Police in Renfrew to crack down on yobs after spate of vandalism in park

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Cops are stepping up patrols in a Renfrew park to crack down on yobs following spate of “reckless” vandalism.A number of community police officers will now be carrying out additional patrols in Robertson Park in a bid to prevent louts causing damage.The move comes following an increase in anti-social behaviour in the area throughout 2020 and 2021, particularly during the Covid-19 lockdowns.Police have been forced to deal with a number of fires in the park, vandalism and gangs of youths causing disruption.Don't miss the latest headlines from around Renfrewshire.

Sign up to our newsletters here. At 7.30pm on Thursday, officers received a report about a group of teens setting fire to a bin in the park, with the youngsters fleeing the scene when police arrived.Firefighters attended to extinguish the bin blaze, which was put out before any significant damage was caused.Another fire in the park caused thousands of pounds of damage in March last year, after yobs torched the bin on fire right next to the wooden castle in Robertson Park play area.The blaze badly damaged the unique structure - part of a £1 million upgrade to the park in 2017 - which has had to be fenced off to youngsters.Police in Renfrew have slammed the behaviour as “reckless” and said those caught participating in anti-social behaviour would be shown “no leniency”.Inspector Damian Kane, of Renfrewshire’s Community Policing team, said: “Local officers are continuing to carry out uniform and plain clothes patrols in Robertson Park due to ongoing reports of anti-social behaviour.“Though some view that the setting of bin fires by youths is a minor matter, it often