I’ll admit, I wasn’t an angel growing up.

I was one of those teenagers who loitered in bus stops (remember when they had walls not just roofs?) and tried to find a hidden spot to share a bottle of something I wasn’t old enough to drink with some pals.

There was even, on very rare occasions, a fight. I wasn’t involved in those, other than pulling out friends who looked like they needed rescuing.

I even remember, when I was a bit older, providing a swift getaway in my clapped-out Renault Clio to a few people who found themselves outnumbered in Perth on Bonfire Night.

Mostly I just stood at the side and watched as people settled their differences with a good old-fashioned square go.

But what was never a part of those scraps was weapons, especially blades. When did they become part of life for teenagers in Tayside and Fife?

Young people planning meet-ups and bringing weapons

Last month, police officers had to step up patrols in Dundee and Perth because reportedly groups of youths were arranging to meet for clashes on Good Friday.

I saw some of the posts and messages, and they were terrifying. It’s one thing to meet up to settle differences; it’s another to plan to go tooled up.

I have to praise the tireless work being done by Kris Boyle.........

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