Crazy depicting Fort as ‘crimeridden blackhole’, says Baxter

There was an online backlash this week as irate residents of Fort William hit back after a national daily tabloid newspaper portrayed their town as being in the midst of a worrying crime wave, likening it to places such as Watford and South Africa.

The article in the Scottish Daily Express drew more than 260 comments after a link was posted on a local Lochaber social media page, with many complaining it was just being used as an excuse to attack the SNP government over police numbers.

The article quoted a number of apparent incidents, some alleged, and quoted people criticising the police for apparently not doing enough to combat crime, including rising youth-related crime, in the town. Among those who took to social media to challenge the claims was Mark Linfield, chairman of Fort William, Inverlochy and Torlundy Community Council.

He told the Lochaber Times he was disappointed to read the report and while not denying there have been some incidents recently as reported in the article, he and his fellow community councillors did not believe their area to be particularly worse than any other Highland towns or villages. ‘The police are well aware of the anti-social behaviour of groups of youths. Fort William Inverlochy and Torlundy Community Council has voiced our concerns to them,’ said Councillor Linfield.

‘We do not believe the area deserves to be labelled as a crime hotspot due to a few recent isolated serious incidents.’

Fort William and Ardnamurchan councillor Andrew Baxter said it was disappointing to see a national newspaper attempt to ‘sensationalise’ recent incidents in Fort William.

‘Of course these are crimes and should be treated seriously. Yes, we have problems from time to time, no area is perfect. But most people’s experience is we live in a safe place where crime is relatively low,’ he told the Lochaber Times. ‘It’s crazy to try and paint Fort William as some sort of crime-ridden black hole where lawlessness roams every street corner. I normally co-operate with journalists but I refused to comment on this occasion.’

Kate Forbes MSP also commented on the article saying: ‘At a time when a lot of investment is going into Lochaber, such as Nevis Range, the cinema on the High Street, the advanced manufacturing centre, the marina and, hopefully, a new hospital in the not too distant future, it’s deeply disappointing that the Daily Express and the opposition are taking every opportunity to talk Fort William down. Comparisons with South African townships are wildly inaccurate and deeply unhelpful. Whilst the Highlands and Islands is one of the safest places to live, that doesn’t mean we get complacent. I am saddened to hear of these incidents and Police Scotland are monitoring the situation locally.

‘If constituents believe more needs to be done to reduce crime in Fort William, I am happy to be contacted and will investigate further, but my mail bag suggests that is not the main concern for the town at this moment in time.’

Asked to comment, a Police Scotland spokesperson said: ‘The Highlands and Islands is one of the safest places to live in Scotland. Crimes recorded for 2020-21 showed one of the lowest rates of recorded crime in Scotland.

‘Of the crimes that do occur, the number of these which are solved by police is one of the highest in the country. Anyone who has concerns about crime in their area can speak to a member of their local community policing team.’

It’s deeply disappointing the Daily Express and opposition are taking every opportunity to talk Fort William down...