Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

Street ban plan for teen gangs terrorising Aberdeen city centre

Post Thumbnail

Troublesome youngsters could be banned from being in Aberdeen city centre for a day at a time – or face arrest.

Police want the power to send youths away from Union Street, the main shopping centres and the surrounding area for 24 hours.

A public consultation on the dispersal zone has now been launched, which has been prompted by growing problems with antisocial behaviour in the city centre.


>> Keep up to date with the latest news with The P&J newsletter


Officers have identified a “core few” who are “intent on causing harm”, and say the situation is made all the more challenging because the group ranges in age between 12-20.

Groups of youngsters are coming from as far away as Peterhead, Ellon, Banchory and Inverurie to congregate in the city.

Last month, a brawl broke out involving 30 youths in the city centre.

Just days later, three young people – including a 15-year-old boy – were charged in connection with an attempted murder on Union Terrace, which was witnessed by singer Eddi Reader who was playing at the Music Hall that evening.

Under the dispersal order – which would be in place for three months – officers would be able to order groups of two or more to leave the area between 12pm and midnight.

Children caught back there would be reported to the youth justice management unit, but adults could face a £2,500 fine or a three month custodial sentence.

Inspector Vicky Stables said: “This is to break the cycle of offending.

“This is for those intent on causing harm – those are going about in an intimidating manner.

“Those who come to the city centre legitimately and behave in a perfectly normal manner will not be targeted.

“Just because you’re in a group of five or six does not mean you will be asked to leave.”

Such drastic measures have only been used twice in Aberdeen before – to tackle antisocial driving at the Beach Boulevard in 2005 and youth offending in Torry in 2011.

It would give police the power to order groups of young people behaving antisocially to leave the area unless they live there, and not return for 24 hours.

Police would try to divert youngsters to other activities and partners – such as social workers or the Streetsport youth sport sessions across Aberdeen.

The proposed area to be zoned off is much larger this time – but officers say otherwise they would risk simply “moving the problem along” to another city centre spot outside of it.

Insp Stables added: “It is quite a significant area – we’re conscious of that.

“We’ve taken in all the hotspots because we were aware groups could just move on to the likes of the Castlegate or Marischal Square otherwise.

“It was effective in Torry – used in line with other interventions.”

Former Aberdeen police chief Adrian Watson, who brought in those previous dispersal orders, said: “Some might see this as draconian – it’s not.

“It will be proportionate and balanced, and it will address the issue.

“Why should the majority suffer?

“But this problem isn’t police property – there are folk better placed than the criminal justice system to deal with some of these people.”

Now chief executive of business organisation Aberdeen Inspired, Mr Watson said he supported the proposal. Police said other businesses have also been broadly supportive.

Police are empowered to impose the dispersal zone – if they can show the public backs the idea through consultation.

Views can be submitted until 12pm on May 17, either by calling 101 or e-mailing AberdeenCityCentreCPT@scotland.pnn.police.uk