Anti-social crime drive success

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Anti-social behaviour complaints in a Clackmannanshire trouble hot-spot have been cut by more than half following tough action in the area, police said.

They claimed a dispersal order enforced in the village of Sauchie had seen a vast improvement in residents' lives.

The area had been plagued by teenage gangs involved in vandalism, fighting and drinking.

Central Scotland Police said there were no plans to seek an extension of the order after it expired, on Sunday.

The force said since the start of operations in the village on 18 September, six people were arrested and a total of 27 people dispersed from the area.

Police warning

Clackmannanshire area commander, Supt Gavin Buist, said the three-month dispersal order was introduced to give law-abiding residents some respite from the problems.

He added: "The feedback we have received from the public has been very positive.

"Even some of those who were causing problems in the first place have been engaged with and their attitude appears to have changed."

Central Scotland Police said the proportion of anti-social behaviour calls had fallen by almost 60%.

Calls from the village's Main St fell by about the same, while there was a 70% fall in the Craigbank area.

Police warned that a downturn would see the dispersal area re-established.