Mummy’s Boy: Driving home the message about motorcycle crime

‘Mummy’s Boy’ was premiered at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on the High Street in Edinburgh on Thursday.

The short film is a collaboration between several organisations including Creative Scotland, Transport Scotland, Screen Education Edinburgh, Police Scotland Edinburgh Division and students from Broughton, Holyrood and Drummond High Schools.

The students played a very active part in making the film which delivers a message to young people about the potential consequences of becoming involved in crime.

PC Greig Stephen hosted the event and there were speeches from Superintendent Richard Thomas, Sean Young from Screen Education Edinburgh and Louise Lothian who lost her 14-year-old nephew Brad Williamson in June 2016 after a motorbike he was riding was involved in a collision.

“We have also worked hard with third sector organisation Aid & Abet and with people personally affected by the tragic consequences of recent incidents to impress on young people the real dangers of dangerous motor cycle riding.

“We know from experience that prevention is better than cure and this very impactful film provides a hard-hitting insight into the impact and devastation that can be caused if you are involved in the theft or criminal use of a motorcycle.

“Mummy’s Boy may be a short-film, but its message is very poignant and clear and I wish to thank all of the young people involved, as well as Sean Young from Screen Education Edinburgh, for their dedication and hard work in pulling this altogether.

“The production will be of great use to not only officers in Edinburgh, but across the country, where motorcycle crime is an area of concern for local communities.”

The students were all involved in the production of the film both in front of, and behind, the camera. They hope to reach out to other young people to think twice before making a decision which could have fatal consequences.

Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith said: “I have long been a supporter of the creative and collaborative approach taken by Police Scotland to address motorcycle related anti-social behaviour in the north of the city.

“By working with the local youth organisations and seeking to positively engage with the young people, we have seen significant results – not just in the crime statistics but, even more importantly, in a shift in attitudes to this kind of reckless behaviour from the young people themselves.