Vandals have targeted a village school in a string of attacks, damaging a children’s playhouse and spraying the grounds with graffiti.
CCTV cameras have been installed at Dunbarney Primary in Bridge of Earn and council chiefs are warning the playground could be blocked to locals if the antisocial behaviour doesn’t stop.
Chief Inspector Ian Scott, area commander for Perth and Kinross, said the force was stepping up police patrols in the area.
He also urged parents to ensure their children were not drawn into the “flagrant abuse” of community facilities.
“Since the middle of August, there has been an increase in youths causing annoyance and incidents of vandalism at Dunbarney Primary School,” he said.
“The vandalism has included graffiti and damage to playground furniture.
“In the past the school grounds have kindly been left open to allow the local community to use it but if the vandalism and inappropriate use of the grounds continue then this facility will no longer be available.”
A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council said the local authority was taking the matter “extremely seriously.”
“In a bid to end the recent spate of meaningless acts of vandalism, the council has installed CCTV in the school playground and Police Scotland are increasing patrols in the area due to the incidents in the primary’s grounds, which will continue to be left open for community use.”
Scottish Conservative Councillor Kathleen Baird, one of the representatives for the Almond and Earn ward, said she was “shocked” when she saw the vandalism – and the effect on youngsters.
“I recently visited the school and saw the damage to the playground furniture and the playhouse boarded up. The deputy head teacher also showed me evidence of graffiti,” she said.
“I met with the nursery staff and the children who are upset that their play area has been vandalised in this way.”
She continued: “Bridge of Earn is a lovely village but sadly a few people can destroy what is a lovely space in the school grounds.
“The school holidays are now here and I hope this will be an end to the vandalism in the playground.”
