Ten youths targeted to curb Selkirk disorder
THE police have identified 10 local youngsters who, it is claimed, are responsible for most of the calls involving youth disorder in the town.
Now, over the next two months, the police and other agencies, including the Rowland’s project in West Port, will work with these individuals in a so-called diversionary initiative in a bid to reduce anti-social behaviour.
The operation was announced at this month’s meeting of the community council in a written report by PC Roy Brown, who has been under pressure at recent meetings to convey the concerns of many residents to his superiors.
He was responding to David Firth who, in November, reported that he and other residents of Curror Street were experiencing a “living hell” because of a group of around 14 youths, aged between 12 and 16, playing football within the grounds of Knowepark School long into the evening and shouting and swearing at neighbours if they dared to complain.
During the open forum section of last Monday’s meeting, Mr Firth revealed that the situation in Curror Street had improved and he thanked police for stepping up their patrols, but he claimed the problem had “moved elsewhere”, citing the Beechbank area as the latest hotspot.
Back in November, Mr Firth suggested that access to school property should be prohibited in the evening.
Councillor Vicky Davidson (Lib Dem, Selkirkshire) revealed that officials at Scottish Borders Council were taking steps to have school gates closed at 7pm and Mr Firth was given an assurance by community council chairman Graham Easton that he would be kept updated of progress with the new initiative.
Earlier in his report, PC Brown said that since the December meeting, the police in the Selkirk area had attended 160 incidents – down 10 per cent on the corresponding month last year – and that 14 crimes had been recorded with eight of these being solved.
Of the crimes committed, five were assaults and four were vandalisms occurring mainly in the Bannerfield area. One local male has been reported to the procurator fiscal for a number of these vandalism incidents.
There were also four break-ins to domestic premises over the month and PC Brown renewed his calls for householders to be vigilant and ensure their homes are secured at all times.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Selkirk
Wednesday 22 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 7 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 36 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 26 mph
Wind direction: South west
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.