South Ayrshire Community Safety Partnership has launched a new initiative on Ayr Seafront aimed at further increasing the safety of residents and visitors to South Ayrshire.

Strathclyde Police and South Ayrshire’s Antisocial Behaviour Team have recognised that there has been a seasonal trend towards increased general antisocial behaviour in the Esplanade area of Ayr due to its increased use as a recreational area by visitors and residents during the summer months.

In the past instances of street drinking, disorder, violence and drug misuse have been evident, primarily during weekend afternoons and evenings. In addition the Esplanade and Blackburn Drive car park have become a focal point for a large numbers of “cruisers”.

Whilst the majority of these “cruisers” are law abiding, their presence in such numbers can be intimidating to other members of the public and occasionally leads to traffic congestion and antisocial behaviour including street drinking and excessive noise from vehicle sound systems.

Now in a bid to ensure that members of the community, and visitors to Ayr, can safety use the area as a recreational area a new partnership initiative has been launched, and is in operation aimed at deterring and detecting instances of antisocial behaviour, including the inappropriate use of motor vehicles.

Strathclyde Police and the Antisocial Behaviour Team are co-ordinating the initiative and involving the local community.

The police are regularly patrolling the area with additional resources, including plain clothed officers, mounted police and dog patrols, and they are set to seize vehicles which are being driven in an antisocial manner.

Said Councillor Gibson T. Macdonald, Leader of South Ayrshire Council and also the local member for the Council’s Ayr Fort ward: “Generally speaking, Ayr Seafront is a superb area for families to enjoy themselves, particularly on a warm sunny day.

“There have been reports, however, of some anti-social behaviour, particularly in the evenings, and I welcome the action that is being taken.”

Said Councillor Douglas Campbell, Chair of the South Ayrshire Community Safety Partnership: “This is yet another initiative aimed at helping create a safe, healthy and confident South Ayrshire. We are keen to get the message out that antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated, and that the action being taken should help deter this. The Community Safety Partnership is providing publicity and information materials.”

Councillor Hugh Hunter, Convener of South Ayrshire Council’s Community Safety Committee said: “This is another excellent example of partnership working.

“In addition to the steps being taken by Strathclyde Police, the Council’s Environmental Health service is taking positive action including monitoring noise nuisance, and the CCTV cameras are targeting the esplanade at peak times to help in the detection of crime and to provide additional evidence if necessary.”

July 2006