West Lothian police in Operation Focus crackdown

Dec 10 2009 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

NINETY-ONE people have been arrested and £1million worth of property has been seized in a recent crime crackdown.

In the last two weeks, during the most recent phase of Operation Focus, police joined forces with West Lothian Council, Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service, West Lothian Drug and Alcohol Service and NHS Lothian to help build safer, stronger communities.

Operation Focus kicked off in April this year, and the latest sweep saw high-visibility policing across the region, with officers concentrating on finding those responsible for thefts from homes, businesses and cars.

And as part of the latest phase, 91 people were arrested for crimes including theft including housebreakings and thefts from vehicles, vandalism and fraud. Seven houses were searched under warrant.

A joint police/Trading Standards operation, saw £1m worth of counterfeit goods being seized.

And the launch of Business Watch scheme, the first of its kind in West Lothian, created a partnership between businesses on the Whitehill Industrial Estate in Bathgate to help protect them from becoming victims of crime.

A total of 205 cars have been searched over the two-week period as part of the Flashlight initiative, which helps identify stolen property which has been tagged with forensic marking fluid, EnigmaTag.

Efforts were also focussed on drug users and dealers in nightclubs in Livingston, with 37 people scanned for drugs at Club Earth – of those scanned, five were refused entry after testing positive for contact with illegal substances.

Over 320 people were also stopped and searched for offensive weapons over the weekend.

As part of the initial phase of Operation Focus earlier in the year, a total of 41 people have been convicted, with sentences totalling more than 26 years in prison.

And West Lothian Council is continuing to pursue eviction notices against some of the individuals involved.

However, the partners involved in Operation Focus say their work will continue.

Superintendent Jeanette McDiarmid said: “Communities across West Lothian are already starting to reap the rewards of Operation Focus.

“The message today is that Operation Focus will not go away, we will continue to respond to the concerns of local people, and will always take the strongest action possible against the perpetrators.

“Criminals should be left in no doubt, housebreakers or drug dealers alike, we will not tolerate your activities.”

West Lothian Council also states its staff will continue do their bit to make life better for local people.

Council Leader Peter Johnston commented: “This phase of Operation Focus has underlined our commitment to tackling antisocial behaviour and criminal activity in West Lothian.

“The message is very clear – we are determined that every action possible will be taken to make West Lothian a safe and pleasant place to live, work and do business.”

Robert Lundrigan, a group manager in West Lothian for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service, added: “Firefighters worked hard during the operation to reassure the local community and give advice about community safety in the home.

“Operation Focus provided an excellent opportunity for firefighters to work together with our partners in West Lothian.”

To report a crime to Lothian and Borders Police, call 0131 311 3131 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.