Community council hits out after weekend of anti-social behaviour around Glasgow's Hampden Park

Mount Florida residents have told of their horror at witnessing men urinating in their streets and gardens, as thousands of football fans flocked to the area over the weekend. 

Now Judith Pollock, chair of Mount Florida Community Council, has called for action from the police to ensure it doesn't happen again.

She said: “Residents of Mount Florida recognise that there will be some disruption to normal life when events are held at Hampden Park.

“However, this does not extend to the levels of anti-social behaviour seen this weekend with grown men behaving with utter disrespect and contempt to our community. 

“I expect Police Scotland to have sufficient officers available at future games to ensure that the law is upheld and action is taken against those who break it.”

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The community council also hit out at Glasgow City Council’s management of the parking situation claiming there was a lack of enforcement from traffic wardens.

“At the recent games, there did not appear to be traffic wardens enforcing the regulations with numerous residents reporting that they were unable to park,” added Ms Pollock.

She said the issues were brought up at a recent area partnership meeting, with both the council and Police Scotland promising stronger enforcement.

“It appears that neither of these bodies did anything to address the issue,” she added.  

Several men were pictured urinating in private gardens following last weekend's football matches

The Glasgow City Council website reports an "event day parking zone" is in place to prevent spectators parking within residential areas close to Hampden Stadium.

A city council spokesperson said: “Parking attendants were working to enforce the Hampden Event Day Parking Zone for both matches at the stadium over the past weekend.

“Our staff issued a total of 230 parking tickets to vehicles breaching the rules of the parking zone and removed 13 vehicles causing particularly serious obstructions.

“If members of the community council or other residents have information on where particular parking issues occurred over the weekend, we are happy to look at that information and at future events seek to target our enforcement effort accordingly.”

Residents in the Mount Florida and King's Park areas around the stadium complained of anti-social behaviour.

They claim streets were used as "public urinals" and littering was an issue. Sectarian chanting could also be heard while many locals faced parking problems.

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Resident Claire Johnston told Glasgow Times: “We came home from taking our dog to the park at around three o’clock on Sunday and there were eleven men peeing across from our house and round the corner. 

“We couldn’t park at our house as there was football parking, even though it’s not allowed during events.

“From then on it was a constant stream of men urinating in the street. 

“I would have intervened, but when I’ve said anything in the past I’ve received abuse. 

“I did bang my window at a ‘fan’ who was going to pee in my garden, in response I got rudely gesticulated at.

“There was a lot of sectarian chanting too. 

“Also Hampden is meant to clear up the rubbish, but it’s not thorough and there’s always broken glass, empty alcohol bottles, food and other debris. 

“Monday was no exception, this means that I can’t walk my dog locally. 

“I feel angry, upset and impotent as there is nothing that I can do to stop it. It’s also very intimidating.

“Residents should not have to experience this, someone in the area even got spat on and threatened for challenging their behaviour.”

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Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “We see a big amount of public urination often at closes doors and in people’s gardens.

“Sometimes football fans will even try to gain entry to the closes and people park in the streets despite there being permit requirements.

“We also have a huge amount of rubbish left lying around, empty bottles from groups gathering drinking. 

“It’s not always just the football, gigs are as bad but this weekend was poor in general from lack of any parking enforcement or police patrol.”

It comes as MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, James Dornan, had his office sign vandalised over the weekend in Cathcart Road. 

The MSP said a member of his staff found the sign ripped down from the building on Cathcart Road, following the Rangers v Hibernian match on Sunday night. 

READ MORE: Glasgow MSP had office sign ‘ripped off and urinated on’ after Hampden match

He said: “My office sign was ripped down from the church fence and urinated on.

“Anti-social behaviour in the areas surrounding Hampden at big games is not a new thing.

“A member of my family used to have to chase fans from his close and garden when he stayed there. 

“However I have had a number of people contact me saying it seemed particularly bad on Sunday.  

“The police have an extremely difficult job at these events but if they can’t arrest people at the time, for public order reasons or whatever, then surely they could have people filming the crowds as they approach, or leave the area and then ask the public for help identifying them. 

“This may feel like a low-level offence but I can assure you that for the people who have to live through it it is anything but."

Inspector Crawford Inglis said: "We are aware of local residents concerns about anti-social behaviour around Hampden Park on match days. 

"No one should tolerate this and it is always taken seriously as we are acutely aware of the upset that this form of behaviour can have within a community.  

“We have high visibility patrols operating in the area on match days and anyone with any concerns should contact Police Scotland on 101.”