons responsible were known to the victim and her family. This was an isolated incident and there was no threat to the wider community.

On the 26th of Feb, Police received a report of a vehicle that had been parked within the Craigton Court area, and had the rear window smashed overnight. On attendance officers noted that there had been no attempt to gain entry to the vehicle, and there was nothing apparent within the vehicle that would have been used to smash it. Enquiries were carried out, but the incident was closed off undetected as a vandalism.

On the 2nd of March, police were called to Tesco on Great Western Road, due to an abusive male. The male was under the influence of alcohol and had been refused service by the staff at which point he became aggressive. The male left the store and was untraced.

Acquisitive Crime:
On the 29th of Feb, a resident of Morningside Avenue advised that she had received a credit card agreement through the post. As she had never taken out an agreement, she contacted them and was advised that there had been several purchases on the new card. The credit card company cancelled the orders and cancelled the credit card. As no one had lost financially, there was no crime recorded and the Credit Card company are carrying out their own investigation.

On the 2nd of March staff at Co-op, Great Western Road, reported that earlier in the day a male shoplifter had entered the store and stolen £85 worth of food and alcohol.  The male was described as 5 feet 5 inches in height, medium build and was wearing blue jacket, blue denim trousers and brown boots. The staff did not recognise him as being local.

On the 4th of March a resident of Great Western Place, contacted Police to advise that he believed he had been the victim of an online scam. He had initially befriended a female over a chat group, and she had thereafter convinced the male to invest in a “stocks and shares ISA” however after investing over £10,000 all communication stopped. The male thereafter established that the female did not work for the company she claimed to, and they have no record of his investment. Checks on bank transfers show that the money was moved to foreign bank accounts out with the UK jurisdiction.

On the 9th, 10th, and 13th of March staff at Tesco, Great Western Road reported a known shoplifter entering the store and leaving without paying for items. On these occasions the incident is captured on CCTV. The male was later traced and charged with both crimes as well as a number of other thefts across the city and was put to court.

Road Safety & Road Crime:
Whilst out with the community council boundary, On the 6th of March a elderly male was struck by a vehicle on Seafield Road in early evening. Due to the serious nature of the incident and the extent of injuries, Road Policing Units attended and took responsibility for the collision investigation. This caused significant road closures and traffic issues around the area.

On the afternoon of 14th March, Police attended a report of a 4-car collision on Anderson Drive. This resulted in the section of road being closed from Great Western Road to Seafield Road. This was to allow the Fire and Rescue service a safe area to work while they removed one of the drivers from the car as he was complaining of neck pain. Thankfully once all checked over there were no serious injuries. 1 Driver
was charged with Careless Driving.

Contact Us

To simplify the contact these have all been merged into AberdeenSouthCPT@scotland.police.uk

Emails to this address will still be dealt with by the Officers of the local policing teams, however it will hopefully make it easier for residents to get to the right area in the first instance.

• Always dial 999 in an emergency
• By phone – 101 for non-emergencies (+44 (0) 141 308 1070 if calling from out with the UK. Network charges may apply).
• Our service advisors spend a lot of time each day answering calls on matters that are not actually the responsibility of the police. Please read the Read this before you call 101 page first to ensure Police Scotland can assist with your non-emergency issue.
• Online – for issues of a non-serious nature using our Contact Us form
• In person – Find your local Police Stations and check the Public Counter opening hours
• Text Relay - 18001101 for deaf, deafened, hard of hearing or speech-impaired callers
• Support for British Sign Language users/speakers
• 0800 555 111 - Crimestoppers."

Pavement Parking

At our February meeting, a question was asked about when Aberdeen City Council were to start implementing the legislation regarding vehicles being parked on the pavement.

Councillor Derek Davidson undertook to enquire with council officials and we have the following response: 

"Dear Councillor,

Thank you for forwarding us your constituent’s enquiry regarding the start date for the pavement parking enforcement in Aberdeen. Details of the scheme are available on our website at the following link:  https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/roads-transport-and-parking/pavement-parking

A citywide survey, where our consultants assessed roads and pavements in Aberdeen using standards laid out by the Scottish Government, has just been concluded. The survey was necessary to identify areas where an exemption from the pavement parking prohibitions is appropriate in Aberdeen. Based on the Scottish Government standard, pavements that may be exempted from this prohibition must have the following features:
• Layout that allows for a width of 1.5 metres of the footway to remain unobstructed when any part of a vehicle is parked on it;
• A layout that the passage of an emergency vehicle would be impeded by the presence of a vehicle parked on the carriageway.

Please note that alongside the Scottish Government criteria, each street will be considered based on its individual merits and in the context of the immediate area. Hence, the road functionality and usage will be considered. For example, the presence of bus stops, cycle lanes, traffic calming, street furniture, etc. will be considered.

We are now in the process of analysing the survey result and reviewing our consultant’s recommendations. At the end of this process, Aberdeen City Council will propose the exemption of some pavements from the pavement parking ban. Pavement parking exemption will require a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process to be undertaken, which will include public consultation. A consultation exercise will be carried out through newspaper adverts and street notices in the streets identified for exemption. If objections are received, we will report to the committee; otherwise, the schemes will be implemented, and the enforcement of the pavement parking will commence.

Although the Scottish Government announced that pavement parking enforcement can start from 11 December 2023, enforcement in Aberdeen is expected to start around autumn 2024 as a TRO must be acquired for the exempted pavements. Aberdeen City Council will allow a grace period while publicity about this prohibition is shared."

Meeting on 26 March 2024 - Agenda

The next meeting of the Community Council will be held at the Airyhall Community Centre, Countesswells Road, Aberdeen. It will start at 7pm prompt on Tuesday 26 March 2024. 

The Agenda can be viewed or downloaded by clicking here

ALL WELCOME

Voter Identification

For forthcoming elections in Scotland in order to receive a ballot paper in person at a polling place, you will need to show an accepted form of photographic ID.

Acceptable forms of ID will include:

• Passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country (including an Irish Passport Card) 
• A Blue Badge
• Scottish National Entitlement Card issued for the purpose of concessionary travel (including a 60+, disabled or under 22s bus pass)
• Older Person’s Bus Pass funded by the UK Government
• Disabled Person’s Bus Pass funded by the UK Government
• an identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card) for example, a Young Scot card
• Biometric immigration document
• Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
• National identity card issued by an EEA state
• Voter Authority Certificate
• Anonymous Elector’s Document

You can still use your photo ID if it's out of date, as long as it looks like you.

The name on your ID should be the same name you used to register to vote.

For a comprehensive list of acceptable photographic IDs, please see the Electoral Commission website - Accepted forms of photo ID | Electoral Commission

No acceptable Photo ID? Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (VAC)

If you do not have any of the accepted forms of ID, think your photo ID no longer looks like you or your worried about using an existing form of ID for any other reason (e.g. the use of a gender marker), you will be able to apply online for a free Voter Authority Certificate - this is a photographic identity document specifically for the purpose of voting.

Apply for photo ID to vote 

If you need to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate, make sure you do so in good time ahead of it being required at the polling station.

Alternatively, you can complete a paper application form - Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate by post if you’re living in the UK - GOV.UK.

If you need any help with applying for a Voter Authority Certificate please contact ero@grampian.vjb.gov.uk.  

Voters who do not produce a Voter Authority Certificate, or valid photo identification will not be allowed to vote on the day.

For those who do not wish to show their face in public, for example for religious reasons, provisions will be made by way of a privacy screen or separate room.

Postal voters will not be affected and will be issued with their postal ballot papers as usual.

If you choose to vote by proxy, then the person who you have trusted to vote on your behalf will have to take their own identification to be issued with a ballot paper.

Showing ID as an anonymous elector

If you're registered to vote anonymously and want to vote in person, you'll need an Anonymous Elector's Document to vote at a polling place.

If you are already registered as an anonymous voter, or you register to vote anonymously, you will be invited to apply for an Anonymous Elector's Document by your Electoral Registration Office.

ScotRail Apprenticeships

To recognise Scottish Apprenticeship Week and to recognise the contribution of apprenticeships to individuals, employers, and the wider Scottish economy, ScotRail have announced the introduction of more apprenticeship opportunities for young people in Scotland. 

New apprenticeships will be created to provide valuable employment and training for young people across Scotland, with positions available in sectors ranging from engineering and administration to customer service.

Apprenticeships can last up to five years with ScotRail, many of which include time to attend college or university.

ScotRail has now announced further investment in apprenticeships which can help shape the future skills base of the workforce, and provide young people with the opportunity to gain valuable experience and education to kick-start their careers.

The new recruits will join the company alongside existing apprentices, many of whom are currently on their programme towards a full-time career at ScotRail. 

Further information on apprenticeship opportunities can be found on the ScotRail Early Careers website at www.scotrail.co.uk/early-careers

AGM Minutes and Minutes of Meeting 27 February 2024

The Community Council Annual General Meeting was held on 27th of February at The Airyhall Community Centre in Countesswells Road. The minutes of that meeting can be read or downloaded by clicking here.

The February monthly meeting followed the AGM and the minutes can be read by clicking here.

The next meeting of the Community Council will be at 7pm on Tuesday March 26th 2024 at the Airyhall Community Centre in Countesswells Road.