Raging Restalrig residents claim gang of teenage yobs are terrorising neighbourhood
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RAGING residents claim they have CCTV of a gang of teenage youths terrorising their Capital neighbourhood and are demanding action from police.
The alcohol-fuelled group was reportedly spotted smashing bottles, targeting flat windows and trying to set fire to bins in Restalrig Crescent last Saturday night.
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Hide AdCCTV provided to the Evening News, filmed from a high vantage point at adjoining flats, shows one of the youths throwing an unidentified liquid towards communal bins.
One neighbour told how she heard the same gang were allegedly behind a firearms scare last month at the nearby Scotmid.
"I would like to report anti social behaviour - that even after reporting it to the council and police, nothing has been done about it,” she said in a statement.
“Tonight they tried to set the bins alight and throw things at people’s windows. They also smoke drugs and smash bottles, leaving the place unsafe for all who live in the flats here."
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Hide AdThe neighbour continued: "Every night they come to the car park of the Lochend Community Hub and cause noise and chaos. It’s not safe.
“We have CCTV in these flats, so the police know exactly who they are and do nothing.”
The gang is thought to consist of around six boys, aged from 15 to 19 years old, and have been seen always wearing black hoodies.
Tory councillor for Craigentinny/Duddingston John McLellan said the “complex” problem of antisocial behaviour needed to be tackled by the police, council and parents together.
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Hide Ad“I think the police do their level best to keep communities safe and I have no doubt they will continue to do so,” Cllr McLellan said.
“But I think, while it might be glib to say so, if they’re underage people then parents have to take some responsibility as well, to make sure they’re not out on the streets making mischief.
“Obviously the police do as much as they can to make sure there’s no antisocial behaviour disrupting the lives of law-abiding residents, but it’s a very, very complex problem and parental background is an important part of that.
“I’ve been out on patrol with police and they can take people off the streets, but if they’re determined to cause trouble they can be back on the streets within hours.”
Police Scotland were approached for comment.