An allegation that drunken children urinated on a war memorial as a gang of youths caused havoc in a Fife town has prompted widespread disgust.
The youngsters laughed as one of the boys urinated on a wreath and another on the wall of Dunfermline war memorial, according to local resident David Scott.
David, 37, followed a group of around a dozen kids he said were “blind drunk” after seeing one of them, believed to be only 13 years old, jump on the roof of his car.
He said they left a “path of destruction”, throwing and smashing bottles and pulling plants up, on their way to the bus station where they joined a group of up to 60 youths.
Former soldier David described “pandemonium” at the bus station, with children drinking, fighting and frightening passers-by shortly after 6pm on Friday.
The dockyard production manager said: “What I saw at the war memorial and in the town centre was absolutely disgusting.
“People in the bus station, even the security staff, must have been terrified.
“This group must have been making its way through the town for some time and they’ve obviously been on the drink since they finished school, as it was only 6.10pm and they were absolutely hammered.”
Sickened by what he saw, David, of Skibo Court, has embarked on a mission to raise awareness of the extent of the problem in Dunfermline town centre.
He has contacted politicians, including Scotland’s education secretary John Swinney, and local secondary schools.
David said: “This is a serious problem. Someone will get hurt and the town centre’s reputation is going down the toilet.”
Police Scotland has launched Operation Caber and deployed extra officers to tackle antisocial behaviour, particularly around the bus station and Tesco.
Large groups of youngsters are using social media to coordinate alcohol and drug-fuelled gatherings.
Drugs have been seized and a mother charged with buying drink for her 15-year-old daughter after she was witnessed by security staff handing it over in the street.
Before this weekend officers had taken names of around 150 youths in the town centre and sent letters to and visited parents.
They are also working with the four local high schools to warn youngsters of the dangers of carrying knives.
Dunfermline Central councillor Neale Hanvey was said it was “deeply distressing” to hear of the war memorial desecration.
He said: “That is absolutely disgraceful. Do they not understand the significance of that for many, many people?”
He said significant effort was already being made by police, supported by local councillors, but issued a message to parents that it was crucial they take responsibility for their children’s behaviour.
He said: “Parents need to know where their children are and what they are up to.
“I know it’s not always possible to monitor their social media use, but if their child is young enough parents need to do that.
“There is a hard core of this group that is orchestrating and directing activity using social media.
“They are not using words, which can be traced, but they are posting pictures of where they are going to meet.
“We have to get on top of this. It has become a real problem.
“When parents are prepared to buy spirits for their children, goodness knows what they are thinking.”
No one from Police Scotland was available at the weekend to speak to The Courier.
