GTA 5 to “destroy the good reputation” of Scottish town Hawick

The Scottish town of Hawick has been left in shock after GTA 5 featured a town of the same name which is described as having a “dug addict hipster vibe”.

“I am absolutely disgusted – there is a lot of history and a lot of good things happening in the town,” said local councillor David Paterson. “We have got a lot of good things planned for this coming year.

“It is going to destroy the good reputation of the town.”

Paterson added that he doesn’t understand why the Scottish developer Rockstar North would “pick on Hawick” in this way.

“It is perceptions, it is how people will perceive the town,” he added. “They might perceive Hawick in a bad light and Hawick is a lovely place – a lot of people are very, very proud of Hawick.”

The town’s MSP, John Lamont, is equally upset by the use of Hawick in GTA 5.

“I, like many other Hawick residents, was shocked to hear that the name of the town had been used in Grand Theft Auto V,” he said.

“Not only is it a game which includes violence, sex and drugs, but the game’s producers themselves describe the area of Hawick in the game as having a ‘drug addict hipster vibe’.

“While some may take the view that any publicity is good publicity, I am sure that many local residents will see this as an insensitive move from Rockstar North.”

Lamont says he has invited Rockstar to meet with him.

“Hawick is one of the most beautiful towns in Scotland and I am sure that by showing them the town and telling them of its proud history they will realise the mistake they have made,” he concluded.

GTA 5 launched yesterday for Xbox 360 and PS3.

Some might argue that this is actually great publicity for Hawick, which until now would have been completely unknown to the majority of people outside of the town.

Source: BBC