The bank holiday weekend saw a joint initiative from Police Scotland and British Transport Police in response to “unacceptable levels of youth disorder” in Balloch and on the area’s train network recently.

Inspector Roddy MacNeill, of Dumbarton’s community police, claimed there was “good joint working with BTP to stamp out any disorder”.

Officers patrolled in uniform and plain clothes, with some even on mountain bikes to tackle any issues.

Friday night saw a large number of youths within the busy Balloch Park, with some under the influence of alcohol. However, cops say there were “no real issues,” with around 40 litres of alcohol seized by early police intervention. A minor Section 38 disorder is said to have occurred on a train at Renton Station, with two males to be reported by BTP.

BTP were also on train station duty on Saturday, with “no issues” reported, and again on Sunday from 5pm onwards.

In all, the weekend saw a handful of persons reported for minor drugs offences and street drinking, with one man arrested for a minor disorder offence.

The crackdown came after an incident on Saturday, May 19, when cops say reports of persons engaged in disruptive behaviour were received relating to Balloch Park, Balloch Railway Station and on the trains. Police Scotland assisted BTP to arrest a number of individuals.

CCTV has now been recovered from various locations.

Inspector MacNeill reached out to parents, asking them to “be aware of their child’s whereabouts,” and to ensure they do not become involved in situations that could result in police action.

Meanwhile, British Transport Police is appealing for witnesses to an incident in which a teenage girl was allegedly subjected to racist and sexual comments on board a train at Balloch Station.

The incident is said to have happened between 8.50pm and 9.20pm on May 13.

A young boy – who was amongst a group of four other boys aged between 14 and 17 – is said to have shouted a racially inappropriate and sexually explicit comment to the girl.

The boy is said to have left the train at Balloch Station after the driver refused to move the train on until he did so.

At Dumbarton Sheriff Court recently three thugs – one of whom threatened to rape a train passenger – were locked up for years over a vicious incident on board a train.

Brian Moorehead, 24, Darren Murray, 18, and Liam Reilly, 20, pleaded guilty earlier this year to the December 21, 2015.

Sentencing, Sheriff Simon Pender said: “Members of the public are entitled to feel safe when they undertake such journeys, and the message must go out that conduct such as yours will be met with severe and deterrent sentences.”