By Alan Richardson

A PAIR of websites berating police in Blairgowrie have been branded “cyber bullying”, with locals demanding they be pulled from the internet.

The sites, apparently set up by local youths on the Bebo network, contain filth-filled statements about the local force and even name individual officers in a poll asking which is most hated.

Some members of the site—where people can set up personal pages in a bid to connect with like-minded users across the world—have gone as far as to include their photographs with abusive messages about the police.

Despite much of the content appearing to be contrary to Bebo’s own guidelines, the local person who flagged up the issue to The Courier said he had been in touch with the site’s administrators to no avail.

He said, “I have contacted Bebo.com reporting a violation of their terms and conditions on two occasions so far, both times I have been met with either no response or a curt reply informing me they see no problem. I have also forwarded these details to Tayside Police themselves.”

Tayside Police have complained but have also had no joy.

The man, who has links to the police and asked not to be named, continued, “Both these websites potentially defame Tayside Police and its officers.

“Both are run encouraging members of this site to post offensive and derogatory comments about their experiences with Tayside Police and their Blairgowrie-based officers, often mentioning officers by name in an offensive fashion.

“I have family working in Tayside Police and have no desire to see their names thrown up on these sites in some juvenile but offensive and demeaning circumstances.

“There is a lot being said about teachers being subject to the same offensive treatment online. I think it’s pretty poor that the people trying to keep the streets safe are also subjected to the same treatment.”

One site, which had been viewed 1870 times by yesterday, started with the “text language” message, “If U H8 (hate) the Blair Polis add yourself now!

“Only add yourself if U really H8 dem n if U do like them, dinnae bother even leevin a comment.”

There follows a litany of juvenile complaints and comments. The other site is much the same and includes teenagers ranting about how the police would rather chase them for “frowin a egg” or “runnig through gardens” (sic) than try and catch rapists and murderers.

Another Blairgowrie local stated, “It’s just kids I suppose but it takes a bit of a sinister twist when you see their utter lack of respect for the authorities.

“It looks as if they revel in petty criminal activity and it is these people who can make life a misery for law-abiding folk.

“I’ve got a Bebo site myself and it’s good fun meeting other people through it but this is just an abuse of the site and most folk would want to see it removed.”

A spokesman for Tayside Police said, “We have been in touch with the director of communications at Bebo to register a complaint about the content of these pages and we are waiting for their response.”

The Courier attempted to contact Bebo as well but got no reply.