Police intensify presence at park

Jun 12 2008 By Frank Hurley

EXCLUSIVE

MORE beat bobbies and police patrols in Queen's Park are likely to be the legacy of the tragic murder of businesswoman Moira Jones.

Senior Strathclyde Police officers are in talks with Glasgow City Council and other agencies to introduce strategically placed CCTV cameras in roads round trouble spots in Queen's Park, and possibly the park itself.

The body of the 40-year-old sales consultant was found in Queen's Park on May 29. She had been raped and beaten to death. Local residents say the moves are not before time as repeated complaints have been made to police about street disorder, car theft and vandalism as well as drug dealing in the park where junkies are seen regularly creating a threatening atmosphere.

Some residents say that it has taken Moira's murder to galvanise the authorities into action to improve street safety in the immediate area of Queen's Park.

Two hostels - one has since closed - brought ex-convicts and drug addicts into the area, creating an increase in crime and disorder.

Local pubs and clubs at weekends create disturbances at closing time, say harassed residents.

An added hazard, say residents, was created when the Victoria Infirmary introduced pay parking at the hospital. Staff and visitors cruise the area looking for free kerbside parking where residents previously parked their vehicles close to their homes.

Locals say they are now forced to park further away from their homes because non-residents have taken up their usual spaces before going to the hospital.

Councillor James Dornan said there was ongoing consultation in Queen's Park for parking metres as well as resident parking permits.

He said: "Residents would have to pay for their parking permits. How much has not been decided but something has to be done to control parking in the area.

"On the safety front, myself and council colleagues have already spoken to senior police officers to increase foot patrols in the roads in Queen's Park.

"The possibility of police patrolling the park itself on a regular basis is on the agenda.

"The park is split between two different new police divisions and this has to be sorted out fast."

Murder squad officers said they could not rule out a link to the rape of a woman in the area on April 3.

A 43-year-old woman was raped as she walked on Lang side Road between 10.30pm and 11pm.

No arrests have been made in connection with that incident.

The rapist is described as white, aged 20 to 29 and of thin build. He stole her handbag containing personal effects.

The woman was treated for minor injuries and was badly shaken as a result of the attack.

The Glaswegian revealed a Langside Avenue resident stopped two men dragging a mystery blonde into the park late last year

Moira was last seen on Wednesday May 28 at 10.30pm when she left her boyfriend's house in the Cranstonhill area of the city to drive back to her home on Queen's Drive - a journey that usually takes 15 minutes.

Personal items belonging to Ms Jones and part of her handbag strap were found on a grassy area close to where she parked her car. Police believe petite Moira put up a fierce struggle as she was dragged into the park where she was raped and murdered

Both attacks on the women occurred at about the same time in the evening when the roads were relatively busy with resicars and buses.

In both incidents the women's personal effects were stolen. Police have stopped and questioned hundreds of motorists and pedestrians in the Queen's Park area in the hope of jogging the memory of anyone who may have seen something.

The park remains closed as officers continue to carry out their search for clues - including using their underwater search team to scour a park pond.

Police have quizzed more than 100 known sex offenders in the hunt for the killer. They've also viewed hundreds of CCTV tapes from the city centre and the south side.

A higher than usual number of sex offenders reside in the Queen's Park area due to the existence of the one remaining hostel and the number of bed-sits in the area and near by Crosshill.