WEST END CRIME MEETING PROMISES IMPROVEMENT

A crime meeting attended by more than 100 residents from Paisley’s West End has resulted in a series of pledges from Strathclyde Police, Renfrewshire Council, ASIST and local MSP Wendy Alexander that more will be done to tackle the issues and improve the area for local residents. 

The meeting, organised by the local MSP was held in the West End on Wednesday evening and attended by representatives from Strathclyde Police, Renfrewshire Council and the council’s ASIST team as well as local residents.

Fed-up residents were given the opportunity to raise a number of concerns about the state of the area and the misery they were living in as a result of crime and antisocial behaviour. The issues raised include:

• Blatant drug dealing in various flats throughout the West End
• Irresponsible and antisocial council tenants causing misery to decent neighbours – issue with council’s allocation policy
• Rogue private landlords renting flats to undesirable tenants
• Private factors ripping off residents and failing to do their job
• CCTV cameras not working, and lack of CCTV coverage at hotspots
• Public toilets in Broomlands Street closed but this area has become attractive to gangs of youths
• Traffic issues on Woodside Crescent – residents lobbied for it to be made one-way
• Door entry systems being vandalised and failure to keep up with repairs

After lengthily discussions, residents managed to secure a series of pledges from the representatives. 

Wendy Alexander MSP promised to argue for more CCTV in the area and make sure what was there was working. She also promised to explore the options to improve the traffic in the area, particularly making Woodside Crescent one-way. In addressing the issue of tenant disputes about repairs – Wendy informed the meeting of her support for a bill in Parliament about better factoring which would address the issue of tenants refusing to cough up their share of repairs.

Strathclyde Police promised to investigate all reports of criminal activity in the area. They also assured residents that their community policing team would continue the increased visibility and presence in the area as well as continue the proactive efforts to disrupt those causing misery in the area through increased stop and search and other means. 

The police appealed to local residents to report every single incidence of crime, antisocial behaviour or violence in the area as they can as they cannot effectively tackle the problem if residents don’t make them aware of the true scale of the problem.

ASIST promised to ensure the area was cleared up, antisocial tenants were targeted and that rogue private landlords in the area would be investigated. Working with the council they will also ensure that cleanup of the area was prioritised, particularly where drug paraphernalia was involved. Close repairs, specifically door entry systems – would also be investigated.

Renfrewshire Council’s allocations officer also promised to feedback the concerns raised by residents that the council’s allocation policy was resulting in older residents being mixed with young first-time tenants who are proving to be noisy and disruptive.

Speaking following the meeting, Wendy Alexander MSP said:

“It was very clear from the meeting that residents are fed-up with the levels of crime, antisocial behaviour and disruption being caused by undesirable tenants in the area.

“The hard-working people of the West End are getting a raw deal but I am confident that by working together, the residents, Council and police can tackle the problems. I want to send a clear message to the people causing this misery that their behaviour will not be tolerated.

“I am particularly pleased that residents were able secure a series of pledges from all representatives present at the meeting. I have promised to address a number of issues – as have Strathclyde Police, ASIST and Renfrewshire Council.

“Tackling the problems in the West End will be a challenge but if we can make a coordinated effort to disrupt and tackle the antisocial behaviour I am confident we will improve the situation for residents.”