Police / Postal system remaining popular for drug dealers during pandemic
Shetland area commander Lindsay Tulloch, meanwhile, is to be seconded to a post in the Highlands and Islands
DRUGS dogs are involved in checking post coming to Shetland “almost on a daily basis” as restrictions on travel to and from the isles remain in place.
Shetland area commander Lindsay Tulloch said the “use of the postal system has been more frequent” for dealers.
He told a meeting of Shetland’s community safety and resilience board on Thursday that Dogs and Against Drugs is heavily involved in screening packages.
Tulloch said the local police force has a “very good working relationship” with postal services.
The chief inspector said the police continues to charge people both on the mainland and in Shetland when packages are intercepted.
In the period between April and December last year there were 110 charges of drugs related offences, which was an increase of 30 on the same period the previous year.
Tulloch also said that the pandemic has had an effect on the frequency of fraud crimes being reported as people exploit the increasing number of people using online shopping and banking.
He described it as a “worrying picture”, but one that is national as well as local.
A total of 20 fraud offences were recorded between April and December, an increase of four on the previous year.
Police figures also show sexual crimes reduced over the period from 49 to 30, and that domestic abuse offences dropped by 11 from 80 to 69.
Tulloch, meanwhile, also confirmed that he has been seconded to a post in the Highlands and Islands for the foreseeable future, which is resulting in his area commander position in Shetland being recruited to.
Community safety and resilience board chairman Councillor Alastair Cooper paid tribute to Tulloch for the work he has done in the role over the years.
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