A meeting aimed at stopping youth disorder in Motherwell town centre has been held.
Various partners met at a quickly arranged meeting with the town centre Manager Geraldine El Masrour chairing the event.
There were also 15 retailers from the local shops as well as headteachers from three high schools in the town.
Local councillor Agnes Magowan was also in attendance along with a representative from MSP Clare Adamson’s office.
Councillor Magowan said: “The meeting was very positive and after reports from all the partners and discussion an action plan was formed.
“Some of the ideas included more police on duty; police sending parental letters home and taking children home; giving residents or retailers the police email as an alternative to 101; the police going into schools to talk to the young people; offering work experience on a Friday afternoon and making town centre security more visible.
“These strategies will be tried and another meeting arranged in two months to ascertain progress.
“I hope the strategies will make a difference and the population of Motherwell can enjoy the town centre again for the socialising and shopping.”
Councillor Magowan, who represents the Motherwell South East and Ravenscraig ward, had previously spoke of her “disgust” having been contacted by shop bosses over the problem.
The SNP councillor told how she had received an email from town centre management with “very worrying and concerning information”.
The email stated that thousands of pounds worth of damage had been caused by youths smashing shop doors and windows.
Theft, throwing glass bottles from a height, graffiti, verbal abuse to staff and customers, covering staff and customers with flour, eggs and milkshakes and pulling down electrical cables are some of the activities the perpetrators are alleged to have taken part in.
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