Liz Smith, Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland & Fife and Cllr Heather Stewart, Scottish Conservative Councillor for Perth City North Wardhave backed calls by local parents for action following the concerning development that hypodermic needles had been found dumped outside North Muirton Primary School.
Liz Smith, Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland & Fife said:
“It is totally unacceptable that hypodermic needles have been found outside North Muirton Primary School.
“Local parents are rightly shocked and disgusted and want to see urgent action taken to find those responsible and stop this from ever happening again. Many parents have reported that they have been forced to tell their young children about the dangers of touching needles. A situation which has clearly distressed many young children.
“I have contacted Police Scotland to ask that this case is thoroughly investigated and I believe it is also now important that the distribution of needles to drug users in Perth is reviewed. In many cases needle exchanges prevent needles from ever ending up on the streets and that is something which clearly needs to be investigated urgently.
Cllr Heather Stewart, Scottish Conservative Councillor for Perth City North Ward said:
“I am extremely concerned at the reports that hypodermic needles have been found just yards from North Muirton Primary School.
“I have raised this with Environmental Services within the Council and asked for a thorough search of the area around the school to make sure no other needles have been dumped in the area.
“Local residents have been expressing concern for some time that drug abuse is a growing problem in the area and steps must be taken by Police Scotland and NHS Tayside to stop needles ending up on the streets. Local people will not accept this and the time has come for those who are using drugs to understand the consequences their habit is having on other families and the local community.”