Warning to youths congregating at Kirkwall Travel Centre of extra Police patrols

Police will be carrying out additional patrols of Kirkwall town centre as antisocial behaviour continues to plague the area around the Kirkwall Travel Centre.

The Council’s Transportation Manager, Laura Cromarty, said: “We have received several reports of nuisance and unacceptable behaviour by small groups of youths who gather in the area. We have raised the matter with Kirkwall Police and we will continue to monitor the CCTV cameras, which have been used successfully in the past to identify perpetrators.”

Chair of the Council’s Development and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Graham Sinclair, 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 prosecuted 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. In response to this, we will be carrying out proactive patrols of the area. I have requested a meeting with the Travel Centre staff to brainstorm some solutions. Should you see any antisocial behaviour or anything criminal please do report it. Either nip into the station or call us on 101.”