One couple and their three grandchildren lost out on a house in Kirkton after the letting agent they were using were contacted by mystery callers on three occasions who uttered threats against the family.

The callers wrongly believed one of the family moving into the property was a paedophile.

Taylor Housing considered the threats so serious they felt they had to block the family’s move in order to protect them.

In a second incident, pregnant Kirkton mum Agnes Symons said she had been living a nightmare for the past week after her home and young children were targeted by a gang of local youths.

She said problems had begun after her son Michael

(18) had got himself involved in an altercation on Saturday night.

This had resulted in a mob of youths appearing outside their home with baseball bats and metal poles.

Miss Symons, who has been living in her house for just six weeks, said she plans to flee her home if there are any more incidents.

Councillor Borthwick said today no-one should live in fear for their safety or have their lives interrupted by baseless claims.

However, he said the incident was not indicative of problems within the wider Kirkton community and insisted the area was now a good place to live.

He said, “If there is clear evidence these families are absolutely blameless then I think it is atrocious.

“Behaviour of the sort where people can be threatened and lose a chance at a stable life is totally unacceptable in any community.

“Come a long way”

“Kirkton has a very good Tackle Crime group.

“All the reports I have received in recent months is that Kirkton is a very stable community.

“Sometimes there are issues to be addressed and that is something we clearly want to nip in the bud because Kirkton has come on a long, long way in recent years.

“The reports of these incidents may give an impression that all is not well but the only effective way we can deal with these things is to deal with them formally and bear down heavily on the perpetrators.

“Kirkton has come on a long way and we want to safeguard that — that depends on police action and community involvement.

“The community must stand behind the authorities in dealing with this as that is the only way to ensure they can live peacefully.”

TOP COP’S PLEA TO RESIDENTS

A senior Dundee police officer today called on members of the Kirkton community to help tackle the “disruptive element” living in their midst (writes Steven Bell).

Chief Inspector Kevin Lynch, of the city’s command team, said he believed it was local young people and adults who were responsible for causing fear and alarm in the estate.

He was speaking after a pregnant mum was targetted by a youth gang, while a family were denied a house in Kirkton because of a case of mistaken identity led to threats being made against them by vigilantes (see story below).

Chief Inspector Lynch said, “Whilst, as with any other residential area in a large town or city, a disruptive element can at times emerge in Kirkton, it is important to stress the overwhelming majority of residents are law-abiding, responsible and community-minded people.

“Tayside Police has a good relationship with people and organisations in the Kirkton area and we all work together in tackling issues as and when they arise.

“Local officers are extremely proactive in engaging with residents in the community and we maintain visible high profiles in the area.

“Our community liaison team are held in high regard and receive consistent praise from locals.

“Indeed, one officer has been successfully nominated for national accolades by the community she serves for the work she has undertaken in Kirkton.

“It is important we recognise that where incidents do occur, it is children or adults living in the community who are responsible for causing the upset, fear and alarm to their neighbours and other residents.

“Their behaviour should not be tolerated and we would call on people to report issues of concern to the police immediately.”

Chief Inspector Lynch appealed in particular to parents to take an active interest in what their children are getting up to.

“Find out where they are going, who they are with and what they are doing.

“Tayside Police is currently involved with local agencies and the Scottish Government in identifying areas that would benefit from funding for projects that would offer alternative opportunities for youngster to spend their free time.

“We hope this will further help to dispel the myth there is nothing for youngsters to do.

“We would also remind people Tayside Police is a part of the local community and much of the work undertaken at a local level is driven by what we are told by residents in relation to incidents they have seen and concerns they have.

“We are an intelligence led-organisation.

“If anyone has information that could help the police to make a difference in their area, or if they see an ongoing incident, they should report it to us straight away so we can take the appropriate action.”