Over 1000 crimes were reported to police in the last year, as well as hundreds of drug offences, petty thefts and vandalism.

The Hilltown, which featured in Channel 4 TV show The Secret Millionaire as an example of inner city poverty, recorded the highest number of offences of any beat in the city.

Staff who work on the frontline providing support to Hilltown residents have now suggested that crime can often be an outcome of desperate poverty, unemployment, or social exclusion.

Kerry Dixon, executive director at Signpost International, based in Ann Street, said the crime rate reflects problems in the community.

“Although there are high crime figures, I suspect that alongside these figures are some real social difficulties of poverty and out of poverty a lot of issues, including crime, can arise,” he said.

“We need to work to empower people living here. From the council to charities, we need to work together to empower people to take control of their community and make their voices heard.”

Mr Dixon said police and partnership support agencies should work together with people living in the Hilltown to transform the community.

He continued, “There are also a lot of ordinary people living in the Hilltown with their families who are not involved with crime and are often the victims of these incidents.

“There is a lot more to the Hilltown than the crime figures. It is generally a good place to live and is one of the last places in Dundee that has still got a sense of community and an identity of its own.

“To try and sort out the problems we first need to care about and listen to what the community want to do about the problem. We need to work to their agenda.

“Then we have to ensure that all agencies try to work together more. There needs to be a more joined-up partnership to make sure we address the problems together.”

Moyra Gordon, project manager at the Maxwell Town Information Centre in the Hilltown, agreed that long-held difficulties could be the basis for the area’s high rates of crime.

“I think there are a lot of underlying issues, such as poverty and social exclusion, that can lead to crime,” she said.

“There are a lot of issues to consider, including unemployment, boredom, having nothing to do and a little bit of peer pressure too. All of the factors really need to be taken into consideration.”

The Maxwell Town Information Centre, in St Salvadors Street, delivers adult support facilities to people in Dundee, a service which Ms Gordon believes is essential to tackling the problem of inner city crime.

“We do work on the ground with the people who need help, they get involved with us and learn to trust us and we can give them the support they need,” she said.

“Unfortunately, there is also a funding issue for resources like us and other support organisations in the city. To help people, we need to be here, so it is important that funding continues to keep these services ongoing.”

Alan Duncan, chief executive officer of the Grey Lodge Settlement, a community centre based in South George Street, said that training and resources can give people the opportunity to change their way of life.

“We provide support to people and when we establish trust with them we can work together to provide suitable alternatives or options for what they do in their lives, whether it is to work towards volunteering or training or future employment,” he said.

“These opportunities can then eventually lead to a great difference and community development.”

Mr Duncan added, “I have seen massive change in the Hilltown in the last five years. I have seen first-hand that the regeneration strategies are working and the partnership approach is also very successful.”