Drugs seizures reach record level

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Drug seizures in Grampian reached record levels last year, according to the force's annual police report.

Chief Constable Colin McKerracher said seizures of crack cocaine increased by 700% and heroin by 250%.

Though the report showed an overall fall in crime across the region, concern was raised over serious violent incidents, which rose to 1,048.

Housebreaking fell to an all-time low, affecting 1,263 houses, and assaults and robberies also fell by 28%.

City centre violence, anti-social behaviour and prostitution were also targeted by police, said the report.

Drugs tackled

Special initiatives were highlighted, with figures showing that Operation Blaven - which tackles drug trafficking by organised criminals in England - resulted in 172 drug supply charges.

More than 3kg of heroin and 4.11kg of crack cocaine with a potential street value of £891,880, were seized along with £71,626 in cash.

Chief Constable Colin McKerracher claims detection rates have risen

The range of initiatives to tackle anti-social behaviour were said to be a success.

In Aberdeen, warning letters were sent to almost a thousand parents whose children had been involved in anti-social behaviour, with 60% of those young people not coming to police attention again.

However, road casualty fatalities rose from 53 to 62, with police pledging to address problems with a new road safety campaign.

A long-term strategy to deal with serious and violent crime in Aberdeen centre, in association with pubs and nightclubs, is also planned.