Police share monthly crime stats for Wick area showing few major issues
A police report for the Wick and east Caithness ward outlined crime stats for May and was released to the public this month, showing few major issues highlighted in the area.
The report was presented at July’s meeting of the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council and covered areas such as road crime, antisocial behaviour and violence, serious organised crime, and acquisitive crimes such as theft and robbery.
Under the heading ‘Road Safety and Road Crime’ the officer in charge of compiling the report states: “Between May 14-16 there was an NC500 enforcement trip whereby 133 vehicles were stopped (including motorcycles and campervans), 13 were reported for speeding, 5 reported for dangerous goods, 3 reported for mobile phone offences, 1 arrested for drug driving, 1 vehicle prohibited due to dangerous defects being found and numerous other warnings issued for various RP offences.”
Incidents of note this month include: A person charged with careless driving on the A9 at Latheron; two people arrested with drink and drug driving in Wick; and speeding offences detected on the A9 at Loch Rangag and the A99 at Auckengill.
Numerous other road traffic offences have been detected in the Wick area that include mobile phone, seat belt, tyre and lighting offences as well as driving without an MOT and insurance.
The next section was titled ‘Anti-Social Behaviour. Disorder and Violence’ and the officer in charge said they were “pleased to report that there have been relatively few recorded crimes of violence and disorder in this area during May”.
They continued: “A few notable incidents include a male charged for being in possession of an offensive weapon at Angle Park in Wick on May 24. There was also a report of a fire-raising at Bridge Street in Wick on June 26, for which a crime record has been raised and enquiries are ongoing.”
There have also been acts of vandalism reported around The Shore, Wick, and at the town’s recycling centre, with enquiries ongoing. A male was also charged with vandalism on April 30 at Main Street in Lybster.
In the section called ‘Acquisitive Crime’, which includes theft, robbery, burglary, and fraud, there were “some incidents of note”.
A male was arrested and charged with ‘theft by housebreaking’ at an address in Wick on May 12. There was a report of the theft of a memorial plaque from a bench on the coastal path behind Lindsay Drive and the theft of a sign on Hospital Road. Crime reports have been raised, and enquiries are ongoing.
There continue to be a number of frauds reported, and Police Scotland urges the public to be wary of exchanging money online.
Under the title ‘Protecting Vulnerable People’ it was stated that, “a number of individuals have been referred by police officers to Police Scotland's Harm Prevention Officer (HPO).
“The HPO role was introduced within the N Division area (Highland only) in November 2020. This role is filled by a police constable who undertakes daily liaison between internal/external stakeholders with a view to reducing the risk posed to certain members of the public through alcohol and controlled substance misuse.”
The final heading that contained relevant information was titled ‘Serious and Organised Crime’. It stated: “Drug-related incidents continue to be the main issue in this section, although there have been relatively few recorded for May.
“On May 24, a person was issued with a recorded warning for possession of cannabis on Thurso Street, Wick. There have also been a few seizures of drugs from the postal system, which were to be delivered to addresses in the Wick area. Enquiries are ongoing into these incidents
“Local officers will continue to act on intelligence provided by the public regarding drug misuse and will use all powers at their disposal, including stop and search, to bring perpetrators to justice and reduce the harm to the community.”