Police have received a handful of reports about so-called “killer clowns” in Dundee after the internet craze arrived in the city.
The Tele revealed on Friday how police had been called to Finlathen Park following reports of people wearing clown masks in the area, but that no criminality was involved.
Now, a top officer has revealed that there have been up to half-a-dozen cases in the city.
It comes as youngsters copy the internet craze, which has seen people dressing up as clowns in locations across the UK in an attempt to scare people.
Speaking at a meeting of West End Community Council, Chief Inspector Gary Ogilvie said: “Five or six incidents have been reported in recent times.”
The news has prompted one safety chief to call for the craze to end.
Councillor Alan Ross, convener of Dundee City Council’s community safety and public protection committee, told the Tele: “The joke has passed now.
“Like everyone else I have seen videos on social media, where it seems to be a bit of a lighthearted joke, and I didn’t pay too much attention to it.
“But over the last couple of weeks it appears to have taken a bit of a different turn.
“I think people are beginning to worry about it and feel a bit scared.”
He added: “Just last week a group of young kids stopped me in Lochee and asked if I had seen a clown.
“They thought they had seen something and they were running away from it.
“It turned out to be a false alarm but it just shows you there is a bit of angst about at the moment.
“If I was walking along a dark road I can’t think of anything more frightening than if somebody appeared in front of me wearing a clown mask.
“Whether or not it’s a joke it is really quite frightening. We need it to stop.
“We have Halloween coming up and I have seen a number of comments online from people genuinely worried about what is going to happen.
“I would urge anyone with any concerns to contact the police.”
Superintendent David Duncan of Police Scotland said the local reports did not specifically appear to have involved threats or violence, but warned that officers would take action should pranksters cause harm or distress to anyone.