'Drugging involving alcohol in licensed premises' in the Borders included in latest police report
Last updated 24th Jan 2024
Police have revealed they've received four reports of people being drugged at licensed premises in the Borders.
The incidents - which were recorded between 2022 and 2023 - have been included in the Chief Constable's report to the local licensing committee and are said to have involved alcohol.
It comes as councillors are due to be given an update on plans for a new CCTV network in the region.
The report also reveals there were 101 assaults on police officers in the region between April 2022 and March last year.
A total of 1,194 acts of violence were also recorded - this included three attempted murders, 51 serious assaults, and 23 robberies.
There was also an increase in reports of anti-social behaviour during that time - with 5,253 calls recorded. That's 81 more than the year before.
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The report says: "The areas showing as highest for violent crimes with an alcohol marker are the main populated towns of Galashiels and Hawick, followed by Peebles and Kelso. All other areas had less than 10 alcohol-related violent crimes recorded throughout the year period.
"Whilst the volume of alcohol-related crimes in public space increased initially upon easing of enforced restrictions due to the Coronavirus pandemic, this trend has not continued into 2022/23."
It adds: "A total of 47 crimes of violence were recorded for licensed premises within the Scottish Borders during 2022-23 compared to 35 reports in 2020-21. It was also noted that 17 crimes were committed within supermarkets licensed to sell alcohol with one such crime having an alcohol marker."
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