BRING back our policemen on the beat! That’s the plea from Merkinch Community Council who have been aware in recent months of a decline in the presence of the beat bobbies in the area.

In November the community council wrote regarding the level of policing in the area. At their February meeting members said that the area was still not seeing an improvement. “We’re certainly noticing the difference,” one member claimed. Said local councillor Peter Corbett, “People notice that the police are losing contact. They’re being pulled off to do more general policing and undoing all the good work that has been done here.”

It was agreed to write again to the Chief Constable asking to discuss why there had been a change of policy regarding community policing without any local consultation.