POLICE have launched a campaign to deter youth-related antisocial behaviour over the summer, something that has posed problems in Lochgelly especially.

Over the coming weeks, Fife Division will be launching five separate initiatives aimed at tackling a range of issues that tend to affect local communities during the coming months.

The focus of these campaigns will be drug misuse, road safety, violence reduction, acquisitive crime and antisocial behaviour, which started (today Thursday June 29) with the launch of Operation Prevail.

Typically, the end of school term results in a rise in crimes such as noise complaints, disorder and other forms of antisocial behaviour and local officers have been working closely with partners to deter these offences.

As part of Operation Prevail, Community Officers have provided inputs to pupils at schools throughout Fife to urge young people to behave responsibly and not put themselves at risk of harm, or to get involved in criminal activity.

Dedicated resources will be deployed throughout towns and villages to carry out engagement and enforcement activities aimed at preventing antisocial behaviour and associate crime over the coming months.

Furthermore, police will look to address antisocial and underage drinking, which is seen as a problem which comes up regularly in the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area, and checks of licensed premises will be carried out to ensure no one under the age of 18 is purchasing alcohol, or having it bought for them.

Chief Superintendent Colin Gall, Divisional Commander for Fife, said: "Our intention with these five upcoming campaigns is to dedicate resources and target specific areas of concern for local communities during the summer months.

"Each initiative has been tailored specifically following continued engagement with the public and our relevant partners and my officers will be providing a visible presence over the coming weeks and months.

"Local Area Commanders, will each have responsibility for one of these portfolios, starting with Chief Inspector Irene Ralston, who will oversee Operation Prevail which will operate in West Fife.

"All of this activity is part of our ongoing commitment to keeping the Kingdom safe and I would like to thank all of those involved in the planning and implementation of these very worthwhile operations."

Chief Inspector Ralston, said “We are committed to keeping Fife a safe place to live, work and visit and throughout the year have been working with our partners to tackle antisocial behaviour in all our towns and villages.

"We recognise that reports of these offences tend to rise at the end of school term and during the school holidays, and so working alongside our relevant partners, we have a number of initiatives running to prevent these offences occurring.

"Let's be clear, the vast majority of Fife's young people are a credit to themselves, and only a small minority of individuals are responsible for the youth-related problems we see over the summer.

"This cannot be tolerated and while we will endeavour to ensure all of the facilities and events are open to everyone, anyone found to be spoiling the fun for everyone else, will be appropriately dealt with."