Category: city centre

Beltane Fire Festival events this weekend

Edinburgh’s most spectacular festival returns to Calton Hil this weekend. The Beltane Fire Festival will descend once more upon the centre of Edinburgh for a two days of drums, performance and fire. There’s a Beltane Open Day on Calton Hill this afternoon as a taster for Sunday evening’s spectacular event.

Continue reading Beltane Fire Festival events this weekend

One week to go: Beltane Festival returns to set Edinburgh alight

Next Sunday (30th April), the Beltane Fire Festival will return to Edinburgh’s Calton Hill to welcome the onset of Summer. With one week to go, Beltane Fire Society have released the map and proposed schedule of the procession that winds its way around Edinburgh’s Calton Hill.

Continue reading One week to go: Beltane Festival returns to set Edinburgh alight

Edinburgh Alphabet Exhibition to open next month

Hundreds of objects from Edinburgh’s museum and gallery collections will be drawn together and placed on display for the very first time. Spanning 60,000 years and over 300 items, Edinburgh Alphabet: An A-Z of the City’s Collections will combine artworks and artefacts across four floors of the City Art Centre this summer (Friday 19 May – 8 October). Continue reading Edinburgh Alphabet Exhibition to open next month

Organisers blazing mad at threat to Fire Festival

Fire Festival faces winter washout

Beltane Fire Society (BFS) have urged its supporters to respond to a consultation by The City of Edinburgh Council on changes to rules around processions in public spaces. The open consultation on ‘Proposed Policy and Code of Conduct for Public Processions’ runs until 31 March so there is a need to act fast. Continue reading Organisers blazing mad at threat to Fire Festival

Hunt is on for city centre police impersonators

Police in Edinburgh are investigating a series of incidents where three men have impersonated police officers.Six incidents have been reported to police, with one occurring last Friday, another on Saturday and four taking place on Monday this week.

In all cases they have targeted tourists with a view to extracting money from the victim, with two incidents resulting in the theft of money from visitors.

The first incident happened at around 1.20pm on Friday, February 3, in the Grassmarket. A Chilean man was approached by a man who asked him to take his photograph in King’s Stables Road. Both men were then approached by two male suspects claiming to be police officers who demanded to search them.

After this, the two suspects got into a silver or grey Seat hatchback and drove away. The other male who was also searched walked into the Grassmarket and was lost to sight. It was later discovered that a three figure sum of money had been stolen from the Chilean man.

The second incident happened around 5.30pm on Monday, February 13, in Market Street. Two Chinese tourists were approached by two men who showed them a form of ID and stated that they were undercover police officers. They asked to search the tourist and subsequently stole a four figure sum of cash.

There have been several descriptions given to police, however in all cases they are described as men of Southern European origin who operate in groups of either two or three.

They also deliberately target people who look like foreign national tourists and operate in tourist areas.

The other incidents have occurred in Chambers Street, Castle Street, and in the Calton Hill area.

Police Sergeant Mark Hamilton of West End Police Station said: “These men are purposely targeting tourists who are visiting the City Centre in a bid to steal money from them.

“Impersonating a police officer is not only inappropriate, it is illegal. We would advise that if you are stopped by someone claiming to be a Police Scotland officer, request their collar number and ask to see a warrant card. 

“All our officers are happy to provide this information to the public and it should be offered readily.

“I would ask that anyone with information regarding these incidents contact us immediately, and would also urge those visiting the city to be aware of this activity and report any suspicions to police.”

Those with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The incidents occurred as follows:

  • Friday, February 3, around 1.20pm in the Grassmarket. A three figure sum of money was taken as a result of this encounter.

  • Saturday, February 11, around 4pm, in Castle Street. Nothing was taken.

  • Monday, February 13, around 2.15pm, in the Calton Hill area. Nothing was taken.

  • Monday, February 13, around 3.25pm, outside the National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street. Nothing was taken.

  • Monday, February 13, around 4.50pm, in the Calton Hill area. Nothing was taken.

  • Monday, February 13, around 5.30pm, in Market Street. A four figure sum of money was taken.