The proposals for two cops in the city comes in the wake of repeated calls for a return to bobbies on the beat to tackle anti-social behaviour and a surge in shoplifting.
Plans are afoot for Police Scotland to have two dedicated officers patrolling Perth city centre Monday to Friday.
The news comes in the wake of repeated calls for a return to bobbies on the beat to tackle anti-social behaviour and a surge in shoplifting.
At a Perth and Kinross Council committee meeting this week, Chief Inspector Jamie Allen said having a visible police presence was something he feels is “very important”.
According to the latest Police Scotland annual report, shoplifting in Perth and Kinross has more than doubled since 2022/23 and rose by 47 per cent last year alone. Between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026 there were 1193 shoplifting incidents compared to 814 the previous year.
On top of shoplifting, a recent Freedom of Information request by the Scottish Conservatives, found there were 49 incidents of retail workers in Perth city centre being assaulted and 27 incidents of retail staff being threatened or abused in 2024/25.
Calling for action, Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser met with the local police chief and said: “Crime in Perth city centre is now out of control.”
Last month, Perth and Kinross Council leader and Perth City Centre ward councillor Eric Drysdale met with police officers to discuss anti-social behaviour in Perth City Centre, following concerns which included drunken misbehaviour, vandalism and graffiti.
At a meeting of the Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee on Wednesday, June 3 Independent councillor – and former SNP leader – Grant Laing called for a police presence in Perth city centre.
Addressing senior police officers at Wednesday’s meeting, Cllr Grant Laing said: “I know you’re constricted with workforce and funding. I understand that.
“We need boots on the ground and, I think, working together, we could do it.”
He added: “We, as a local authority, spend a lot of money on community wardens, who have no power. I speak to them. They can’t enforce a by-law, they can’t take drink off somebody. They can ask them to move on, they can’t do anything about it. They can’t go into a shop and reassure.
“Could we possibly bring something through to address perceived and real issues that they feel are going on in the city centre?”
Chief Inspector Jamie Allen confirmed he would support a funded post and revealed plans were being put in place to have two dedicated police officers patrol Perth City Centre Monday to Friday.
Ch Insp Allen said: “In relation to the visibility side of things in Perth city centre, we’re very conscious of what the feelings are.
“And, for me, visibility is very important. It goes back to that fear of crime and deterrent factor for people as well.
“We are in the process of having a couple of officers dedicated, Monday to Friday, to be in Perth city centre, to be that link in with the shops. But the most important thing for me is to be that visibility to be seen walking around and engaging with people. That’s just the start of something we are trying to do.
“For me, even two officers dedicated to something like that could have quite a big impact on the city centre.
“It’s the community policing aspect of it, they’ll know the people going around and will be able to engage with them. Vulnerable people will begin to recognise them and go to them if they see them every day there. So that is something we are doing.”

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