Glasgow Times

GROUP OF TEENS TERRORISE LOCAL NEIGHBOURH­OOD WITH FIREWORKS

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POLLOK residents have told of being “terrorised” by a group of teenagers after they were spotted throwing lit fireworks into traffic and gardens. An incident, confirmed by Police Scotland, took place on Saturday and involved a group of youths throwing fireworks at passing vehicles on Brockburn Road.

Lynne McFadden, a resident in the area, said: “I could see them chucking lit fireworks into oncoming traffic and I couldn’t believe it.

“It’s getting earlier and earlier every year with fireworks going off.

“I don’t know how kids are getting their hands on fireworks, it seems unbelievab­le to me that people are selling them or giving them to teenagers.”

“There are a lot of elderly people who live in the area and people with pets, including myself – the neighbourh­ood is being terrorised.

“Usually I’m able to prepare my dog for fireworks night and can expect that she might feel a bit out of sorts on Guy Fawkes Night but you can’t tell when it is going to happen now.

“We shouldn’t have to be scared to go out of our homes every time October and November comes around.”

Residents have taken to social media to report other alleged incidents in the area.

One reported a group of kids “running amok” in the neighbourh­ood, going from Dalmelling­ton Road to Kempsthorn Road throwing fireworks at passing cars and into pensioners’ gardens on Friday night.

Similar incidents were reported in Darnley and Priesthill on the same weekend.

However, this incident and any connection­s remains unconfirme­d by Police Scotland.

Another resident said: “We got them thrown at our window tonight, my dog was petrified!”

As previously reported, a consultati­on group, created by the Scottish Government, published a report last year which showed that 94 per cent of respondent­s back the regulation on the sale of fireworks, with 84 per cent backing a blanket ban on the sale of the explosives altogether.

The Scottish Government recently said that it would not rule out an outright ban on the sale of fireworks, after reports of incidents such as one seen in Pollok.

The issue has intensifie­d within the South of the city over the past few years, including incidents of industrial- style fireworks being used by groups in Pollokshie­lds streets.

Lynne said: “I think that they should be banned from being sold in shops.

“There is no reason for people, especially kids, to be running around neighbourh­oods with explosives.

“They should leave it for profession­al displays.”

Local councillor, David McDonald, told of his frustratio­n, saying: “Every year we see a growing rise in the irresponsi­ble use and sales of fireworks across the city causing disruption to community life and damage to property.

“But of increasing concern has been the targeting of individual­s, cars or other vehicles by people using fireworks as a weapon.

“We shouldn’t excuse or write off these actions and it shouldn’t be seen as just youthful anti- social behaviour, it is criminal behaviour.

“It’s behaviour that risks the safety of the public.”

A Police Scotland spokeswoma­n said: “We received a report of youths throwing fireworks at vehicles on Brockburn Road, Glasgow on Saturday October 17. Inquiries are ongoing.”

I don’t know how kids are getting their hands on fireworks

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