An Aberdeenshire councillor has condemned the behaviour of vandals who target schools after it was revealed that £67,000 of damage was done across the region last year.
Several educational premises in Peterhead and Fraserburgh were blighted by criminal damage, and thousands of pounds of electrical equipment was stolen from St Andrews Primary School in Fraserburgh.
Peterhead Academy was defaced with graffiti and 10 windows were smashed at Anna Ritchie Special School in the north east town.
In a separate incident, Westfield Special School in Fraserburgh was the target of a break-in.
A total of £66,782 of damage was done to Aberdeenshire Council’s schools during the 2014-15 reporting year.
Last night, Charles Buchan, vice-chairman of the local authority’s education committee, condemned the actions of those responsible for the incidents.
He said: “The people who have to pay for it are taxpayers and the money could be much better spent on positive activities – improving education, sports and leisure facilities.”
The Fraserburgh councillor said he found it “difficult” to understand why people targeted schools, but added they were difficult to protect.
He said: “You can make schools into fortresses, but our aim is to make best use of the facilities, and that means opening them to the public. So you can’t guard them 24/7.”
An Aberdeenshire school has already fallen victim to further vandalism in 2016.
On New Year’s Day, more than 30 firefighters spent five hours battling a blaze which ripped through Kinellar Primary School in Blackburn.
A 16-year-old boy was charged in connection with the fire.
The figures for the 2014-2015 reporting period were released as a result of a Freedom of Information request from the Scottish Conservatives.
Speaking about vandalism across the country – which cost the taxpayer more than £1million last year – chief whip John Lamont said: “Vandalism of any kind is completely unacceptable. But to inflict schools with this type of behaviour is even worse.
“These are supposed to be places of learning for future generations, but instead too many criminals see them as fair game for hooliganism.”