CALLS have been made for a city-wide taskforce to be created aimed at reducing anti-social behaviour after new figures reveal police are being alerted to more than 800 incidents at Aberdeen’s Union Square shopping centre each year.
Scottish Conservative candidate for Aberdeen South, John Wheeler, and North East MSP Douglas Lumsden, said the area is becoming a “haven for anti-social behaviour” after visiting the shopping centre where they saw people being escorted out of the building by security.
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It comes as new statistics, obtained by the Scottish Conservatives from Police Scotland, show the true extent of the issues being faced at Union Square.
So far this year up until June 5, officers have been notified of 300 incidents but have only been able to attend 126. These include theft, public nuisance, concern for a person and hate crimes.
Last year, police were alerted to 835 incidents at the shopping centre and surrounding area, attending 367 of these. Thefts resulted in 210 of the calls while 90 were related to public nuisance, 72 were disturbances and 57 were assaults.
In 2022, there were 814 incidents reported to police relating to the shopping centre, including 159 public nuisance issues.
Scottish Conservative candidate for Aberdeen South, John Wheeler, said: “These figures are appalling and highlight that Union Square is becoming a haven for anti-social behaviour.
“Pressure on police resources is making it even harder to control the high levels of shocking incidents that are occurring on a daily basis.
“Anti-social behaviour is sometimes referred to as ‘low-level crime’, but its impact on places such as Union Square can be extensive and deter people from using the shopping centre which is devastating.
“This is why a city-wide taskforce aimed at supporting young people with the help of the Scottish Government is needed to reduce problems such as public nuisance, drug use and vandalism within our city centre.”
In the Scottish Parliament last year, Mr Lumsden referenced a case of a shopping trolley being thrown off the shopping centre’s multi-story car park nearly striking a woman below.
An anonymous worker also said teens are gathering to drink, take drugs and have underage sex in the frequently vandalised disabled toilets near the bus station.
Scottish Conservative North East MSP Douglas Lumsden added: “The ongoing issue of anti-social behaviour in Union Square is despicable and must be clamped down on.
“The shopping centre should be praised for acting swiftly in bringing in additional security but it’s equally important that more support is brought in to help them so these issues can be addressed for the safety of staff and the wider public.
“It’s vital that Scottish Government cuts to police budgets are reversed and that SNP ministers, with the help of the council, focus on activities for people to draw them away from this kind of unacceptable behaviour.
“In parliament, I will continue to push for more police resources so they can stamp out this rise in anti-social behaviour.”
