Police to patrol park after vandals strike
Police are to patrol a Rutherglen park after a spate of “mindless” vandalism took place there.
Overtoun Park was targeted last weekend, resulting in the fountain being damaged, park benches vandalised, bins being nearly set on fire and graffiti sprayed throughout the area.
Now officers in Rutherglen have confirmed that they will aim to have more of a presence in the park.
Inspector Kevin Miller said: “We have had some graffiti in the park and reports of youths attempting to set bins on fire.
“I’ve arranged for additional foot patrols for this weekend and next going forward to try and curb any further instances of youth disorder.
“I will also raise it with our partners at SLC and get some extra attention from the community wardens.”
Among the damaged areas was the Queen Victoria Jubilee Fountain.
Shannon Salsera regularly walks her dog in the park and contacted the Reformer to express her disgust at the continual vandalism.
She told us: “Every time they try to maintain or beautify the park it gets vandalised. I walk in the park every day and this is what I witness.
“The council used to do the flowerbeds and people would steal the plants the same day they went in.
“Another person told me they saw an adult doing a round of golf practice by whacking golf balls at the bandstand just after it had been refurbished.
“I stopped kids trying to set fire to the zip line seat for goodness sake – a five-year-old with a lighter in the company of eight-year-olds.
“The police say that people need to phone in antisocial behaviour and vandalism more often in order to get more patrols in the area because at present no one is reporting it.
“So, on paper, it looks like Overtoun Park is a calm area so no one is dispatched there.
“This is a question of education and respect for others plain and simple in my opinion – adults and kids alike.
“Until that is addressed, nothing will change. It’s very disheartening.”
Kevin Carr, the head of South Lanarkshire Council’s facilities waste and grounds services, said: “It is always disappointing when vandalism occurs and is upsetting for everyone who come to the park.
“This mindless vandalism was reported to us by the police and we’re currently assisting them with their investigation. I would urge anyone with information on this or any other act of vandalism to contact the police.
“We are assessing the damage caused and will make the area affected safe until the facilities are able to be restored.”