DECEMBER 2012

Tayside Police Tees Up for The Ryder Cup

With this year’s Ryder Cup over, interest now turns to the competition’s visit to Scotland in two years time.  

This will see some of the world’s greatest golfers at Gleneagles for the three-day event which runs from 26 to 28 September, 2014.

Scotland is proud to host this tournament and it will be a fantastic opportunity to showcase Scotland, the local area and what it has to offer.  Along with the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, 2014 this will see ‘Scotland Welcome the World’ in terms of prestigious sporting events.

Tayside Police have been planning for this event for some time now.  

Inspector Iain Ward, the local Community Inspector for South Perthshire said,

"South Perthshire is a beautiful area and has a lot to offer visitors.  We are committed to making this event a fantastic experience, whilst being safe and secure for all.  With the support of Ryder Cup Europe, early and sustained engagement with the community will be a key aspect of its success.  That is why we have identified a dedicated Community Engagement Officer, Constable Euan Mitchell.  Euan will take up post immediately to begin this process. Based at Auchterarder police station, he will have the role of liaising with communities.  His aim will be to provide a link between the community and the event planning process in order to feedback any issues that are raised and to find resolutions.

I am delighted to have been able to secure Euan for this role, he brings a wealth of experience in Community Policing and was recently awarded the accolade of, Tayside Police Officer of the year, he is absolutely up for the challenge".

Constable Mitchell said:

"I’m proud to be given this new post of Community Engagement Officer for the Ryder Cup and I look forward to the challenges it will bring.  I aim  to do everything possible to ensure the event goes smoothly whilst ensuring the impact of it for the people living near the course is as little as possible.

My first aim is to gain the trust of local residents and the best way for me to do this is being out and about in the local area being a visible presence in the community.  I want people to feel they can approach or contact me at any time to discuss whatever issues and concerns they may have about the event.

It is with a great deal of regret that I am leaving my community officer post for the Abernethy, Bridge of Earn and Glenfarg beats.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my time working in these areas but unfortunately the challenge of this new role was too good to turn down.”

PC Mitchell has been a key contributor to Tayside Police’s forward thinking social media usage over the last couple of years.  He has regularly been ‘tweeting’ about his daily duties as well as updating locals in his current beat about the goings on in their area.  

He added,

"As more and more people find alternative ways of communicating it is important that we continue to keep up with times, whilst continuing to understand the importance of public meetings and personal contact.  Social media sites such as Twitter have been a hugely productive way of interacting, both for me and for my virtual community, and I hope I can bring this expertise over with me to my new role".

PC Euan Mitchell can be contacted at Auchterarder Police Station, by telephone on 0300 111 2222 or by email at euan.mitchell@tayside.pnn.police.uk.

New Area Community Officer

As a result of taking up the community based Ryder Cup post PC Euan Mitchell is no longer the Community Officer for the Abernethy, Bridge of Earn and Glenfarg areas.

The new Community Officer covering these areas is PC Jim Pentley.  Jim joined Tayside Police in 2003 and has previously worked at the Bridge of Earn, Perth and Pitlochry stations and has been based in Kinross since November 2011.  Jim has a wealth of experience on all aspects of Policing and looks forward to engaging with the community on all issues causing concern locally. 

Jim can be contacted at either the Bridge of Earn or Kinross Police stations, by telephone on 0300 111 2222, or by email at jimmy.pentley@tayside.pnn.police.uk