Yobs to get their marching orders

CITY centres have long been no-go areas for most decent people. They have been taken over by the selfish – mainly young – yobs whose idea of fun is to drink themselves into oblivion and then fight with anyone who has the temerity to speak or even look in their direction. They believe they own the streets and happily exercise their “right” to use them as toilets. Anyone who complains is given a mouthful of abuse at best and a severe beating at worst.

Aberdeen is no different from other cities in these respects, and the law-abiding majority have been forced out of the pubs, clubs and restaurants because of the unpleasant atmosphere which pervades at weekends. Grampian Police have announced a nine-week crackdown on antisocial behaviour in the city centre and are threatening fixed-penalty fines of £40 for offenders, with the possibility of a visit to court for the most serious transgressors. They are hoping that their high-visibility approach will make inroads into what has become a major social problem.

This initiative will be welcomed by many people for whom a night on the town is just a distant memory.