Broken windows latest in long line of school incidents

The vandalism at Fraserburgh Academy last week was the latest in a long line of incidents at schools in the north-east.

The building was targeted between Christmas and New Year, with dozens of windows being smashed.

In June, several schools across the region were targeted. Raiders broke into New Pitsligo and St John’s School on School Street, also in New Pitsligo and stole a money box.

Vandals also got access to the grounds of Clerkhill Primary School in Peterhead and damaged a roofing cowl.

And later that month, at Banff Primary School on Academy Drive, a bin was ripped up and thrown on to the roof causing damage to several tiles.

Meanwhile, vandals caused damage at 29 schools in Aberdeen during the summer holidays last year, causing £5,900 worth of damage.

Following the vandalism at Fraserburgh Academy last week, politicians bemoaned the “waste of public funds” required to repair the damage.

North-east Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald said: “This is a real blow to the school and to the kids that go there. It’s the type of thing that wastes a lot of public funds.

“The people who carried this out should be ashamed of themselves and I hope anyone with information will help the police with their inquiries.”

Councillor Brian Topping, who represents Fraserburgh and District, added: “I’m totally disgusted by this.

“It’s not just the inconvenience, it’s the wanton vandalism and the cost to the taxpayer.”

MSP Lewis Macdonald