A COUNCIL-FUNDED resource has led to a “significant” reduction in reports of anti-social behaviour in Peebles, according to the local authority.

Major concerns have been raised this year over reported instances of bullying, damage to property and harassment in the town.

The issues led to officers in the Community Action Team (CAT) – consisting of two sets of seven officers and funded by Scottish Borders Council (SBC) – focusing their attention on Peebles in recent months.

And in an update this month on the police resource, a spokesperson for the local authority said there had been a drop in reports of anti-social behaviour.

They added: “The team has again been involved with colleagues from Northumbria Police and officers from Dumfries and Galloway and Police Scotland’s roads policing section to carry out overnight checkpoints along the border to tackle rural and acquisitive crime and act as a deterrent to would-be travelling criminals.

“Alongside other Police Scotland colleagues the CAT officers took part in six drug searches during November, resulting in the seizure of over £5,000 in cash and quantities of cannabis, heroin and diazepam.”

A monthly meeting is held between a group of cross-party councillors, SBC officers and CAT sergeants to provide feedback on activities and agree priority tasks for the coming weeks.

As a result of the December meeting, the CAT will be continuing to target illegal and dangerous parking and speeding in communities.

The SBC spokesperson said areas impacted by speeding could request the “deployment of life-size pop-up police officers to be positioned by the roadside” through community councils.

Conservative Tweeddale East councillor Julie Pirone, chair of the CAT Strategic Oversight Group, said: “The Community Action Team is continuing to tackle those issues most important to local communities, from drugs to anti-social behaviour and speeding.

“I am pleased to see that the actions taken in Peebles and Galashiels to tackle anti-social behaviour over recent months have had the desired effect and significantly reduced incidents.

“It is essential that issues continue to be reported properly to enable us to work with our Police Scotland colleagues to ensure that we keep our communities as safe as possible.”