Surge in antisocial behaviour prompts plea for more officers

Perth councillor cites significant increase in city incidents

A spike in antisocial behaviour in Perth city centre prompted a plea for more police to tackle the scourge.

Reports in Perth and Kinross soared from 5,808 in 2016/17 to 7,521 in 2017/18, as The Courier revealed earlier this week.

Following an upturn in the problem, Councillor Peter Barrett said he had pushed Police Scotland to deploy more resources, which he said was beginning to have an impact.

The Liberal Democrat convenor of Perth and Kinross Council’s housing and communities committee said there was a “significant increase” in antisocial behaviour last year.

He said: “I have pressed the police for more officers to be deployed in the city centre to tackle the problems of antisocial behaviour.

“I raised concerns with the Assistant Chief Constable which initiated a multiagency response involving the police, community safety team, community wardens and youth services.”

Councillor Barrett added: “This is beginning to prove effective with incidents down this year by about 25%.

“This is encouraging. But, given that we are only just into the new year and only have one year of statistics to compare like for like, we need to remain vigilant. We need to intervene quickly to prevent any increase in antisocial behaviour.”

Perth and Kinross statistics showed the fourth-highest increase, one of almost 30%, in reports of antisocial behaviour.

Mr Barrett, however, pointed out a change in how incidents were recorded meant every report of the same incident was listed separately.

He added: “The police also improved their call handling process so fewer incidents went unreported because people got fed up waiting to report incidents by phone.”

The figures, released by the Scottish Conservatives, showed more than 155 incidents of antisocial behaviour were reported across Courier Country every day.

They also showed increases in Dundee and Angus.

Although there were fewer reports in Fife, the region still had the most reports, an average of 75.5 a day.

Police Scotland said it was committed to reducing crime and antisocial behaviour and that community policing was at the heart of what it did, as it was acutely aware of the upset it can cause communities.

We need to intervene to prevent any increase in antisocial behaviour. COUNCILLOR PETER BARRETT