JACK WILDE was killed just 11 months after 24-year-old Craig Archer was stabbed to death at the Glamis Centre in Glenrothes, by a group of men he had never met.

Three men were later convicted of murdering Mr Archer and sentenced to life imprisonment.

In both cases, the attackers had been drinking heavily beforehand and were unknown to their victims.

Two such deaths within a year shocked locals and provoked fears that violence had become more commonplace, despite the release of police figures showing violent crime has actually fallen by almost a fifth in the town.

Jack’s sister Leeanne said the Glenwood Centre close to where her brother was attacked was a known trouble hot-spot and that many people were too frightened to venture there at night.

“There are always large groups of youths hanging about up there and even before Jack was killed, people were scared,” she said.

“There have been stabbings up there and boys getting battered for no reason and I know many pensioners who will not go near the Glenwood shopping centre because of these youths.”

Glenrothes Chief Inspector Andy Edmonston said he could fully understand the distress felt by Jack Wilde’s family and extended his sympathies to them yesterday.

“One of our most important jobs as a force is to analyse reported crime to ensure we are targeting our resources when and where they are most needed,” he said.

“The latest performance figures actually show that since April 2007, there has been a 19% reduction in violent crimes in the Glenrothes area with a detection rate slightly over 70%.”

Fife Constabulary say they are committed to working with partners and the community to tackle and reduce instances of anti-social behaviour in the area.

They have acknowledged the design of some of the shopping centres in Glenrothes is not ideal and are continuing to work with the relevant agencies to improve their layout and appearance.

“All the centres are now covered by CCTV which is monitored round the clock by the police,” Mr Edmonston added.

“The Glenwood area is also patrolled by community wardens who work closely with the police and community to resolve crime and other community safety problems.”

Central Fife MSP Tricia Marwick accepted police figures showed violence was decreasing, but said, “There is a perception that certain areas are not safe and that has to be addressed.

“It is the responsibility of all of us—the police, politicians and the community—because these areas belong to us.”

Mrs Marwick visited the area, including the Glenwood Centre, with justice secretary Kenny McAskill and local police last week and saw the CCTV cameras.

However, she was concerned also to see several local off-licences advertising the sale of cheap alcohol. She has now pledged to raise that issue with the Fife licensing board.

“I want to see a tightening up of off-sales because, apart from anything else, they attract people who are wanting cheap booze and that sends out the wrong message,” the MSP said.

“It’s something I pointed out to Kenny McAskill and we are both concerned, not just in Glenrothes but elsewhere, that we are hearing of licensees who are selling cheap booze and are promoting themselves as purveyors of cheap alcohol.

“That’s not a message we want to send out and could ultimately make certain areas feel less safe.”