“We have lots of operational activity planned over the coming months and we will strive to do everything we can to engage with the community in order to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour,” said Chief Inspector Suzie Mertes.

“We want people to report incidents to us. That way, we can make a real difference in the community.”

The Community Task Force has already carried out operations in the Hilltown and Stobswell districts, as well as Arbroath, Montrose and Blairgowrie.

In its new posting, there will be a focus on community issues such as drug dealing and its associated problems, anti-social behaviour including aggressive begging and speeding motorists, violent crime and thefts.

“The team will provide a visible presence of officers on foot, cycle, and mobile patrols,” continued Chief Inspector Mertes, who is in charge of operational policing in Dundee.

“They are a dedicated team of officers who will be supporting the work already being done by their beat officer colleagues, to make a real difference to the lives of people who live, work or visit Dundee city centre.

“Tayside Police alone cannot tackle drugs, violence and anti-social behaviour. Only by working with others, be they in the health service, education departments or communities themselves, can we begin to make significant inroads.”

Part of the remit of the CTF officers is to talk to young people in the area about issues that are important to them, and to look at diversionary activities for those found loitering or getting involved in anti-social behaviour.

“Cycle patrols, in particular, give officers a great opportunity to interact with local youths and to build up relationships with them,” continued Chief Inspector Mertes.

The senior officer revealed the force was keen to reduce begging in the city centre because, although not a crime in itself, there was an “an anti-social impact within the community”.

She added, “Many businesses get frustrated with beggars choosing to position themselves outside premises or in doorways.

“The task force will be looking at ways in which they can resolve these issues.

“Anti-social driving can take the form of parking, non-adherence to red lights and driving restrictions along with speeding and so-called ‘boy racers’ cruising the nightclub areas.

“The night time economy have a huge role to play in helping to keep the city centre area crime free and the task force will be working closely with them to reduce alcohol related crime and anti-social behaviour.”

The team took to the streets of the city centre today and officer-in-charge Sergeant Carol Brown said they wanted to “be there for the community”.

She added, “I’d like all members of the public to stop and speak to us, to let us know what problems or issues they have in the community. It’s only by working with us that we can make a real impact.”

Chief Inspector Mertes revealed the task force priorities had been identified after a survey of city centre residents and users.

“We had a look at where the task force was going to be deployed, and there are issues in the city centre we recognise, such as drug dealing and antisocial behaviour,” she said.

“However, we have not just gone on intelligence alone. We did a survey asking residents, businesses and visitors what they saw as the issues. We then took that information and used it as part of the deployment.

“We want to make Dundee’s city centre an exciting, vibrant and safe environment and, at the end of the deployment, we will be looking to build on it with our partners to make sure that the improvements are sustainable.”

She confirmed that one of the local issues being looked at by the force was drivers illegally using pedestrian zones such as Commercial Street and the McManus Galleries area.

“This is something that I have responded to and the inspector in the road policing unit has responded to,” added Chief Inspector Mertes.

“We have been taking enforcement action and we will continue to do so.

“The task force may well be involved, in that where we see these issues we will respond to them.”