Using money made available through the Scottish Executive’s Community Regeneration Fund, the city council is being asked to endorse proposals for six extra police officers. The officers will be working in three geographic areas spanning Ardler/St Mary’s, Menzieshill Charleston/Lochee/Beechwood and Mid Craigie/Linlathen/Douglas.

As well as the police officers, the allocated funding of almost £250,000 will contribute towards the cost of employing a part-time advocacy worker for young people with additional needs and two neighbourhood workers to support regeneration activities in the north west of the city.

The council acts as the accountable body for the Community Regeneration Fund on behalf off the Dundee Partnership.

Administration leader Jill Shimi said “We are responding to the wishes of local people in directing this community regeneration money into direct local community policing.

“Reducing crime and the fear of crime is a priority for the city council and the Dundee Partnership, as well as for local people in their neighbourhoods. We are working closely with Tayside Police in responding to this agenda.”

Money from the regeneration fund is targeted at the most disadvantaged 15% of areas as identified by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. Dundee has more than 50 qualifying areas covering a population of around 40,000.

Assistant chief executive (community planning) Chris Ward and leisure and communities director Stewart Murdoch said in a report that the proposals were intended to meet local needs and would help to implement the Dundee Partnership’s community regeneration strategy. Community representatives, partnership agencies and the voluntary sector had been consulted and involved in the assessment of community regeneration funding applications and in forming the recommendations for allocating the money.