Dunfermline: Police advise owners to improve site security

Police Scotland confirmed that a 12-year-old boy and two teenagers, aged 13 and 15, were arrested after damage was caused to the vacant property off Laburnum Road.

The hotel closed in December 2020 and there have been concerns from local residents and councillors about the derelict site being a magnet for youngsters.

The former King Malcolm Hotel in Dunfermline has become rundown and a magnet for trouble. (Image: Newsquest)

Sergeant Ross Crawford said: "Officers have been carrying out enquiries following a number of reports of anti-social behaviour and damage being caused to property at the site of the former King Malcolm Hotel recently.

"Three male youths aged 12, 13 and 15 have been identified and charged in relation to the incidents and are the subject of a joint report to the Youth Offender Management Group.

"Our local crime reduction officer has met with the manager of the premises to carry out a survey of the area and made several recommendations to improve the security of the site.

"Anti-social behaviour and damaging property will not be tolerated and I would urge anyone who witnesses incidents of this nature in the area to contact police by calling 101."

The hotel has become an eyesore since it closed almost three years ago. (Image: Newsquest)

Peel Hotels, the former owners of the 48-bedroom hotel, effectively wrote the King Malcolm off as worthless in August 2018 and after a performance that had been "problematic for some years" they closed it for good two years later.

Councillor James Calder, who represents the Dunfermline South ward, was concerned enough to raise the matter at a full council meeting in October 2021 and said "we now have a big issue with the hotel being boarded up and becoming an eyesore" at one of the main entrances to the city.

The hotel is now owned by a property investment company with a registered office in London.

Ahead of the arrests this week a frustrated Cllr Calder had told the Press: "I did speak to the owners recently and pressed upon them that local residents are concerned as there have been instances of anti-social behaviour at the building.

Police have advised the owners to improve site security. (Image: Newsquest)

"The police have been dealing with the trouble and I believe the owners are keen to find a solution for the site.

"In the meantime this is an obvious concern for me as I represent the ward it's in and I'm keen to encourage them to find a way to make sure the King Malcolm Hotel site is no longer a derelict site."

"It's just not pleasant for those living nearby.

"I don't think anyone wants to live next to a derelict building where anti-social behaviour is taking place, albeit I know the police have been very pro-active in trying to tackle those issues and looking into the security of the site too."

Concerns have also been raised that the building could be set on fire and the Lib Dem councillor said: "Frankly I think Dunfermline has had too many fires recently.

"We've had a couple of major incidents (there have been fires at Khushi's restaurant in April and at empty offices at Walmer Drive in July) and we don't want to see any more."

Changing rooms. This is what the hotel used to look like. (Image: Newsquest)

Fife Council's safer communities manager, Patricia Spacey, confirmed the council are aware of local concerns.

She added: "We are liaising with police colleagues and will look at stepping up patrols in the local area."