A summer of anti-social behaviour among teenagers in a West Lothian village saw buses attacked and almost 40 deliberate fires.
The incidents of youth disorder in Fauldhouse raised considerable alarm - work by local community groups has been praised for helping to stop the problem.
Working with teens in the village has seen a big drop in fire call-outs and youth disorder after a weekly drop-in centre was established, along with Tuesday night snooker organised by the local Community Development Trust at Fauldhouse Hub in the Main Street.
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And councillors across the political divide united to thank council officers, fire crews and local police for working with the community to help things calm down.
It’s good news following a summer which saw 38 deliberate fires around the village in the second quarter of the year between July and September as well as other incidents of youth disorder, including buses being attacked.
In the previous year's second quarter there were only 15 deliberate fires in the ward.
Colin Harvey, the local liaison officer for the SFRS said: “We did see an increase in the ward and the majority of those fires were in the Fauldhouse area.
“There has been a lot of work gone on in that area to try and reduce that, and that work goes on.”
The fire officer said the SFRS had attended many groups and would continue to engage with the community. He added: “There’s been a lot of positive work, and the recent input from local community groups has had a very positive effect. We have noticed a drastic reduction in the number of calls we have had to attend.”
Police liaison officer Heidi Simpson agreed. “The police have been doing work with the fire service and community groups as well, and things seemed to have calmed down.”
Provost Cathy Muldoon told the meeting: “In the last few months we have been working very closely with partners in the Fauldhouse area to address the youth disorder and things have been moving forward in the work that’s being set up with the local community groups.”
Provost Muldoon later told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that a meeting organised by the community council had been called following vandalism incidents where buses had been attacked. The community council meeting invited local youth workers, the bus company and other local groups to look at problems with anti-social behaviour.
Out of that meeting a new youth club has been set up in the village with regular Friday drop-in sessions at the Eastfield Centre. SFRS officers will be visiting in the next few weeks to meet up with local teenagers again.
Other activities are also being planned by Dave Huddleston, from the Community Development Trust, including a fishing club.
Provost Muldoon said: “I’m absolutely delighted. It’s excellent to see everyone working together for the youth of the village.”
Councillor Pauline Clark thanked the fire service for the report and said: “It’s really good news to hear that you are seeing reduction due to community engagement. I know a lot of constituents have been really grateful for input from the fire service and police so thanks for that."
Chairing the meeting, Labour councillor Craig Meek said: “Just to reiterate, it's great to see that reduction and it's good to see the multi-agency work, and the community working together to solve issues.”
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