West Lothian town sees surge in 'drinking and sex acts in street'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A surge in anti-social behaviour which has seen shopkeepers complaining about street drinking and sex acts in a town centre have sparked a call for more community police patrols.Councillors at this month’s meeting of Bathgate Local Area Committee heard that there were growing concerns around the behaviour and the impact it was having, with fears some businesses may decide to leave the area altogether.Police said they had been engaging with local businesses over the issue, but admitted that resources were “stretched extremely thin” - and suggested council-employed street wardens could be one way if reducing the problems.Councillors have now pledged to write to senior police officers to raise their concerns.Community Sgt Mike Harte told this month’s meeting of Bathgate Local Area Committee that officers acted where they could to control anti-social behaviour and public drinking in and around the Steelyard, but it was a question of stretched resources- with community officers often called into to other policing operations.He also highlighted that the town’s CCTV cameras were not clear enough to provide evidence to identify wrong doing.Chair of the committee Councillor Harry Cartmill told the officer: “I have numerous reports from businesses around the Steelyard about anti-social behaviour in the area.

In fact they even handed a petition into the council. I wonder if you have any update on investigations, and are we using CCTV.”Sgt Harte said: “In respect of the Steelyard itself the community officers have been down engaging with the people who do sit about the Steelyard.”He said officers often moved people on and advised them on the law around public drinking.The sergeant admitted: “We are aware of reports of increased