Violence halved after festive crime crackdown

A MAJOR crackdown on crime and antisocial behaviour in Aberdeen city centre has resulted in a 50 per cent reduction in violence and robberies in the area over the festive period.

Grampian Police launched the offensive, code-named Operation Oak, on 26 November, involving additional patrols of unformed officers and other initiatives.

The crackdown also involved the Safer Aberdeen scheme, a radio link that connects shop staff directly to Grampian Police CCTV and street patrols.

The north-east force said the operation, which ended on 4 January, had resulted in significant reductions in assaults, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting in the city over the six-week campaign.

Grampian Police said: "Since Operation Oak was launched there has been a 50 per cent reduction in the number of crimes recorded as assault and robbery compared to the same period in the previous year.

"Serious assaults are down by 30 per cent and minor assaults also down by 19.5 per cent for the same period."