CALLS have been made to increase the number of toilets in Glasgow after the Evening Times revealed a record number of people had been arrested for urinating in public.

Saturday's Times reported that police figures show just under 5000 people were caught relieving themselves in city streets last year, usually paying a fine of £60.

Since then we have been inundated by messages from readers saying there are not enough public toilets.

SNP councillor Graeme Hendry is among those who say Glasgow City Council should be looking at whether there are enough public toilets.

But the council has dismissed suggestions of a link between the high number of arrests and a lack of public toilets.

The council provides 12, 24-hour automated public conveniences in the city centre – in Collins Street, St Vincent Street, Stevenson Street, West Campbell Street and Aikenhead Road and a further 10 in council buildings. It says it is already reviewing the situation.

A spokesman said: "The council has already asked the Sustainability And Environment Policy Development Committee to look at the provision of public toilets and changing places across the city and work is well under way.

"However, police have made it very clear the people they are catching urinating in the street are not looking for a public toilet, or any other kind for that matter.

"The fact the increase in recorded offences has come at a time when the public conveniences have been made available around-the-clock for the first time confirms that."

But Mr Hendry, SNP group leader, said: "It's important police tackle this problem and I welcome their action.

"To ensure a long-term solution the council must work with police because this level of fines indicates the public toilets provision is not adequate.

"It's not good enough to simply clampdown on the problem every so often when action can be taken by the council to help.

"I call upon the leader of the council to ensure a report is prepared on how the council can address this problem and provide adequate public toilets."

Top officers believe that targeting urinating in the street, along with public drinking and other nuisance crimes, is helping to drive down more serious violent offending in the city.

ewan.fergus@ eveningtimes.co.uk