Weekend drinking crime crackdown 'working'

Operation Oak has seen more street patrols at the weekends

Police in Aberdeen have said they are winning the fight against crime in the city centre.

Up to 20,000 people go out to dozens of city pubs and clubs at the weekend but officers said the number of serious assaults had reduced dramatically.

Operation Oak, a major crackdown on anti-social behaviour, resumed at the weekend and will continue over the festive period.

It will see dozens more Grampian Police officers on patrol.

An alcohol summit of councillors, police and licensees was held two weeks ago and officers stressed they were now containing the trouble.

Assaults down

The recent introduction of an 0200 GMT curfew on entry to clubs in the city is said to have caused problems, but Grampian police say Aberdeen is generally safe for a night out and they want to make sure it stays that way.

Ch Supt Adrian Watson added: "In relative terms Aberdeen city centre is as safe as any city centre in Scotland, the statistics are there for all to see.

"In terms of serious assault, two years ago we had 115 recorded, last year it was down to 35 and that's a considerable improvement."

Publican Stephanie Leask also said trouble in the city centre was decreasing.

She said: "This year it's down compared to last year and we are one of the safest cities, I think it's just past reputation."