Rennie: Communities rundown under SNP rule

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Willie Rennie has today accused the Scottish Government of allowing communities to be rundown as he revealed that 53% of Scots reported issues such as drug misuse, vandalism and litter were common in their neighbourhood.

Figures published as part of the Scottish Household survey and analysed by Scottish Liberal Democrats reveal show:

• 34% reported that rubbish or litter lying around was a very/fairly common problem in their neighbourhood.
• 31% reported animal nuisance such as noise or dog fouling.
• 13% reported drug misuse or dealing.
• Overall 53% of Scots reported at least one very or fairly common problem in their neighbourhood.

All of these problems were rated as more common in Scotland’s most deprived neighbourhoods, with issues such as Vandalism, graffiti or other deliberate damage to property, and Rowdy behaviour e.g. drunkenness, hooliganism or loutish behaviour reported twice as frequently as in the average neighbourhood.

Mr Rennie said:

“Scotland is a kind and generous country, packed full of people who go out of their way to help their neighbours and those around them.

“However, these figures show the common problems that ordinary Scots are having to deal with every week.

“Some of this behaviour is clearly criminal. Some of it is an annoyance that local authorities should be clamping down on.

“Sadly our communities, our police service and our local authorities have been starved of funding under the SNP.

“The SNP's neglectful approach has seen officers removed from the streets, local police counters closing and padlocked neighbourhoods springing up.

“We need a proper return to community policing to increase the visibility of officers and strengthen the safety of our neighbourhoods. Scottish Liberal Democrats also want to see tougher fines to tackle offences such as fly tipping which blight our beautiful country.”