THE impact of the intensive police operation mounted to combat soaring
levels of violence in Paisley will be analysed today after another
weekend marred by disturbances.
Senior officers from Strathclyde Police will examine the results and
tactics employed during the high-profile crackdown, codenamed Operation
Dove, during which 41 arrests were made on Friday and Saturday.
Despite the police presence, a 19-year-old youth became the area's
11th murder victim this year and four other people were in hospital with
serious stab wounds.
Although police were refusing to comment officially yesterday until
the full extent of the weekend's events had been carefully considered,
it is believed similar operations will be sanctioned in the coming
weeks.
Figures released yesterday by Strathclyde Police showed that 15
arrests were made during the first night of the operation, with 19
vehicle checks carried out, and 12 people searched for drugs and
weapons.
On Saturday night, with more than 40 additional police officers
drafted into the area, 26 arrests were made, including two for the theft
of a car, 11 for breach of the peace including offensive weapons, one
for assault, three for drink driving, eight for minor road traffic
offences, and one arising from a domestic dispute.
Police also visited 33 licensed premises in Paisley and in some
instances searches were carried out for drugs and weapons. Similar
checks were made on a large number of vehicles.
Detectives investigating the murder of Michael Holmes, of Oliphant
Crescent, Foxbar, Paisley, yesterday appealed for any witnesses to the
incident outside Mr Boston's bar in the early hours of Saturday to
contact them.
Mr Holmes was found in a pool of blood after a fight began outside the
premises in Causeyside Street. Two other local men, Graham English and
John McEwan, both 19, were also stabbed.
0 Police confirmed that a second woman had been arrested following an
incident shortly after 4am on Saturday when two Greenock men, James
Jenkins, 30, and Stuart McWilliams, 26, were stabbed outside the Talk of
the Town.
A 23-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman were arrested on Saturday in
connection with the incident. All three are expected to appear in court
today.
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