A Dundee councillor says she is “very concerned” about the rise in anti-social behaviour after a series of city centre street signs were destroyed.
Police are investigating after a number of advertising boards were vandalised in recent days, including one on Union Street and another on Greenmarket.
It comes after six children were charged in connection with the huge blaze that destroyed the former Robertson’s furniture shop in Dundee.
A number of young people have also been arrested in connection with riots witnessed in the Kirkton area of the city on Halloween.
Councillor Georgia Cruickshank, who represents the Maryfield ward, told The Courier she believes Covid-19 is to blame for the recent examples of youth disorder.
‘We’ve got a lost generation of young people’
She said: “There has been an upsurge in anti-social behaviour since the end of Covid-19.
“We’ve got a lost generation of young people who have fallen through the net and we really need to engage with them and find out what’s going on.
“When I say slipped through the net some of them were of school leaving age [when the pandemic hit] and possibly didn’t go back to school after Covid-19 restrictions were lifted.
“So we need to be doing all we can engage with these people so we can understand and help to prevent some of the antisocial behaviour from happening.”
The Labour councillor added: “Obviously we do have some youth work programmes but not every young person wants to be involved with statutory services.
“We need to be going to their level – we need to be innovative and creative.
“It will only get worse without intervention.”
Her views are echoed by Councillor Charlie Malone, who represents the Lochee area of the city.
He said: “We have seen a rise in acts of petty vandalism and more graffiti.
“We have seen more people hanging around in the streets in the evening.
“I think what we need to remember through the lens of the Covid is that we essentially have a generation of people who were isolated for two years.
“That’s not an excuse but we need to take that on board.”
He added: “Young people are having a hard time right now and we need to look at ways to better engage them in society.
“It’s quite obvious [the people who commit these crimes] have got too much time on their hands and nothing to do.
“Community groups and community activities would help.”
Police inquiries ongoing
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Officers received a number of reports of street advertising boards being vandalised in Dundee City Centre in recent weeks.
“Inquiries are ongoing into the incidents.”
A spokesperson for Dundee City Council said: “We are aware of the damage and are looking into it.”
Conversation