CALL COPS SO WE GET MORE ON THE BEAT

Appeal following anti-social behaviour

A Strath councillor is calling on residents to report suspicious activity, anti- social behaviour and illegal gatherings to police if they want to see a more visible presence of officers in the area.

Perth and Kinross Council Strathearn ward member Rhona Brock is encouraging people to report anything they are suspicious of at all, even if it comes to nothing, as the statistics help to establish policing requirements in an area.

The independent elected representative told the Herald: “Residents tell me about incidents but when I’ve asked the police about it they’ve said they have no record because no-one has reported it.

“I want to encourage more people to be

phoning the police as it helps us to establish the needs in our area.

“If there’s no crime getting reported we don’t get the support from police that we need – the patrols get sent elsewhere.

“I attend the community safety [committee] meetings online at the council with the police and will reel off things that have happened, but a lot of the time these haven’t been reported to them.

“I raised with the inspector an incident in James Square but there had been no reports from anyone else other than myself.

“It’s so frustrating. As much as we want to have more police presence in the area, we are not going to get it if it’s not shown on record.”

Cllr Brock was shocked at vandalism at the marquee seating area in James Square and, more recently, a seating area behind Comrie Medical Centre was targeted.

Staff arrived at work on Monday to find a mess, including smashed bottles and vomit.

The group had even brought their own coal for a fire, the remains of which were only a few feet from the building.

It is not the first time surgeries have been targeted and residents expressed their disappointment at the irresponsible act at a time when people should be keeping their distance.

June McCartney, a patient of the surgery,was angry that staff had to deal with the mess.

She said:“We have a wonderful team at Comrie Medical Centre and they have been so good looking after us during the pandemic. They certainly don’t deserve this

“People are shielding and staying in. It’s terrible when we are all trying to do our best that this is happening. It is totally irresponsible.”

Police Scotland said enquiries are ongoing into the antisocial behaviour in the grounds of the medical centre.

Anyone with information is asked to contact officers by calling 101.