CONCERNS have been raised over a sharp increase in anti-social behaviour in East Renfrewshire.

Figures show there were 3,640 incidents in the local area during 2017/18 – a rise of more than 20 per cent.

This works out at about 10 incidents each day, prompting the Scottish Conservatives to call for action.

Shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr said: “Anti-social behaviour has an extremely negative impact on our communities and can severely affect people’s quality of life, especially the elderly and vulnerable.

“These rising levels of anti-social behaviour clearly indicate the SNP’s soft touch approach to crime is failing communities.

“It is no coincidence that, under the SNP, police numbers are falling, police morale is at an all-time low and police officers are increasingly filling in paperwork rather than patrolling our streets.

“There must be no question of abandoning victims of anti-social behaviour or implicitly signalling to the perpetrators they will be tolerated.

“The SNP must ensure we have enough officers on our streets to detect and deter anyone undertaking anti-social behaviour and reassure the public they will be protected.”