Chief Inspector Vinnie Fisher pays tribute to Doddie

We are now into the last month of 2022 and it has been yet another extremely demanding period for Police Scotland in general, but also for your local officers in the Scottish Borders.

In addition to business as usual matters, such as responding to criminal incidents in the region we’ve continued to support partnership activities aimed at enhancing the welfare of our communities, as well as providing a visible and engaging police presence at a range of community and sporting events.

As we approach the end of the year, our efforts are not slowing down and we are now implementing our festive safety campaign aimed at keeping communities within the Scottish Borders safe during the Christmas and new year period.

While we will be utilising our social media channels to promote a range of public safety and crime prevention advice, which is also available on our website, I want to give some basic advice that is simple and effective in helping make sure your Christmas is memorable for all the right reasons.

If and when you have purchased gifts and items of value, store them safely within your home and out of easy view from other members of the public. Should you be leaving your home unoccupied or retiring to bed for the evening then please make sure your doors and windows are appropriately secured. If you can, please consider using motion-activated lighting, alarms and CCTV to further safeguard your property.

Sheds, garages and other outbuildings may be used to store Christmas gifts and other valuables so consider these extensions of your home and keep them safely secured too.

For the first time in the last couple of years, festive nights out are not subject to COVID restrictions and so you may be heading into town, up to Edinburgh or even further afield to meet up friends and family.

If so, please plan you journey in advance and know how you’re getting to and from your event.

Please also drink responsibly, look after those you are out with and know your limits.

Don’t let a great evening be ruined by alcohol.

Should you be travelling over the festive period, then ensure your vehicle is roadworthy and equipped to deal with the wintery conditions we are likely to face and drive accordingly to those conditions.

Throughout the festive period we will have additional road policing patrols throughout the Borders road network to identify those driving while under the influence of drink and drugs.

If you are caught, you will be arrested, you will lose your licence and this can seriously impact your life, both professionally and personally. Please don’t risk it.

Not to sound like a broken record, but the policing priorities for the Scottish Borders are shaped via our engagement with you, the public and it is important we hear from you to identify these priorities and where we should be devoting our resources.

I would strongly recommend all members of the public within our communities take our Your Police Survey, which is available on the Police Scotland website.

I want to finish off this column by acknowledging the sad passing of Scottish rugby legend, Doddie Weir.

Doddie has been an icon, not just within the Borders, but throughout Scotland and the UK and his charity work to raise money and awareness for MND research was inspirational.

Given his link to the Borders, his funeral may take place within the region and if so, we’ll work with all relevant partners to ensure Doddie gets the send-off he richly deserves.