A letter from NW Edinburgh Community Policing Team, City of Edinburgh Council – North West Locality Team, and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service City of Edinburgh Watch Commander

Over recent years, many parts of Edinburgh have suffered unprecedented levels of anti-social behaviour and disorder, criminal damage and attacks on Police Officers and other emergency service colleagues during annual Bonfire night celebrations.

The extent of the disorder carried out by a small number of people placed residents, members of the public and emergency services’ staff at significant risk of harm and injury.

City of Edinburgh Policing Division, working in partnership with colleagues from City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are here to protect the community and to keep those who work in our emergency services safe.

To prevent a repeat of these incidents, proactive steps are being taken to increase the safety of our local communities and those working within the emergency services. The policing of Bonfire night will be robust and we will take immediate action where individuals attempt to prevent or disrupt the work of the emergency services. Therefore those who choose to involve themselves in antisocial behaviour or disorder on or around the 5th November may be subject to prosecution.

We want our communities to enjoy the celebrations and we are working hard to ensure residents feel safe and able to participate in the celebrations. However, the safety of those who live in our communities remains our overarching priority and any behaviour that places people or property at risk will not be tolerated.
If you wish to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to contact either:

• Your local Council Family and Household Support Team based at North West Locality office, 8 West Pilton Gardens. Telephone 0131 529 5014 to speak with a Family and Household Support Officer; or

• Kelly Bonner, North West Locality, 8 West Pilton Gardens, Edinburgh, EH4 4DP – telephone 0131 529 3448.

• Your local Community Policing Team based at Drylaw Police Station, 701 Ferry Road, EH4 2TY, telephone 101

• Or you can report criminal behaviour anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111