A FED-UP Dunfermline business owner said their bins had repeatedly been stolen and set on fire – and claimed CCTV cameras in the town centre that could have identified the culprits aren't working.

Bryan Coghill, who runs Jack o' Bryan's restaurant in Chalmers Street with his family, said "everyone keeps passing the buck" as Police Scotland admitted they had stepped up patrols in the town centre after a spate of similar incidents.

Fife Council said Dunfermline town centre's cameras are to be renewed while the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service told the Press they'd attended two separate bin fires in Pittencrieff Park on the same evening last Wednesday, November 24.

Bryan said: "We had a situation earlier in the year, when the area at the front of the restaurant was wrecked by vandals, and we think it's pretty much the same clowns who are taking our bins and setting fire to them.

"Last Wednesday night, it happened again and we had the police and fire brigade out.

"They took it up to the (Carnegie) statue and set fire to it up there. It's the fourth time in the last two months.

"Fife Council brought us another bin the next day but said they won't do so if it happens again!"

He continued: "There are CCTV cameras down here, there's one that sits in front of the park, but the police told me it's not been working for ages!

"What's the point of having them if they're not working?

"We're talking about public safety here."

Mr Coghill said there had been a recent attack in the park and, after the murder of Sarah Everard in England, a greater focus on women's safety.

He said his own daughters had expressed concern about being in the town centre at night and he added: "The first thing here is to get the cameras working and better lighting, anything that's going to help should be done now.

"The politicians go on TV and talk about making the environment safer for women but nothing ever happens, which is a bit depressing."

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said they were alerted at 6.34pm on Wednesday, November 24, to reports of a fire "affecting an industrial wheelie bin" in Pittencrieff Park. A fire engine was sent and firefighters put the blaze out.

A spokesperson added: "Later that evening, we were alerted at 9.17pm to reports of a separate fire affecting another industrial wheelie bin in the same area.

"Operations control immediately mobilised a fire engine to the location and firefighters extinguished the fire. Crews left the scene after ensuring the area was made safe.”

Inspector Neil McGurk, from Police Scotland, said: "We are aware of a number of bin fires recently in Dunfermline town centre.

“We have stepped up patrols in the town and I would encourage members of the public to approach officers with any concerns you may have.

“If anyone knows who was responsible for these incidents I would encourage them to contact Police Scotland on 101 or alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111, where you can remain anonymous.”

Tricia Spacey, the council's safer communities manager, said their officers patrolled the Glen regularly and were working alongside police to prevent trouble.

She added: "We're also working together to renew all 102 CCTV cameras across Fife.

"This includes Dunfermline's cameras. This work is due to be finished by the end of March next year."

She said anyone with concerns about anti-social behaviour or safety could get in touch via www.fife.gov.uk/safercommunities, call police on 101 or, in an emergency, dial 999.​

Robin Baird, chief executive of Cireco, which provides waste management solutions for Fife Council, added: “We understand there’s been a number of bin fires in Dunfermline town centre recently, including at Jack o' Bryan's.

"We’ve replaced the restaurant’s bins twice this month already (November).

"We would always replace damaged bins and have suggested how they can secure their bins. However, we are unable to continue to replace them free of charge.”