Police say youths from as far away as Tayside are taking advantage of free bus travel to visit Aberdeen and cause mayhem in the city centre.
Top brass revealed the ongoing challenge during an emergency summit addressing the decline of Union Street.
It came after several attendees blamed a perceived rise in rowdy youths as one of the main reasons for plummeting footfall figures.
Local area commander for the city centre, David Paterson, suggested the “sterile state” of the struggling Granite Mile now made the “presence of anti-social behaviour more prominent than in a bustling environment”.
‘Some things are conspiring against us…’
The senior officer added: “Certain parts of the east end of Union Street are quite a fertile area for street drinkers or youths from all areas.
“These are from the city, Aberdeenshire and indeed Tayside – due to free bus travel.
“There are some things conspiring against us a little bit, in terms of public safety.”
But as many of the culprits are younger than 16, Chief Inspector Paterson admitted the police “can’t enforce our way out of this”.
He added: “The criminal justice route is not really the option.”
How to deal with Union Street anti-social behaviour?
Ch Insp Paterson told the summit that “diversion activity” was one way to deal with youths hellbent on havoc, alongside “traditional policing” methods such as having more bobbies on the beat.
It came after former police boss – and chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired – Adrian Watson highlighted local concerns about the safety of the street.
He said: “One current issue, coming out the slumber of Covid, is a concern about guardianship in the city centre. It is that sense of safety.
“It is a key, hygiene factor for any town or city… Feeling safe, or the perception of feeling safe.
“I can only imagine how difficult it has been through Covid for the public authorities responsible for this.”
Stagecoach boss says free bus travel also brings benefits to Aberdeen
Commercial director for Stagecoach Danny Laird also attended the high-stakes gathering at Market Street’s Douglas Hotel.
He was quick to point out the positives of this year’s Scottish Government scheme granting free bus travel to people aged between five and 21.
He said: “There’s a positive spin on that as well.
“It’s a massive opportunity to enable our young people to spend time and money in our city centre.
“There’s a fantastic opportunity that needs to be focussed on…
They may not be renting offices but they are spending time in hospitality and retail venues.”
Union Street not the only spot plagued by misbehaving youths since scheme was rolled out
It’s not the first time the under-22s scheme has been linked to trouble-making youths.
In July, residents said it led to a mass brawl on Broughty Ferry beach, and in August the initiative was blamed for disorder in Glasgow city centre.
When the Press and Journal spent a day speaking to locals on Union Street on Friday, several people said they were dissuaded from visiting due to intimidating behaviour.
Aberdeen Street Pastors echoed those concerns during the summit.
Group director Adrian Rowett said: “People do feel less safe than they used to.
“Compared to the pre-Covid days, there’s not so much comfort.
“People are staying away as a result of that.”
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What next to solve Union Street anti-social behaviour?
Mr Watson resolved to get various bodies involved in talks on the tricky issue.
He said: “This is no one organisation’s fault but we need to get round the table.
“We will deal with day-to-day symptoms in quicker time, get a bit more proactive… That will give that sense of safety.”
The Aberdeen Inspired chief offered to revisit the idea of city centre safety partnerships to “get things under control”.
Conversation