Readers have had their say on anti-social behaviour in Dundee city centre.
The Courier previously revealed that more than 4,000 incidents of anti-social behaviour have been reported to police since 2022.
The data, obtained through a freedom of information request, revealed that Reform Street is the biggest anti-social behaviour hotspot in the city centre.
We asked our readers if enough is being done to combat the problem.
Several locals came forward with suggestions on how to address anti-social behaviour.
Locals offer suggestions to address anti-social behaviour in Dundee
JLJ was one of several users who had their say in our comments section.
They said Dundee “is quite unique in structure” and therefore there needs to be a unique approach to dealing with anti-social behaviour.
Increased police patrols in problem areas, and a call to stop closing community centres, libraries and clubs were among the ideas they offered.
Meanwhile, user Parking said: “The council need to be proactively cleaning the streets, removing graffiti and chewing gum and then encouraging businesses to do the same to privately owned premises.
“There’s no sense of respect for the city centre anymore, and those who can influence it should.”
While Stewart B suggested “controversially” that pedestrianisation of the city centre was the “beginning of the end”.
Call for more patrols in Dundee city centre
“Dundee is not alone in this regard, look at Union Street in Aberdeen. What was once a thriving thoroughfare looks more like a ghost town,” he added.
“The Past Times articles really show us what we are missing.”
User Jerry48 admitted he “rarely agrees” with Stuart B, but thought his take on the pedestrianisation of the city centre is “very true”.
Others suggested that more police in the city centre would help deter anti-social behaviour, while others blamed free bus passes for under-22s.
‘Young people have no understanding of consequences’
Comments also flooded in on the Evening Telegraph Facebook page.
Linda Mill suggested consequences for young people’s behaviour.
She wrote: “Prevention is most definitely better than a cure.
“However, young people have no understanding of consequences as a result of their behaviour at times, and this is possibly due to development or lack of education and/or maturity.
“But there isn’t any punishment or deterrent.
“In fact, they have a level of power superseding parents and authority and truly believe they can do what they want.”
Roselynn Smart added: “Prevention is better than cure.
“Educating young people in schools about how things escalate in crimes, the consequences that come with crimes, like domestic abuse, knife crimes, and the real danger of drugs.”
Police ‘targeting problem areas’ in Dundee
Chief Inspector Rachael Burns, Local Area Commander with Police Scotland, said the force “remains committed to reducing anti-social behaviour in the area.”
CI Burns says there is a team of officers dedicated to the city centre operating seven days a week.
“We also liaise regularly with partners, including Dundee City Council community wardens, to target problem areas,” she added.
“I would encourage anyone who has knowledge of those involved in these incidents to report it to your local community policing team or anonymously through Crimestoppers.”
Conversation