And they are leaving behind a trail of destruction in the graveyards by vandalising tombstones, spraying graffiti and discarding empty bottles of cheap vodka, Buckfast and cider.

That was the claim by a city councillor who has taken the matter into his own hands and is now visiting the Greyfriars, Chapel Street and Old High Church cemeteries pleading with the drinkers to go elsewhere.

And Jimmy Flint, Highland Council's ward manager for Inverness Central and Millburn, believes Northern Constabulary should be taking more action and said the council is limited in what it can do.

He told the Highland News: "We call the police to the people drinking in the cemeteries but all that happens is they get moved on and the drinkers then rotate between the graveyards.

"There are problems with groups of youngsters drinking and also with some of the older alcoholics. It is illegal to drink in these areas but all the council can do is call the police and it is up to them to charge them."

Mr Flint, who is the former manager of transport, environment and community (TEC) services, added: "When I was TEC services manager, we would have to clean up the mess at these cemeteries everyday where we would find needles, Buckfast and vodka bottles and broken glass. We initially only did this weekly, but we stepped up our visits.

"Cleaning up the mess is one thing, but it is when they start to damage the tombstones that it becomes a step too far.

"Picking up the litter is fine, most local authorities have this issue but it is a shame to have to clean up the mess after historic stones have been damaged by vandals.

"The only way to solve this is for the police to carry out regular spot checks on these areas. TEC services does this to make sure the mess is not any worse than it is already, but really how to solve the problem is the million dollar question."

Donnie Kerr, one of the councillors for the area added: "It does bother me when people are damaging the gravestones because many of them are irreplaceable.

"Not all the drinkers are responsible. It seems to be the younger ones at night who are more inclined towards vandalism – smashing bottles against walls and gravestones or toppling them over.

"Having three cemeteries within yards of each other means the police move them on and they just go to the next graveyard."

He added: "At least once a week I go around the graveyards, and encourage anyone consuming alcohol to relocate.

Donnie Kerr with some of the discarded Buckfast bottle at the Old High Church cemetery. Bobby Nelson

"Usually the graveyards are locked at 4pm, but they just climb over the walls."

Douglas Clyne, a member of the congregation at the Old High Church, said: "I know this is going on as it does in every city centre as there is a certain amount of privacy at the cemeteries."

He said the kirk knew of graffiti and smashed and discarded bottles at the back of the church, but was unaware of the full extent of the problem.

"This is a regrettable situation ," he added.

Eighteen months ago, the Highland News first revealed how the Old High Church cemetery was being desecrated by being turned into a booze, drugs and sex den. And we reported incidents were taking place during daylight hours in full view of workers overlooking the graveyard.

Former councillor Eilidh MacDonald said the antics, including drug addicts shooting up, couples having sex and drinking were happening on a daily basis. She also explained that staff regularly found smashed bottles and discarded needles at the site.

A Northern Constabulary spokeswoman said: "Northern Constabulary can confirm that there have been incidents of anti-social behaviour, including vandalism, in various graveyard areas within the city centre.

"Police have increased visibility in these particular areas and will continue to deal robustly with those acting in an anti-social manner.

"Northern Constabulary would encourage anyone who witnesses any form of anti-social behaviour to contact Police in Inverness on 01463 715555 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111."

c.hay@highland-news.co.uk

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