By Claire Warrender

YOUNGSTERS FROM across Fife caused havoc in Kirkcaldy town centre at the weekend after making arrangements via a website.

Over 100 teenagers aged between 12 and 18 congregated at the memorial gardens on Friday night, prompting a number of calls to the police from the public.

They arrived by bus and train from as far afield as Inverkeithing, Dalgety Bay and Kelty, and one group even hired a minibus to travel through—despite there being no organised event to go to.

Police have expressed extreme concern at the incident and have pledged to have a strong presence in the area this weekend to prevent a repeat.

Officers have called on parents to make sure they know where their children are, what they are doing and what websites they are using.

Chief Inspector Gary Crawford said a couple of youths were charged after a member of the public was assaulted at Kirkcaldy bus station, adding there had been several other incidents of vandalism, drunkenness and general disorder.

Around 20 teenagers had their names taken and warning letters will be sent to their parents.

“Our concern is that this could turn into something much more serious in the future,” said Chief Inspector Crawford.

“We need parents to work with us and support what we are doing and we have sent letters to some parents to let them know their children were involved with this group.

“They seem to be using internet websites to make arrangements to meet. Some of these websites seem to be very poorly controlled and after viewing them we feel they are not suitable for young children.”

The officer added that when police had attended, the large group dispersed into smaller bunches, many of whom ran off.

“They were getting split up from their friends and we were concerned for their safety,” he said.

He made it clear that most of the children involved were local, decent people, but said, “It can be intimidating because they’re causing a disturbance and there’s damage being done.

“The gardens seem to have become a gathering point and it’s not suitable because they’re drinking and leaving rubbish behind.

“It’s on the main route into the town, next to the Adam Smith Theatre and the railway station, and it’s a memorial garden which should be respected.”

The incident resulted in “significant police resources” being diverted away from other areas and that will happen again this weekend.

“There will be a strong police presence out this weekend and we will be taking stronger action,” warned Chief Inspector Crawford.

“We will be taking a really firm line with anything that happens because this isn’t the behaviour we want in Kirkcaldy.

“We don’t want this to become an area that people from outside Kirkcaldy are drawn to and we need to nip it in the bud.”

In a planned crackdown in Glenrothes last weekend, police using dogs, horses, CCTV and high visibility uniforms took the names of 11 teenagers who will have letters sent to their homes and five youths under the age of 16 were found to be under the influence of alcohol.