Summit hears powerful stories of impact of crime and drugs in Kirkcaldy’s Links

A “crucial” roundtable convened last week heard of the human cost of the real challenges facing the area.

It was set up after an approach from Linktown Community Action Group to the town’s MP, Melanie Ward, for help with incidents of serious organised criminal activity, particularly linked to drug abuse, drug deaths and violence.

They sat with high-level representatives which included Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill MP, and Maree Todd MSP, Minister for Drugs & Alcohol Policy and Sport, plus Fife Council, Fife Police leadership and third sector organisations.

At the Philp Hall, members of the community group shared harrowing examples of incidents, which left attendees visibly moved. These included one mother who has lost three of her four children to drugs, as well as child abuse and organised violence that is going unreported to the police. The roundtable discussed the range of issues facing residents, including drug use, drug dealing, housing services, social care, organised crime, and mental health issues.

Attendees committed to a number of actions to support change in the community - and that has given locals a glimmer of hope.

Shane Halstead, chair of Linktown Community Action Group, said: “I’ve had many meetings about our community over the past 30 years, but it is clear that what has been happening is not working. I’m feeling very positive after this meeting - we now have some agreed actions from different community organisations to take away.”

Parts of the Links are among the most deprived in the country, with much higher rates of crime, mental ill health and drug and alcohol hospitalisations than other parts of Scotland and the Kingdom.

Commitments included new support services for the area, as well as increased community policing time. Ms Ward also pledged to convene a follow-up meeting a few months’ time to hold attendees to account. The Labour politician said: “The stories of suffering and hardship in the Links were shocking to many attendees. Our communities deserve better than this - especially our children. I pay tribute to Lizzy, Shane, May, and all of the volunteers at Linktown Community Action Group; the community badly needs proper support and better services. The Ministers and organisational leaders who were here have the power to deliver these, and I will be pushing to make sure that they do.

“Organised crime and drug addiction have been allowed to prosper in the Links, while it is clear that its main victims are the children who grow up in a vicious cycle of violence, drugs and crime.” Kirsty McNeil MP, said: “It was unbelievably moving and very powerful to hear from the community about what they have been dealing with alone. It’s inspiring to hear from community leaders and community activists who are holding things together with their hands. I’ve already undertaken that I will be back for a future meeting, and I will be staying in touch with Melanie.”

Support also came from Councillor Kathleen Leslie whose Burntisland, Kinghorn and Western Kirkcaldy ward covers the Links, and who has worked closely with the community group.

She said: "Many of the difficult stories that were covered at the meeting are ones I have heard Shane speak of previously. I think it is fair to say there has been a bit of a despondent feeling of 'nothing ever changes' for a long time now. There are so many good people in the area and in my time as a councillor I have often become frustrated that issues with housing and allocations and concerns about crime do not ever seem to change. Now is the time for some actual action.

"I am hopeful that with the input that has now come from the UK Government, and specifically our MP - which is a complete change from what has often seemed like empty words by others in the past - that the many concerns around alcohol and substance abuse and dealing, mental health issues and organised crime will be properly listened to and addressed."