Police to crack down on anti-social behaviour in West Fife

Police said they're carrying out more patrols to try and crack down on anti-social behaviour in the village.

Their November crime report for the West Fife and Coastal Villages also said a man was arrested and charged with carrying an offensive weapon in Oakley while there have been two homes broken into in Saline.

One of the main issues is still the anti-social use of off-road bikes and quad bikes and police said they've received "numerous" calls.

The report went on: "Oakley specifically continues to be highlighted as a hotspot along with Low Valleyfield and the nearby ash lagoons.

"Police constables (Martin) Cooper and (Leroy) Wishart as well as Police Sergeant (Barry) Stewart have conducted further high visibility patrols in the area and will continue to do so.

"This includes attendance in response to calls made to the police as well as proactive patrols at various times of the day.

"Additional patrols are being carried out in the area and we would encourage anyone who has details regarding anyone riding off-road bikes and quad bikes inappropriately to pass these on to ourselves."

Police have been carrying out extra patrols to try and crack down on problems caused by off-road bikers and dirt bikers in West Fife. (Image: Newsquest) READ MORE: 'Chap Door Run' can affect the mental health of residents on receiving end, say police

Locals previously told the Press that they've been plagued by problems with off-road bikes and dirt bikes since May 2023, with those responsible even creating a race track off the cycle path between Dunfermline and Alloa.

They complained of "horrendous" noise pollution and raised concerns that someone will get hurt.

And in May of this year a 72-year-old man was spat at, kicked and hit with a stick by three teenagers riding on off-road bike at the cycle path at Oakley.

In September a 24-year-old man on an off-road bike was charged with road traffic offences after being stopped in the village.

There have also been problems in Kelty and in the summer a Fife councillor said she "could have been killed" after being attacked by an off-road biker in woods near Cardenden.

The crime report for the West Fife and Coastal Villages area said there were 300 calls to the police from local residents between October 23 and November 22.

This resulted in 64 reported crimes, 57 road traffic incidents, 72 'concern for a person' reports and 57 calls in relation to anti-social behaviour.

Crimes included a man who was arrested and charged with being in possession of an offensive weapon in Oakley, as well as acting in a threatening and abusive manner, and two housebreakings in Saline.

The police report said: "As the nights have drawn in, we would encourage members of the public to check security measures at their property, including motion security lights and any CCTV cameras are positioned correctly and are functional."

The patch includes Limekilns, Crombie, Torryburn, Newmills, Culross, High Valleyfield, Cairneyhill, Oakley, Comrie, Blairhall, Steelend, Saline and Kincardine.

There was also a focus on roads in the area with 25 separate charges in November, including seven speeding offences as well as drink driving, failing to stop after an accident and driving without a valid licence.