Police increase patrols to tackle youths

POLICE have increased patrols to tackle a growing issue with youths gathering at Perth’s Western Edge Park.

Residents have reported young people gathering in large numbers, drinking and causing a menace by stopping cars and throwing stones and bottles at houses.

A councillor said while many sympathise with youngsters wanting to have somewhere to meet, they want them to do so without causing a disturbance or risk to public safety.

The matter came to a head over Easter weekend with one resident describing it as having “reached a different level” and “gone beyond ‘just kids having some fun’”.

The resident said: “The problem is that they are now threatening and intimidating good honest folk just out walking home or walking their dogs.

“They’re blocking the roads, flagging down cars to do silly little things for some attention.

“They are chucking things from branches, plastic and glass bottles to large stones at people’s homes and windows, causing damage and leaving broken glass where children and pets play, not just in the park but in our own gardens.”

Another resident said the issue had been going on for a while with the group increasing in size each Saturday.

He said: “This has been going on every Saturday for some time and numbers grow every week. Inevitably someone is going to be hurt whether among the children involved or members of the public.”

Inspector Stephen Gray confirmed officers were working to deal with the issue and urged residents to report incidents to the police by phoning 101.

He said: “The local policing team have been carrying out high-visibility patrols to tackle the issue of anti-social behaviour around Western Edge Park in Perth.

“We will continue to respond to any behaviour of this nature that is reported and we would urge people to report incidents to us through 101.”