Anger after vandals target sports centre with offensive graffiti

COST: Around £200 worth of paint damage has been caused to the Perth College sports facility

Police are hunting for vandals after a Perth sports centre was emblazoned with offensive graffiti.

The Perth College UHI was targeted earlier this month in an attack that caused around £200 of damage to a doorway and hallway in the centre.

The multi-storey academy, which opened in September 2016, provides modern training facilities for students studying sport and fitness, hairdressing and beauty therapy courses.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon visited the centre in January 2019 as she announced extra Tay Cities Deal cash for the region.

A spokeswoman for Perth College UHI said staff were working with the police to discover who had spray painted the leisure building.

She said: “The safety of our students and staff is of the utmost importance to us.

“We are working with the police to find the perpetrators and are doing everything possible to ensure this does not happen again.

“It is positive that incidents such as this are extremely rare at Perth College UHI, testament to the strong sense of community and respect for the beautiful campus and excellent facilities on site.”

The college did not want to share images of the damage, due to its offensive nature.

Scottish Conservative MSPs Murdo Fraser and Liz Smith branded the attack “thoughtless vandalism.”

The politicians, who both represent the Mid Scotland and Fife region, hit out at those who had targeted the Crieff Road facility.

Mr Fraser said: “I strongly condemn this as thoughtless vandalism. The people who carry out these sorts of acts don’t think of the consequences of their actions.

“The cost of cleaning this up means that college resources can’t be spent on other more useful things.”

Ms Smith said: “Spraying graffiti over buildings has become all too common an occurrence these days. It might be something that finds favour with peer groups but not enough thought goes into the damage it costs the likes of Perth College UHI to clear this vandalism up.”

A police spokesman said: “About £200 worth of damage was caused after a door and hallway were spray-painted with graffiti at the Academy of Sport and Wellbeing, Perth College, Crieff Road, Perth on Tuesday February 5.

“Anyone with information about the incident should contact the police on 101.”

“I strongly condemn this as thoughtless vandalism. The cost of cleaning this up means that college resources can’t be spent on other more useful things. MURDO FRASER MSP