Treffie
02-09-2009, 02:08 PM
A CHILD aged just three was identified by police as being responsible for an act of vandalism in Dundee, it emerged last night.
The young tearaway’s actions were revealed following an investigation by The Courier into the trail of vandalism and malicious damage across the city perpetrated largely by young people.
During 2008 the bill for damage to property in Dundee totalled £688,963.11—with less than a quarter of the incidents resulting in detection.
A police spokesman said, “The age of the youngest person detected in connection with an incident of vandalism/malicious damage was three. The incident took place in May 2008 within the Fintry area.”
The largest total value of damage from one incident during 2008 was put at £10,000 at premises in the city centre area during November.
A police beat in the Douglas housing estate was identified as the city’s vandalism hotspot, with 142 incidents—20 of them detected—resulting in damage totalling £39,762.
Councillor George Regan, whose east end ward includes the Douglas estate, said he was “surprised” by the figures and would be looking into them.
“I will certainly be looking very closely at the matter and speaking to the community planning partnership and others to see what action can be taken,” he said.
“I have to say it’s not something as an elected member I have had specific complaints about and walking around the area I don’t think it’s terribly bad. It’s better now than it has been in previous years.”
The councillor acknowledged that such crimes were often committed by bored teenagers but added that he did not believe the estate provided fewer facilities for them than other areas.
“There’s the neighbourhood centre and also a BMX park, and on top of that there’s plenty of open ground where young people can go and play football.”
The Ryehill area in the west end was the scene of the most cases of vandalism and malicious mischief, with 47 of 169 solved. The clean-up bill on that beat was put at £37,822.32.
The Police spokesman said, “Hotspots for vandalism are identified by our crime managers and analysts and discussed on a daily and fortnightly basis at tactical and co-ordination group meetings where resources are allocated accordingly to tackle the problem.
“In comparing the period April-December 2007 and April-December 2008 the reported number of vandalisms in Dundee have dropped by 13%.”
Following a Freedom of Information request the force revealed that a number of prolific offenders had been caught during the year.
Eight individuals were identified as being responsible for more than 10 acts of destruction each—with one of them behind some 17 crimes.
It also emerged that the detection rate had dropped slightly, from 25.6% in 2007 to 24.5% in the last year.
The spokesman added, “A correlation has been establish- ed between young people drinking, anti-social behaviour and vandalism.
“This prompted Tayside Police, through funding provid-ed by the Dundee Community Safety Partnership, to commence Operation Dry Up. This has been running since Decem- ber 2007 and is still continuing.
“This operation has been publicised in the media and considerable quantities of alcohol have been seized from young people. The areas targeted have extended across the city and so no specific locations can be detailed.
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2009/02/09/newsstory12613893t0.asp
The young tearaway’s actions were revealed following an investigation by The Courier into the trail of vandalism and malicious damage across the city perpetrated largely by young people.
During 2008 the bill for damage to property in Dundee totalled £688,963.11—with less than a quarter of the incidents resulting in detection.
A police spokesman said, “The age of the youngest person detected in connection with an incident of vandalism/malicious damage was three. The incident took place in May 2008 within the Fintry area.”
The largest total value of damage from one incident during 2008 was put at £10,000 at premises in the city centre area during November.
A police beat in the Douglas housing estate was identified as the city’s vandalism hotspot, with 142 incidents—20 of them detected—resulting in damage totalling £39,762.
Councillor George Regan, whose east end ward includes the Douglas estate, said he was “surprised” by the figures and would be looking into them.
“I will certainly be looking very closely at the matter and speaking to the community planning partnership and others to see what action can be taken,” he said.
“I have to say it’s not something as an elected member I have had specific complaints about and walking around the area I don’t think it’s terribly bad. It’s better now than it has been in previous years.”
The councillor acknowledged that such crimes were often committed by bored teenagers but added that he did not believe the estate provided fewer facilities for them than other areas.
“There’s the neighbourhood centre and also a BMX park, and on top of that there’s plenty of open ground where young people can go and play football.”
The Ryehill area in the west end was the scene of the most cases of vandalism and malicious mischief, with 47 of 169 solved. The clean-up bill on that beat was put at £37,822.32.
The Police spokesman said, “Hotspots for vandalism are identified by our crime managers and analysts and discussed on a daily and fortnightly basis at tactical and co-ordination group meetings where resources are allocated accordingly to tackle the problem.
“In comparing the period April-December 2007 and April-December 2008 the reported number of vandalisms in Dundee have dropped by 13%.”
Following a Freedom of Information request the force revealed that a number of prolific offenders had been caught during the year.
Eight individuals were identified as being responsible for more than 10 acts of destruction each—with one of them behind some 17 crimes.
It also emerged that the detection rate had dropped slightly, from 25.6% in 2007 to 24.5% in the last year.
The spokesman added, “A correlation has been establish- ed between young people drinking, anti-social behaviour and vandalism.
“This prompted Tayside Police, through funding provid-ed by the Dundee Community Safety Partnership, to commence Operation Dry Up. This has been running since Decem- ber 2007 and is still continuing.
“This operation has been publicised in the media and considerable quantities of alcohol have been seized from young people. The areas targeted have extended across the city and so no specific locations can be detailed.
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2009/02/09/newsstory12613893t0.asp