(Eastwood) (Con):
At a recent meeting with the Asian community in my Eastwood
constituency, Police Scotland confirmed that there has been a
sustained series of forensically aware, gang-related, targeted
attacks on Asian households in, I understand, Eastwood and East
Dunbartonshire. The attacks are taking place between 12 pm and 6
pm, fortunately but not exclusively when properties have not been
occupied.
My constituents make no complaint about the actions of
Police Scotland or the efforts that it is making, but Police
Scotland has made the point that there is a reluctance on the
part of the public to come forward, as they believe that the
information that they may have will be regarded as either
trivial or circumstantial. Will the First Minister join me in
assuring people that they are not wasting police time and that,
if we are going to tackle this particular, very pernicious
attack on the Asian community, it requires all members of the
public to give whatever information they have to the police
immediately so that they can act on it?
The First Minister (Nicola Sturgeon): Yes. As
is aware, I represent a very
large Asian population in my constituency, and I am well aware of
the issue and these attacks, which are targeted on the Asian
community. They are absolutely unacceptable and should be
completely condemned by all of us. I personally know people who
have been targeted in that way in recent weeks. It is a serious
issue and one that, on a constituency basis, I will be raising
again with Police Scotland, although it works very hard to
support the community.
is right to say that
anybody within the community who has concerns should come
forward and share those concerns. The information that they
give will never be treated as trivial, because it is not
trivial. The attacks are pernicious and must be tackled. I know
that Police Scotland is determined to do all that it can to
tackle them, and all of us should give all the support that we
possibly can to a very valued and valuable part of our
community as they face attacks on them that are completely
unacceptable.
