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MSP urging curfews after ordeal | MSP urging curfews after ordeal |
(40 minutes later) | |
Politician Helen Eadie has called for a curfew on teenage troublemakers after she was trapped in her car by a gang of youngsters. | Politician Helen Eadie has called for a curfew on teenage troublemakers after she was trapped in her car by a gang of youngsters. |
The Labour MSP for Dunfermline East said her vehicle was surrounded by a mob in Cowdenbeath who started rocking the car and throwing missiles at it. | The Labour MSP for Dunfermline East said her vehicle was surrounded by a mob in Cowdenbeath who started rocking the car and throwing missiles at it. |
She said she would favour a curfew for young people under the age of 15 to keep them off the streets at night. | She said she would favour a curfew for young people under the age of 15 to keep them off the streets at night. |
The incident happened in Chancellor Gordon Brown's constituency. | The incident happened in Chancellor Gordon Brown's constituency. |
The Holyrood backbencher said she was confronted with the type of anti-social behaviour that her constituents had raised concerns about. | |
She told BBC Scotland's Newsdrive programme: "It was frightening for me, but the reason I was there was to respond to the concerns of my constituents. | |
I had to get one family taken home in an unmarked police car on Friday night - that's how bad it is Helen Eadie MSP | |
"My constituents have been living under siege. They've been under curfew imposed on them by these young people." | |
Ms Eadie said a group of about 100 young people had been throwing missiles at residents, climbing on roofs and vandalising cars. | |
"I had to get one family taken home in an unmarked police car on Friday night - that's how bad it is," she said. | |
The MSP said she wanted to see dispersal orders enforced and if this was unsuccessful she would call for a curfew clampdown. | |
"We need parents to accept their responsibilities as well in this - they should know where their youngsters are," she added. | |
"They cannot be allowed to terrorise people." | |
Force meeting | |
Fife Constabulary's Ch Supt Jim Rodden also called for parents to take more responsibility for the "sizeable minority" of youths "bent on making trouble". | |
"It takes more than officers from Fife Constabulary to tackle the problems of youth disorder in Cowdenbeath and other parts of Fife," he said. | |
"I would remind parents to ask themselves - do I know where my child is and who he or she is with." | |
The force is to hold a meeting with community leaders and other agencies in Cowdenbeath to discuss a long-term solution to youth disorder in the town. | |
Ch Supt Jim Rodden said solutions might include more effective diversionary activities or greater use of anti-social behaviour legislation including dispersal orders. |