Published: Wednesday, 28th July, 2010 11:25am
Youths charged with Alloa Academy damage
by Jamie MacDonald
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FIVE youngsters, aged between 10 and 13-years-old, have been charged with causing £2800 worth of damage at Alloa Academy.
A report has been submitted to the Children's Reporter after the youngsters were traced following the smashing of seven large windows at the new school.
Community Constable Craig Hamilton said, "The only explanation the youth's responsible could provide for the damage they caused was that they were 'bored' and had 'nothing else to do'.
"I therefore urge any children on school holidays to occupy themselves with more traditional past times, instead of turning to vandalism, as ultimately you will be traced and dealt with accordingly."
The double paned 5ft by 5ft tinted windows cost £400 each to replace and were smashed by stones.
In 2009-10 the destruction of external property at Clackmannanshire's schools cost the local authority over £33,000 to repair.
Councillor Sam Ovens, Clackmannanshire Council's Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, said, "This sort of problem may be seen as low-level crime, but it is the sort of anti-social behaviour that brings an area down, so I am pleased to hear that the police have charged youths in connection with these broken windows.
"Our new secondary schools are state-of-the-art buildings which the whole community can be proud of.
"Boredom seems a poor excuse for committing this sort of mindless damage."
He added, "The repair was carried out by Amey, who are investigating the possibility of further security precautions. These costs are not passed back to the Council."
Ten windows have been smashed at Craigbank Primary School in Sauchie.
The damage has been caused during three attacks on the school over the last month.
Community Constable Forbes
Wilson said, "Unfortunately the great facilities at the school and in the playground area are being abused by youths congregating and causing anti-social behaviour.
"Positive lines of enquiry are being investigated and high visibility patrols are being carried out in the school grounds."
Have your say. .
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anon
Unregistered User
Jul 29, 12:35
Comment: 12699
well! what do you expect when you place a school in the worst/deprived part of Alloa, with the highest rate of crime and violence! you only have your self to blame, Council.
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Bill
Unregistered User
Jul 29, 18:27
Comment: 12717
"what do you expect when you place a school in the worst/deprived part of Alloa, with the highest rate of crime and violence! you only have your self to blame, Council"
Craigbank Primary is hardly in the middle of worst/deprived part of the County, so how do you explain that one??? Get Real!!!!
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hazelkaye
Jul 31, 20:40
Comment: 12771
Constable Hamilton!
The trouble is that, for too many youngsters and for many-a long year, the smashing of windows has, unfortunately been a "TRADITIONAL PASTIME"!!
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Kevin
Unregistered User
Aug 1, 12:43
Comment: 12796
they said Alooa not the county lol, YOU live in Craigbank dont u lol
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JayGee
Unregistered User
Aug 3, 09:02
Comment: 12818
"you only have yourselves to blame, council", says Anon.
It's certainly much easier to blame a faceless organisation rather than those who throw the stones, those who fail to supervise them and those in the community who know who they are.
I spent an enjoyable summer some years ago helping provide school-holiday activities for some of Alloa's kids and, while the children were appreciative, the support we got from parents was almost non-existant. It doesn't surprise me that many years on the problems are the same.
There's an old african saying - "it takes a whole village to raise a child". Get up and sort out something for these children instead of blaming the council.
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Weeyin
Unregistered User
Aug 6, 11:35
Comment: 12872
The area of the school is NO EXCUSE for the vandalism done to the school. The same kids would still be at the school no matter where is was situated and a different location would not make a difference to these childrens attitudes. I also ask, where else would you suggest the school could have been built? I have worked on this project since the start and the choice of location was down to size, there was nowhere else which was big enough to hold the facilities that the Council wanted to provide.
Growing up I NEVER vandalised a thing because I was taught not to do these things by my parents. The parents need to start disciplining there children properly and they might not be such vandals.
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