NEW face on the Merkinch scene is Community Police Officer Alisdair Stewart who replaces PC Mick Waters, now off to the wilds of Culloden.

PC Stewart, who started in Merkinch at the beginning of November, is well experienced in community policing , having served seven years with the Metropolitan police force, four of them in a housing area at Hounslow Heath, near Heathrow airport. This is an area which has been famous for centuries for its criminals – that's where Dick Turpin, the highwayman, used to operate!
No doubt it stood him in good stead in those days that Alisdair played rugby for the London Scottish team.

Originally from Dunkeld in Perthshire, PC Stewart came to the Northern Constabulary five years ago and was posted to Stornoway – quite a contrast after London. Though life in the Long Island must have been pretty slow after the Met, he has no complaints, for he learned how the police here operate and how they get along with the wider public.

“I volunteered for the Merkinch post,” he told the News & Views, “and I've been really impressed by the friendliness of people. “Folk here are basically honest, and I have got the feeling from the various community groups I've met, that people are no longer prepared to accept levels of vandalism and other antisocial behaviour that they did in the past.”

PC Stewart says he feels Merkinch has an unjustified reputation for crime and has no more problems than a number of other areas. “The fear of crime is greater than the reality,” he says. “Operation Eagle has made a significant difference to levels of vandalism; a few key people were hit hard. Now we are continuing with our high visibility community policing, building on the partnership approach.”

With regard to the letter in last month's News & Views regarding cyclists, he agreed that it was a concern. “Cyclists seem to have an unwillingness to think of their own safety. Helmets, lights, locks, visibility – that is, light reflective clothing.

“We are hoping that major suppliers will perhaps offer a package that will encourage people to ensure that they consider the safety aspects of cycling.”