LOCKDOWN LOUTS ARE TARGETED BY POLICE
COPS REVEAL HUGE RISE IN DISORDER
Disorder complaints in Renfrewshire rocketed during lockdown due to breaches of Covid- 19 guidelines.
New data from Police Scotland shows reports went up by almost two-thirds between April and June compared to the same period last year, with a total of 3,595 complaints received.
And cops have said the spike can almost solely be put down to breaches - both actual and perceived - of coronavirus regulations.
The figures emerged in documents presented to Renfrewshire Council’s police and fire scrutiny sub-committee, which met virtually yesterday .
From the start of lockdown to now, police have issued a total of 133 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) to people who have broken rules, while six people have been arrested.
Chief Superintendent Alan Murray, divisional commander for Renfrewshire, said while the rise in complaints is significant, he has not been shocked by the increase and expects there will be a dramatic fall in reports in the coming months.
“This hasn’t come as a surprise because we knew how much additional restriction was being placed on people’s lives and we knew there was going to be a settling in period,” said Chief Supt Murray.
“Most people, when they came to understand the guidelines, were compliant.
“There was a small minority who weren’t, of course.
“The FPNs and the arrests, I think, represent people who knew they were breaking the rules.
“Most of the calls we’ve received have been related to social gatherings in houses in Renfrewshire.
“Most of the FPNs we have given out are where we have gone round to a house and they have refused to comply or we have had a repeat call and the same people are doing the same thing.
“We have not been stopping people walking around and asking why they are out.
“The overall increase in disorder calls is almost completely down to Covid-19.
“I would be quite concerned if there is not a significant drop in these calls in the next few months.”
Chief Supt Murray said the police have approached and spoken to more than 2,000 people during lockdown about guidelines and have given warnings to more than 300.
From April to June, more than 1,900 nuisance calls were recorded alongside nearly 700 noise complaints, 351 neighbour disputes, and 646 disturbance calls.
Overall, cops recorded almost 1,000 reports which related to breaches of public health guidance during the period.
Chief Supt Murray said many of the calls received had concerned groups of youth gathering, but this was not unexpected.
He added: “Youth disorder has been an ongoing issue, particularly when the weather is good.
“We know lockdown has meant children and young people have felt isolated.
“Our children have a right to socialise with their friends and society must support them in re- establishing their social structures.
“As schools, sports clubs and other establishments begin to reopen, it is anticipated reports of anti-social behaviour involving young people will decline.
“The majority of people in Renfrewshire have been supportive of the police and have done their best to adhere to the regulations.
“We police by consent and the way we went about things was intended to make sure we retained the support of the public.
“We’ve been delighted with the way people have reacted.
“It would’ve been impossible without the support we have had.”
Other statistics reported to the sub- committee for April to June included a 12 per cent decrease in common assaults - with almost 400 recorded during the period - and a fall of almost 30 per cent in serious assaults compared to the same period last year.
Recorded robberies increased by almost 12 per cent while theft by shoplifting incidents dropped by more than 40 per cent.
This hasn’t come as a surprise because we knew additional restriction was being placed on people’s lives