Fears that antisocial behaviour is becoming "more extreme" in parts of Renfrewshire have been voiced as a fresh five-year strategy for tackling the issue was approved by elected members.
The blueprint, agreed at Renfrewshire Council's communities and housing policy board on Tuesday, sets out a vision and six priorities. It provides a framework for how the local authority, Police Scotland and partners will prevent and reduce the problem, support victims and communities, and respond when it persists or causes significant harm.
Councillor describes 'frightening' incidents
Labour group leader Iain McMillan, who represents Johnstone South and Elderslie, welcomed the work undertaken but spoke of "frightening" incidents in his constituency. He said at the meeting: "I think all councillors have got examples of antisocial behaviour within their areas and certainly in a part of the ward that I am one of the councillors for there was a spate of it recently.
"I thought it had calmed down a wee bit but then I got more information at the weekend which I will be passing on to the local office to deal with.
"These instances that are happening in a particular area are all related to drugs and drug use and it's particularly violent. For people who live in the area, it's really, really, frightening.
"It's really, really bad, some of the stuff that's going on. I just worry that we are getting more extreme cases.
"I remember when I started as a councillor noise was a big thing. Now I'm not saying that doesn't matter, of course it does, but it seems to be getting more and more extreme as more and more people downward spiral, [with] mental health and alcohol issues."
Strategy priorities and concerns over cannabis
Antisocial behaviour can cover neighbour disputes and residential nuisance; noise disturbance; youth-related disorder; vandalism and graffiti; littering, dog fouling and fly-tipping; threatening, abusive or intimidating behaviour; misuse of public spaces; and vehicle-related nuisance and irresponsible parking.
The council's vision is to achieve "safer, stronger and more resilient communities" where people feel secure at home and in neighbourhoods and public spaces. Six strategic priorities include prevention and early intervention; supporting victims and communities; tackling persistent and serious antisocial behaviour; children and young people; housing and neighbourhood antisocial behaviour; and safer places and environmental antisocial behaviour.
Councillor Janis McDonald, a Labour representative for Paisley Northwest, said at the meeting: "From the caseload perspective, I have a lot of people complaining about cannabis and the smell.
"It pervades all of the houses in a block quite often and people are concerned about passive smoking and the impact on their children.
"I think that's something that's going to grow. It feels like it's relatively new, it has been about for a while, but I feel there's more of it."
Call for external evaluation
Councillor McDonald requested officers consider "independent monitoring and evaluation" of the council's work in line with the strategy that runs from 2026 until 2031.
She added: "I think marking our own homework and self-assessment is really good, but at this stage with this issue it would be useful to have some sort of external view."
Gerard Hannah, head of climate, public protection and roads, responded: "I think that sounds like an entirely valid thing to do. It's an area that we cover and something we do in other parts of our business ... I think in terms of timing it's probably just finding an appropriate point in time to have that carried out."
