A TEAM of crime-fighters dedicated to solving problems in Glasgow city centre will begin their work today.

Police Scotland’s problem solving teams have been created as part of a shake-up of the organisations existing structures.

Two teams at Stewart Street police station in the city centre will have 26 officers dedicated to problem solving as well as the existing response cops.

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Chief Inspector Brian Gibson, who is area commander for the city centre, explained what the new role will entail for his officers.

He said: “We are just about to enter into some new structures with regards to how our resources are used.

“We are going to have local problem solving teams across the whole of the division but also based within Glasgow city centre.”

He added: “They will look at some of the issues that challenge Glasgow such as begging, shoplifting, and serious crime on a Friday and Saturday night related to alcohol.

“And do some focus work on how we can be proactive about preventing those so that people naturally feel confident and safe using the city.”

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The two groups will work and cover all beat areas within the city centre, and engage with the community to understand the issues that are affecting them.

Chief Inspector Gibson said: “I am looking forward to developing those teams, and to empowering the sergeants and the officers working in those teams.

“They will have a great deal more flexibility with regards to how we adjust their shifts and where we make them available to identify issues that are issues for the people of Glasgow.

“We will work with the communities in the city centre and find out the issues that are challenging them or causing them concern.

“We will respond to those issues with a problem solving approach.”

Chief Inspector Gibson insists the new approach will not stop cops dealing with breaking incidents which can be frequent in the city centre.

He said: “We will still have our respond officers based in patrol cars or on foot who will respond calls so that when the public either call 101 or 999 for serious matter they will probably be our priority.

“But those problem solving officers who are in there engaging and working closely with the community, if something is happening in front of them or close to them they will also be there to respond.

“We are going to have fantastic cover for the city.”

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He added: “It is not just high visibility policing, it is a long term approach working with partners and looking at resolving those issues going forward.

“Some of it is, is also about making people understand what the police can do for them.”