Antisocial behaviour prompts Kirkwall Travel Centre early closure trial

Ongoing antisocial behaviour by youths congregating at the Kirkwall Travel Centre has left the Council with “no choice” but to trial an early closure of the facility on Friday afternoons, from 15 March.  

Despite additional police patrols of the town centre as resource allows, youths are continuing to cause issues in the area around the travel centre.  

The Council’s Transportation Service Manager, Laura Cromarty, said: “We are still experiencing ongoing issues at the Kirkwall Travel Centre whereby the building is left in a mess each evening, youths are speaking inappropriately to other users (to the extent that people do not feel safe enough to use the building) and there has been evidence of drug use, which has since been reported to the police for further investigation.  

“We have had to send out a building inspector to examine potential tampering of plugs, which is not only dangerous to the person themselves, but also a potential fire hazard.  

“There is no respect given to others and the cleaners have a terrible mess to clean up at the end of the day. We have found that Friday afternoons are particularly problematic, so as a last resort we are going to trial an early closure of the facility from 12noon each Friday for a period of time.  

“We appreciate this early closure will affect all other users, but feel we have no choice but to take action.”  

Ms Cromarty said there remains working CCTV in the area which is available to the Police if required.  

Chair of the Council’s Development and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor David Dawson, said: “This type of senseless and needless behaviour, with no consideration for others – particularly some of the more vulnerable members of our community who have intimated that this makes them feel unnerved – is quite honestly shameful. I am sure the vast majority of our young people do not behave in this manner and certainly would not wish for their elderly relatives to be subjected to this sort of intimidating behaviour, but a minority are spoiling it for others.  

“We all have a responsibility to ensure our communities are safe for everyone, to look out for one another. To those youths causing fear and alarm, be warned, the police have successfully detected those causing issues at the Travel Centre in the past.”  

Orkney Police Sergeant Simon Hay said: “We have been made aware of antisocial behaviour at the Kirkwall Travel Centre, including a recent report of alleged drug misuse, which is being followed up.  

“In response to this, and as resources allow, we will continue to carry out proactive patrols of the area. Should you see any antisocial behaviour or anything criminal please do report it. Either nip into the station or call us on 101.”  

The early closure will impact the public toilet facility – please find a full list of public toilet amenities here: https://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/S/public-toilets.htm