Police in Dundee face a rise of anti-social behaviour
Multiple teenagers have been charged in recent weeks in connection with incidents
Last updated 10th Feb 2022
Officers in Dundee city centre have dealing with a rise of anti-social behaviour in recent weeks.
In a statement, a Police Scotland spokesperson discussed some of the incidents officers have been dealing with: " On Sunday evening (5th February), a 15 year old boy was charged with assaulting members of staff at McDonald’s in Reform Street. That evening officers also dealt with complaints of youths causing problems in Castle Street and Murraygate.
"Also, three male youths aged 13, 15 and 16 have now been identified and charged in connection with a fireraising at the rear of premises in Murraygate which took place on Sunday 23rd January. Lines of enquiry are continuing in relation to others involved in this incident."
Inspector Colin Echevarria says the seriousness and frequency of recent events is unacceptable: "Of course we would all welcome young people into the city centre and wouldn't put them off. However, the events that have occurred, in particular over the last couple of weeks with assaults on McDonald's staff and fire raising, youth's setting fire to bins. We don't expect that, we don't want it and we will do every thing to prevent it."
On the measures Tayside Police are taking to prevent the continued rise of anti-social behaviour the inspector said: "Firstly it's about our visibility and the Police's visibility in that city centre area. So, you're going to look to discourage and not just react. There is a plan in place, and it will launch on the 14th March that a new Dundee city centre policing team will be launched.
"What we recognise is that probably over the last two years, in particular during the pandemic, we haven't been as visible as we'd like to. So we've worked with stakeholders, we've worked with Dundee City Council and on the 14th March a new policing team will be launched to police the city centre.
"We will be visible, there will be a large Police presence between eight and one o'clock in the morning 365 days a year and it's what the city centre needs."
He added a message for the youth of the city: "We don't want to discourage young people to come into the city centre because it can be a safer environment. However, I would ask them just to behave when they are in the city centre. Think about the impact on the staff and retail workers that their behaviour is having, and also the people that live in that area as well."