Where is the evidence?

Sir, – Having served in the police service in Scotland for over 30 years, and being the father of a current full time student at St Andrews University I feel I must comment on the update provided in Saturday’s Courier by Councillor Holt as I am somewhat astounded by her sweeping and unfounded statements.

As I anticipated this elected member is representing the views of the Scottish Conservative Party first and foremost.

Whilst I am in agreement that the cost of student accommodation in the town is extreme I feel that it is reflective of other similar top performing university towns and cities across the United Kingdom.

The main area of my concern is the stereotypical statements made by this councillor with regard to the students “lack of regard for St Andrews’ permanent residents”. That is utter nonsense. In my four years’ close connection with the area I have found that all the various students and officers from the university that I have met are acutely aware of the need to be very respectful and treat all of the permanent and transient residents with very high regards.

The sweeping statements about reported incidents of anti-social behaviour in the town being triple the next highest rate in Fife and triple the Fife average seem to suggest there is a direct correlation to the students of St Andrews University. Again this is ill-founded and stereotypical nonsense. Where is the hard evidence, survey data

and analysis to support these statements? Has this come from Police Scotland or has the councillor been keeping her own statistics as a qualified expert in criminology and psychological analysis of incidents of anti-social behaviour? Grant Edward. Arbroath Road, Broughty Ferry.