A police crackdown on teenage anti-social behaviour across West Lothian has seen seven people charged with more than 60 offences.
Police highlighted the arrests as part of a round up of recent work by officers, which also highlighted proactive work in areas including Livingston Town Centre to tackling the problem.
However, the report was branded as “sanitised” by a senior councillor, who criticised the lack of localised detail in the reports given to the council’s Local Area Committees.
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Councillor Tom Conn has criticised Police Scotland in the past for not delivering ward specific reports on issues relying on a county wide overview.
Linlithgow Community Constable Fiona Bell delivered the police report to the town’s Local Area Committee on Wednesday.
After hearing details about a surge in anti-social behaviour in the western end of the county Councillor Conn told the meeting: “ I hesitate to say again Chair, but I think this paper is sanitised. There is nothing that is talking about Linlithgow. We talk about West Calder and other places but where is the information about what is happening in Linlithgow and the ward.
“I have nothing to put a question to because the report suggests it is taking place elsewhere in West Lothian and I don’t think that's part of our scrutiny as a local area committee.”
Chairing the meeting, Councillor Sally Pattle asked the committee lead officer, depute chief executive Graeme Struthers to comment.
He said: “There has been a meeting recently with the divisional commander and the local commander regarding the points Councillor Conn has raised, and others have raised in other committees.
“Police Scotland are aware of the concerns that we have about generic reports. The council has expressed its desire to see more granular information coming forward.
“The council is also in discussion with Police Scotland about an analyst resource to help provide that information and hopefully going forward we’ll see reports coming forward that have more local informed reports.”
Councillor Pattle welcomed links to incident details contained at the end of the police report. “This is the first time that we have had the final paragraph that has information and links on how we drill down into the figures.”
The report itself highlighted: “Issues of Anti-Social behaviour and youth disorder in and and round McArthur Glen Designer Outlet have been a well-publicised issue during Quarter 3 [October to December] and Quarter 4 [January to March].
“Management and Security have been working alongside Police, West Lothian Council, Education and young people services to help tackle these issues. These include additional local police patrols and reinstating youth workers.
“Senior officers have attended several meetings with management, with a statement released into the local media.”
Constable Bell added: “Moving forward, the situation will continue to be monitored. Community officers and youth workers will continue to engage with young people in order to prevent disorder.
“Community officers have been patrolling the area and supporting/giving advice to local residents who have been suffering ASB. This has particularly included the centre of Linlithgow.”
The report added: “Community officers, in partnership with SFRS, attended at numerous West Lothian secondary schools to engage with young people in relation to an increase of fire raising incidents.
"Several youths were identified as being responsible and intervention is currently ongoing with them and their families. Following on from this, community officers conducted an extensive investigation into anti-social behaviour in the west of West Lothian.
"After a prolonged inquiry, seven local youths were charged with 62 charges in relation to theft of council property, assaults of retail staff, vandalism to police vehicles, attacks on firefighters and wilful fire-raising.
“Inquiries are ongoing into similar crimes in other areas of West Lothian. Our School Campus officers continued to engage and educate pupils in relation to anti-social behaviour, off road bikes, online safety, hate crimes, fire safety and personal safety.”
Councillor Pattle said: “I think there has been a huge escalation in reports in the last three to four months and it has become noticeable around the centre of Linlithgow and other areas. Can you expand on what has been done?.”
Constable Bell explained that work had been done with other agencies including the youth Action Project. Patrols were increased where resources allowed.
Councillor Pattle said many people reported incidents to her but did not tell the police. “I have started saying to people that they do have to report it to the police. See it, say it.”
Constable Bell told the meeting that people could actually report incidents through a form on the internet if they did not want to call in person.
Councillor Conn said: “Sometimes I think folk are their own worst enemies by complaining but not reporting it to the police.”
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