Police to crack down on travel centre loitering

Police are set to carry out additional patrols of Kirkwall town centre, as antisocial behaviour continues to plague the area around the Travel Centre.

This comes after the issue was highlighted by Orkney Islands Council’s (OIC) transport team.

“We have received several reports of nuisance and unacceptable behaviour by small groups of youths who gather in the area,” said OIC’s transportation manager, Laura Cromarty.

“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.”

Councillor Graham Sinclair, chairman of OIC’s development and infrastructure committee, has heavily criticised the antisocial behaviour troubling the travel centre.

 “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,” Councillor Sinclair said.

“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.”

Police Sergeant Simon Hay shared efforts by his team to combat the issue.

“We have been made aware of antisocial behaviour at the Kirkwall Travel Centre,” PS Hay said.

“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.”