Cllr Ferguson had expressed concerns after a 22-year-old woman was robbed at knifepoint in Charleston Drive on Sunday, just a week after a 30-year-old man was stabbed in Tweed Crescent.

Cllr Ross criticised the comments, describing them as “destructive” and “offensive” to the people of Menzieshill.

“Menzieshill is a safe and nice place to live — and every local councillor should be saying that about their area rather than placing residents in a state of fear and alarm just to get their name in the paper,” he said.

Today, Cllr Ferguson refused to respond to the claims, saying his only concern was the safety of residents in his ward.

“There is no way I am getting involved in a slanging match,” he said. “It is my duty as an elected official that when I get complaints or worries from residents about certain issues I look into them and work to get them sorted.

“That is why I am keeping an eye on Menzieshill and why I spoke out to get the problem nipped in the bud. Nobody will stop me looking after the Lochee ward in a vigorous manner.”

Cllr Ferguson added he had now been “reassured” that appropriate action is being taken to address problems in the Menzieshill.

Meanwhile, Councillor Bob Duncan, who also represents the Lochee ward, said he did believe there was a particular problem with crime in Menzieshill.

“Crime is something I am concerned about right across the city, but I don’t think Menzieshill is worse than anywhere else,” he said. “We have had two incidents in the area in the last two weeks and that is two too many, but the police are investigating both and I am confident they are on top of the situation.

“I don’t think Menzieshill has a particular problem — it is no worse than anywhere else.”

Cllr Duncan added that CllrFerguson’s initial comments had been “ill advised”.

“We don’t want people scared in their homes at night,” he said.

Detective Chief Inspector Shaun McKillop, head of CID, says there is “no significant problem” with knife crime in Dundee.