SHOP owners plagued by teen vandals for almost a decade say a scheme aimed at rehabilitating young offenders has not delivered “lasting results.”

A group of eight teenagers took part in a pilot project organised by Police Scotland and Glasgow City Council which aimed to show the youths the damaging affect their actions were causing businesses on Old Wood Road in Baillieston.

After ramming bikes into the shutters of hair salon Beau Cheveux and throwing mud onto the wall the gang apologised for their behaviour and cleaned up the mess.

They also apologised to the shop keeper at the Spar for chasing away customers they had verbally abused and demanded buy them cigarettes and alcohol.

Barbara Fearnside of Glasgow City Council’s neighbourhoods and sustainability programme said the project had benefitted local businesses and residents as well as the under-18s causing the trouble but admitted there was an “ongoing issue.”

The owner of Beau Cheveux said the problem is still ongoing and her property is being damaged, repeatedly overnight.

She has called for CCTV cameras to be installed in the area.

She said: “We need CCTV. This problem has been going on for at least 10 years and it is the same group of youths causing problems.

“They have been causing trouble since they were as young as six-years-old. Their behaviour did change in the new year after the police engaged with them but they seem to misbehaving again.

“Eight of them took part in this programme and they did apologise which they were not forced to do.

“They also cleaned up the mud off the walls but the problems have started again. They are ramming bikes into the outside shutter denting them.”

Mr Ghaffer who runs the Spar said they were still hanging about outside but the extent of the problem is not as bad.

But the manager of the spar said their behaviour had improved.

He said: “These youths are still hanging about outside but their behaviour is not as bad. They were cheeky to my customers. Some youngsters asked my customers to buy them alcohol and cigarettes.

“They put graffiti all over the wall but have cleaned it up. I lost business as a result but my customers seem to be coming back.”

At a public meeting Ms Fearnside agreed there was an ongoing issue but could not confirm if it was the same group.

She said: “These sessions demonstrated that the young people did not realise the extent of what they were doing.

“Throughout the programme the young people spoke about gang culture, knife crime and anti-social behaviour.

“One of them has now signed up to the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme while another decided to go back to school.

“We will engage with the local schools to find out what they are doing about this problem. I am aware there are still issues in the area with youths targeting local shops but I am not sure it is the same crowd.”

The Evening Times approached Police Scotland for comment and to confirm if the sessions will continue but they did not respond.