Rutherglen residents asked opinions on Operation Sentinel

Nov 11 2009 by Kenny Smith, Rutherglen Reformer

COUNCIL officers are to gauge the effectiveness of Operation Sentinel, in Overton, by asking the people who matter - the residents.

The operation has been run jointly by South Lanarkshire Council and Strathclyde Police in the area for three months so far to combat antisocial behaviour and improve the quality of life of local people.

A survey of residents will get under way this week, to gather local opinion on the operation itself and on whether the area has changed for the better since the start of the initiative.

Alison Moore, the council’s anti-social behaviour manager, said: “There are many benefits that can come from this sort of operation, such as reduced costs for policing or repairs, but the most important improvement is creating a better way of life for the community.

“Therefore, as well as the information we collect on, for example, reductions in graffiti or in complaints about under-age drinking, we will also be conducting this survey of residents to find out what they really think.

“They are the people who are living and breathing the situation in Overton, and they are the people who know best how well the operation is doing.”

In the meantime, the operation is continuing apace, with 11 interviews having been carried out by antisocial investigation team officers with people identified as allegedly having been involved in antisocial behaviour.

Further letters will be sent next week for additional interviews and several reports have been passed to the area manager, who will consider whether legal action would be appropriate.

Elsewhere, work has been carried out on resurfacing footpaths, a close has been cleaned and painted and the policy of quickly clearing away the few instances of graffiti is continuing.