Council Fire and Police Meeting

After Monday evening's Development Management Committee there was a meeting of the Policy and Resources (Police, Fire and Community Safety). This committee is the attempt to ensure some level of local accountability for police and fire services now that they are part of national services. 

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is currently consulting on the local fire and rescue plan for Dundee.  You can read the consultation document here.  I asked a couple of questions about this, firstly I wanted to know what was being done to ensure that there was the widest possible consultation.  I also wanted a reassurance that any decisions which come about after the consultation will have the requisite resources attached to them.  I would urge everyone to have a look at the document and ensure that the consultation has the widest possible reach.

There were a number of interesting reports from the police.  There were some interesting points made about the rise in stop and search in the city from councillors on all sides.

The main thing that came across in the police reports was the amount of times that the abuse of alcohol (and to a lesser extent drugs) was one of the main contributing factors in crime and anti-social behaviour.  This is something that all of us must bear in mind when making policy decisions in the future.