THERE were 1910 crimes and offences recorded in the Calton/Barras area in 2012-13, up from 1656 a year before and 1401 back in 2006-2007, when The Evening Times began its Crime on Your Streets series.

However, half of all the recorded crime on the Bravo Alpha 12 beat was fixed-penalty notices issued for public boozing, a total of 848 cases.

Police have long argued that tackling crimes like boozing and public urinating helps reduce more serious offending.

Their logic: those fined for relieving themselves in the street at 6pm are less likely to be arrested for assault four hours later.

Officers have been out in force in the area in recent years, targeting those who drink or urinate in public.

Fixed-penalty notices for public urination, for example, have risen tenfold, from just 34 in 2006-2007, to 326 in 2012-13.

Those caught are understood to include football fans - many from outside Glasgow - on their way to and from Celtic Park.

They have been blamed for playing a part in turning the city's historic Calton area into a crime hotspot .

Community leaders have welcomed a police crackdown on match days.

Activist Betty Cosgrove, chairwoman of the Calton Area Association, said: "Urinating in the street is mostly the fault of football fans and residents welcome the fact that the police are getting tough on them."

Supporters attending matches at Celtic Park are not just having an impact on the lives of those living in the Calton but elsewhere too, according to local Labour councillor Yvonne Kucuk.

She said: "I recently carried out walkabout sessions on match days with local residents from Bridgeton and Barrowfield with fellow councillors and the local MP Margaret Curran.

"We spoke to lots of residents who told us that they have real issues with fans which are impacting on the quality of their lives on match days. The problem of urinating in the street is huge in Barrowfield.

"Lots of residents there, and in Bridgeton, complain not only about the selfish parking of fans, who block driveways and streets with their cars, but also those fans who urinate in full view of locals in gardens and against fences. It is disgusting, yet it goes on all the time - something has to be done to stop this."

The number of raps for possession of drugs also helped drive up crime statistics in the Barras.

A total of 121 such offences were recorded in the year, up from few more than 70 seven years ago.

This offence, like drinking and pee-ing, is up across Glasgow. All three figures tend, above all, to be a measure of how many police stop-and-searches are going on in an area.

Yet the crimes people fear the most are down. The number of robberies and assaults with intent to rob have plunged.

There were only two muggings or attempted muggings in Calton/Barras in the year, compared with 24 in 2006-2007. Serious assaults have dropped too over the seven years, from 11 to four.

Calton did not go without tragedy in 2012-13. The area suffered its first murder in seven years.

Only three people were caught carrying knives, down from 13 in 2006-2007.

The neighbourhood is also close to Glasgow's second streetwalking area, Glasgow Green.

There were 41 offences relating to prostitution recorded by the police in the beat in 2012-13.

That is second only to the main drag of the West End. But that is down from 62 a year before and higher figures still historically.

Police are increasingly targeting punters - almost all men - who cruise for sex.

Eleven were caught kerb-crawling in 2012-13 and 14 more the year before.

Mrs Cosgrove said: "Prostitution continues to be a major problem but local people will welcome the fact that the number of offences has dropped.

"We are also delighted to see that more male drivers were caught kerb-crawling last year."

Councillor Kucuk wants the crackdown to continue.

She said: "Several years ago, our previous MSP, Frank McAveety, supported the local community in sponsoring a kerb-crawling Bill through parliament in 2007.

"This needs to be reviewed, as it had a massive impact at the time. Perhaps by highlighting it again and working with agencies like Routes Out we will see an impact in reducing the numbers of men who cruise the area looking to prey on these most vulnerable of women."

Community representatives have long argued that the Calton has been neglected and starved of investment. They say the area should have been included in the catchment area of the Clyde Gateway regeneration scheme, which has spearheaded multi-million pound industrial and office projects in other parts of the East End.

Mrs Cosgrove added: "There is no doubt that, overall, these figures show the Calton is not a hotbed of serious crime. That is something which has to be welcomed and gives us hope for the future."

Councillor Kucuk also admits there is a need for change.

She said: "While I am delighted serious crime is going down, there is still a perception in the area that people don't feel safe. That's probably to do with the physical environment and street lighting, which we will improve on throughout the coming year.

"Plans are underway to renew the shop fronts and carry out some public realm improvements, including new street lighting and walkways, as part of the investment from Glasgow City Council, and the new Action Barras Calton group is pushing that forward."

Councillor Kucuk urged residents to help themselves by helping the police tackle "low level crime".

She said: "I am confident with the support of the police and community safety services that we can impact on low level crime which is causing grief to residents.

"We have to encourage locals to call 101 when they witness anti-social behaviour so that it can be dealt with effectively."

Councillor Kucuk backs police evidence that public drinking is a major issue.

She said: "Recently, the Evening Times focused on the anti-social behaviour in the area.

"In particular it highlighted the issue of young people who have been gang fighting.

"Their local hideout is testament to the claims about alcohol and public drinking.

"You only have to walk around the bottom of Claythorn Street, beside the playpark, to see the evidence, with smashed bottles and cans of cider and super lagers all over the place."

She and local activists welcome the latest crime statistics and believe they show just what needs to be done by residents, the police and other agencies to put pride back into the Calton.