Residents of an Inverness suburb have claimed a lack of police visibility in the area is giving vandals and fly-tippers carte blanche.
Thugs are running amok in Smithton and Culloden and causing a catalogue of incidents of rowdiness and graffiti.
Locals acknowledge that inadequate parenting is largely to blame for the “moronic activity” of the vandalism and graffiti – but also believe the recent closure of a local police station and perceived reduction in beat patrols have allowed things to deteriorate.
The force firmly denied that local patrols had diminished.
Smithton and Culloden Community Council leader David McGrath and his colleagues have regularly discussed the problems at their routine meetings and raised the issues with the force.
Speaking yesterday, he said: “It’s Scottish police policy to be seen to be policing communities.
“Although they’re shutting down all the community police stations they still like to pretend that they’re making a serious effort to make neighbourhoods secure.
“The main police effort at weekends is protecting shop windows in the town centre. They don’t care what damage the drunks do when they get back to their area of residence in the middle of the night.”
Mr McGrath, who has served on the community council for more than a decade, claimed antisocial behaviour was predominantly an issue during school holidays but extended beyond that.
He said vandalism in Culloden Avenue was “sacrilege” because quality wood carvings at the location depicting characters including children’s book character the Gruffalo had attracted new visitors to the area.
In the past month, graffiti has been sprayed across a multitude of fixtures and buildings including a trail along Culloden Avenue.
Other community councillors have documented recent cases of fly-tipping in the area, submitting photographic evidence to Highland Council in the hope of having mattresses and other dumped items uplifted from various spots.
Council officials have subsequently acted on such complaints.
Community leaders believe part of an escalating problem of fly-tipping is a result of homeless people in temporary accommodation moving on and dumping goods because they cannot afford to hire a vehicle to transport those possessions.
A spokeswoman for the police said: “The Culloden area is served by community beat officers who regularly spend time in local schools engaging with young people in order to reduce youth disorder and offending.
“Officers are aware of recent incidents of vandalism and will continue to liaise with schools, local residents and elected members to deter such behaviour which has a negative impact on the entire community.”
She added: “Anyone with information or concerns relating to antisocial behaviour should contact community beats officers via 101.”
Where vandals have struck
2016: In recent weeks large wheelie bins have been up-ended in several streets, scattering litter across a wide area and endangering motorists.
A similar issue had previously resulted in bins being anchored in place to avert a repeat of bins being kicked over.
Extreme launguage has been used in recent graffiti attacks on wood carvings and even the sides of houses.
A bin next to the bench on The Avenue was set ablaze and is now a lump of melted plastic.
Numerous vehicles have reportedly been abandoned in several streets in Smithton.
A mattress was among bulky items dumped near the Culloden House Hotel.
2015: Youths reportedly hurled rocks from a railway bridge on Tower Road.
2014: A slug gun was reportedly fired at passing vehicles on Tower Road although there were no reports of injuries or damage.
2011: Vandals attacked newly installed woodland carvings in Culloden Avenue, overturned a large carved picnic table and scrawled graffiti on it. The table was carved with an image of storybook character the Gruffalo, a feature of £15,000 installation.
