Call for more patrols
Fed- up residents were this week calling for police to step up their street patrols in Prestwick to stamp out antisocial behaviour.
Neighbours have hit out at groups of youths congregating and causing trouble in Boydfield Gardens.
And their latest plea comes after a 16- year- old boy was attacked last week.
One resident said: “The police’s response was unacceptable.
“I believe there is a lack of policing in Prestwick.
“A member of the public phoned the police and we get no police response.
“Despite witnesses coming forward as yet no statements have been obtained nor any approach made from police.
“I watched members of the public fleeing in horror as the incident unfolded.
“The youths congregate in the Main Street.
“We rarely see police down here.”
Prestwick North Community Council chairman Jim Ronney and ward councillor Hugh Hunter last year called for action to tackle rowdy youths in Boydfield Gardens
The popular children’s playpark transforms by night, they say, to become a haven for anti- social behaviour.
Tory councillor Hugh Hunter, former council leader, this week called for more CCTV and better lighting in the area following last week’s incident.
He said: “This is a horrific attack on a young man.
“It is a police matter and I would take advice from them on this.
“I think there needs to be better CCTV in Boydfield Gardens.
“If people know there is CCTV then that is a deterrent.
“The area is dark and there needs to be better lighting.
“I would contact the council’s community safety and the police to see what can be done to prevent something like this happening again.
A council spokesman said there were two cameras in the Boydfield Gardens area and that the incident is being investigated by police.
Police said patrol would be stepped up in the Prestwick area following the incident.
“Additional police resources have recently been deployed in the Carrick area to deter and detect alcohol related youth disorder and these resources will also be utilised in the Prestwick area over the coming weeks,” said a police spokesman .
“Members of the public and shopkeepers are asked to remain vigilant to youths attempting to purchase alcohol or adults acting as agents to purchase it for them and to report any suspicions to the police.
“There are still people who are prepared to break the law and buy alcohol for youths and, sadly, the Prestwick incident is an example of the type of outcome this can have.”