Let’s make this a Hogmanay to remember

Chief Medical Officer calls for responsible drinking over Hogmanay

Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer, Sir Harry Burns, has urged revellers to take care this Hogmanay.

Sir Harry said: “Whether you are seeing in the bells at one of Scotland’s outdoor parties or in the company of close friends and family, Hogmanay is a wonderful time of the year to be enjoyed.

“Everyone should have a night to remember and this means taking responsibility for your drinking.

“There are simply too many people across Scotland drinking too much alcohol and putting their health at risk. You shouldn’t think this happens only to other people, alcohol misuse affects people across society. There’s nothing wrong with having a drink, as long as it’s done safely and not to excess.

“If you are planning to drink this New Year’s Eve then enjoy a good meal before you go out. It’s also important to keep track of what you are drinking. Cocktails and generous home pours can contain much more alcohol that you might think.”

“Missing a round of drinks is absolutely fine. It’s good to be sociable but don’t let others dictate your pace. You don’t need to drink alcohol throughout the night, having a soft drink or a glass of water will help you feel much better in the morning and let you enjoy the festivities until much later.

“Many people will be setting themselves the challenge to lose weight or to become healthier next year. One of the easiest ways to achieve both is to cut back on the how much and how often you drink. Small changes in your alcohol consumption will make a big difference to your health at the end of 2014.”

“I want everyone to enjoy Hogmanay and remind them this can be done without drinking too much. Keep warm, keep safe and remember if you are planning to drive the next morning be very careful the night before”

The message comes the day after Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill met representatives from Best Bar None and Police Scotland to hear their plans for ensuring everyone in the capital and beyond enjoys a safe and happy Hogmanay 2013.

For more information on responsible drinking visit http://www.drinksmarter.org/

Police launch national campaign to target housebreaking

Police Scotland has today launched a national campaign to tackle housebreaking across the country. Operation RAC will be implemented in various areas throughout Scotland to identify those responsible for break-ins and thefts and bring them to justice.

Since 1 April Police Scotland has provided dedicated resources to communities to tackle crimes of violence, sexual assaults and domestic abuse and as a result, greater numbers of these offences are being reported and solved. During this time, the Force has observed an overall increase of around 4% in housebreaking, with a number of areas reporting greater levels of crime than the national average.

As part of Police Scotland’s commitment to community engagement, housebreaking has been identified as a local priority for certain regions and these divisions will now be provided with additional resources and support to address the issue.

The operation will initially run within Edinburgh, Forth Valley, the Lothians and Scottish Borders, Fife, Highlands and Islands, Aberdeenshire and Moray, Aberdeen city and Lanarkshire. In each location, dedicated policing teams have been created to exclusively investigate housebreakings within homes, outbuildings and businesses and apprehend the individuals responsible.

Housebreaking offences will continue to be monitored throughout Scotland and extra support can be provided to any area requiring a more robust response to tackle this issue.

Throughout Operation RAC, Police Scotland will work closely with partners at COPFS to ensure housebreakers are being appropriately dealt with and removed from communities where possible.

Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Mawson said: “Police Scotland remains committed to keeping people safe and I am delighted with the professionalism and dedication our officers have shown as part of our continued focus towards violence reduction.

“We recently launched our local policing campaign, which provides us with the opportunity to speak with individual communities and identify the issues or concerns specifically affecting their area. As a result, housebreaking has been highlighted as a priority for a number of our divisions and officers in these areas will be taking targeted action to detect anyone involved and deter further offences from occurring.

“We are keen to work not only with our partner agencies, but with our communities to address the issue of housebreaking and crime prevention advice for safeguarding your home, shed, outbuildings and businesses can be found on our website – www.scotland.police.uk

“I say this message directly to those intent on committing housebreakings in Scotland – if you engage in this invasive and distressing form of crime, we will use every resource at our disposal to remove you from our communities and ensure you spend time behind bars.”

Scotland’s battle with the bottle

One in two Scots harmed as a result of someone else’s drinking

More needs to be done to raise awareness about the negative effects of other peoples’ drinking, according to Alcohol Focus Scotland. The charity has published research which examines for the first time how alcohol impacts on people around the drinker causing stress, distress and disharmony to family members, friends, colleagues and the wider community.

The research found:

1 in 2 people report being harmed as a result of someone else’s drinking
1 in 3 people report having heavy drinkers in their lives
Younger people under 35 are four times more likely to report harm from others in public places, such as on the stress or in the workplace
Those who know heavy drinkers are more likely to report harm from others in private settings such as at home, or with neighbours or friends
Experiencing harm from other people’s drinking is not related to whether the person affected by the harm drinks or not.

Dr Evelyn Gillan, Chief Executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland said:

“Our research shows just how far-reaching alcohol harm is. One in two Scots are affected in some way by other people’s drinking. This can range from feeling uneay at aggressive behaviour on the bus, picking up the slack at work becuase a colleague has called in sick with a hangover, or children living with heavy drinking parents and the strain this inevitably places on family life.

“Many of these problems are not being reported, either because they are simply tolerated or because they are going on behind closed doors. When people began to understand the negative effects of passive smoking, action was taken. It’s time we started to think beyond the individual drinker to consider how we can protect people from the second-hand effects of drinking.

“If we want to reduce the harm that alcohol causes, then we must tackle the widespread availability and promotion of cheap alcohol through measures such as minimum pricing. But we also need to ensure that individuals, families, workplaces and communities who are being negatively affected by other people’s drinking, receive the support they require.”

Sam Anderson, Director at The Junction, a young people’s health and wellbeing project in North Edinburgh which took part in the research said:

“Young people are often identified as one of the groups who are ‘problem drinkers’. However, our work with young people shows us that they are often negatively affected by someone else’s drinking. That could be a parent, a friend, or a stranger in the street. This can cause stress, worry and in more extreme cases, depression, panic attacks and self-harm. This is a big issue and more needs to be done to support young people who are being negatively affected. The Junction has recently launched a new pilot project funded by Edinburgh ADP which will support young people in this situation in the north Edinburgh area.”

Police Officer Geraldine Richardson, who participated in the research, added:

“I often see neighbours being put under stress by someone who has had too much to drink. For example, a drunk person can’t get their key in the lock so they buzz every flat or bang on the doors. This can be particularly distressing for older people. They are just at home minding their own business and they’re being disturbed by someone who has been drinking.

“People can struggle to get up for work as they’ve had to endure music, shouting and partying all through the night. It can lead to poor relationships with neighbours. Police Scotland will do what it can to help people keep safe in their own homes.”

Police appeal following local bogus workman incidents

Police in Edinburgh are appealing for witnesses following bogus workman incidents in Drylaw, Craigleith and Pilton.

The most recent incident happened around 10.30am last Thursday (7 November). The 78-year-old victim was in her Queens Road home when the male suspect called there offering to carry out gardening work. The offer was repeatedly declined, however the suspect managed to gain entry to the house where he was later disturbed and fled the scene empty handed.

The other incidents happened the previous day (Wednesday 6 November) in the Drylaw area. The first two incidents happened around 1pm in Easter Drylaw Avenue and Easter Drylaw Gardens respectively, when again gardening work was offered. The residents who were approached declined the offer, but during one attempt the suspect falsely told the victim that their gardening work, which is carried out by the council, had been withdrawn.

The later incident happened around 3.15pm at West Pilton Drive.

The suspect is described as white, late-thirties or early-forties, around 5ft 10inches, tall, slim build, short dark hair, of tidy appearance with an Irish accent. He was wearing a white sweatshirt with navy horizontal stripes, navy coloured jeans, carrying a dark brown shoulder bag.

Detective Constable Ben Leathes from Operation Aristotle, which tackles bogus callers in the Capital said: “The elderly victim has been left very upset that the man had entered her home. Bogus workmen target vulnerable members of our community and utilise various methods of deception to do so.

“Members of the public are reminded never to allow a caller into their home unless entirely certain of their identity. If you have any doubts, do not let them in and contact police immediately.

“Similarly, anyone requiring maintenance or repair work for their home should only use a company or individual whom they trust and never hand over money to anyone who cold-calls at your door.

“Neighbours and family of vulnerable people are also asked to be vigilant for suspicious people in their area and report any concerns for a member of the community to police immediately.

“Anyone wishing advice on crime prevention can dial 101 or contact their local policing team.”

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

Council unveils winter weather plans

The City of Edinburgh Council has announced plans for how the city will cope with potentially severe weather this winter.

Be Prepared for Winter will also provide up-to-date information to residents through targeted advertising in the print and broadcast media, supported with comprehensive information on the Council’s website plus leaflets and posters.

Salt stocks of 16,000 tonnes have been stockpiled at the Council’s four depots, and the city’s 2,200 salt bins will be refilled on a programmed basis. This amount is more than is required to last an entire winter season.

The city’s roads will be gritted according to which category they fall under: Priority 1 roads are main and essential routes that are pre-treated when frost or snow is forecast and receive priority treatment during snow. Traffic Regulations Orders will be enforced on certain roads this winter to allow better access for gritters, emergency vehicles and buses, where parking has caused obstruction in the past.

Residential roads fall under the Priority 2 category, and will be treated when there is a severe weather event after Priority 1 routes are clear.

High priority pavements will be treated 24 hours a day, seven days a week in times of bad weather. The North Edinburgh Cycle network and the Innocent Railway cycle route have been classed with high priority pavement routes for the second year in a row.

The Council website will be regularly updated throughout the winter and includes gritting routes, salt bins, a video encouraging residents to clear snow and ice, and information about becoming a volunteer snow warden.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Environment Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Although last winter was milder than the 2009/10 and 2010/11, it is important that we continue to be vigilant in preparing for whatever this winter throws at us. In 2010/11 we experienced some of the worst conditions in almost half a century and our chief priority if this happens again is to keep the city moving.

“Our Be Prepared for Winter campaign will use our website and social and local media to alert residents about plans for the next day, such as gritting, waste collection services and schools. We’ve also got maps on our website showing gritting routes and salt bin locations throughout the winter. There are more than enough stocks of salt and grit, and the fleet of specialist snow clearing vehicles is ready to go.”

The Council’s campaign follows the launch of similar winter campaigns by the

Scottish Government and NHS Scotland.

Remember, remember this Guy Fawkes safety advice

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Bonfire Safety Tips

Advice from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is to attend a safely organised bonfire and firework display. However if you must have a bonfire at home make sure it is well away from buildings, vehicles, trees, hedges, fences, power lines, telecommunications equipment and sheds – and you must ensure that smoke does not cause a nuisance to neighbours or flying embers endanger neighbouring property.

Never drink alcohol if you are tending a bonfire or setting off fireworks – remember it is an offence to consume alcohol in a public place.
To reduce the emission of harmful smoke and combustion products bonfires should comprise of untreated wood and paper based materials only.
There is a danger of explosion from pressurised containers or sealed vessels amongst bonfire material or irresponsibly thrown on burning bonfires.
Never throw fireworks on bonfires.
Never use flammable liquids to ignite bonfires – use proprietary fire lighters.
Smoke from bonfires must not pose a public nuisance, affect visibility on roads or otherwise inconvenience vehicles.
Sparks, flying embers or burning debris must not endanger nearby property.
Never leave a burning/smouldering bonfire unsupervised – make sure it is completely extinguished.

Any bonfire failing to satisfy safety conditions or where people are behaving irresponsibly may be deemed dangerous and as such, subject to being either removed, extinguished or otherwise made safe.

Bonfires and the Law

It is an offence under Section 56 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 for any person to lay or light a fire in a public place so as to endanger any other person or give them reasonable cause for alarm or annoyance or so as to endanger any property.
If you know anything about fires that have been started deliberately in your area, you can call the Crimestoppers Scotland hotline on 0800 555 111. All calls are completely anonymous and do not require names or personal details and you will not be asked to give evidence in court.
Fly tipping during the Bonfire and Fireworks season is a major cause of fire and it is also a criminal offence. If you see fly tipping or know of an area where there is a build-up of refuse or combustible material, contact your local authority cleansing or environmental department to arrange uplift.
You can also contact the Dumb Dumpers Stop Line on 0845 2 30 40 90 or visit www.dumbdumpers.org for more information.

Organising a fireworks and bonfire display

If you are organising a display visit ww.hse.gov.uk/explosives/fireworks/using.htm for guidance and practical advice.

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Halloween Safety Tips

Police Scotland have issued some advice to help everyone to enjoy Halloween safely …

It’s Halloween tomorrow, so we are asking residents of all ages to make Halloween a safe and enjoyable celebration.

We are issuing some simple guidance for young people to ensure that Halloween passes safely and that anti-social or irresponsible behaviour is avoided.

The past few years have seen Halloween pass quietly in the area but there are still residents who are affected by the minority who behave anti-socially and ruin what should be a fun and family orientated time of the year.

Parents and young people are asked to consider the following advice:

Stay in well-lit areas and consider carrying a torch.
Don’t frighten elderly people or younger children.
Don’t enter a house unless you know the person. Young children should always be with an adult. Older children should ensure they are with friends.
If a sign says ‘No trick or treat’, respect that person’s wishes and move on.
Be visible, it will be dark and it’s important that passing traffic can see you.
If you have a mobile phone make sure you look after it so that parents/guardian can keep in touch.
Tell your parents or guardian where you are going and what time you will be back.
If you are given money keep it hidden away in a wallet or clothing.
Remember that it might be raining so wear appropriate clothing that keeps you dry but still lets you show off your costume.

Police issue fireworks warning ahead of derby clash

Police Scotland will be carrying out an operation at tomorrow’s League Cup Quarter Final between Hibs and Hearts, searching for anyone in possession of fireworks or flares.

Officers will be carrying out searches outside Easter Road stadium, and a specialist search dog, capable of detecting flares, will also be used to identify anyone trying to smuggle illegal items into the stadium.

Police are warning that robust action will be taken against anyone trying to take flares or fireworks into the ground. The warning follows incidents at recent derbies where flares or fireworks were used.

Superintendent Kenny MacDonald, who is in charge of the policing operation on Wednesday, said: “The match kicks off at 7pm, and I would encourage supporters to get there early, as they will be travelling to the game during rush hour and there is limited parking near to the ground.

“There will be search cordons in place around the stadium, and searches will be undertaken as a condition of entry to the ground. A specialist search dog will be used to detect anyone in possession of fireworks or flares.

“We recognise that the majority of supporters are well behaved, however there are a small minority who in the past have put themselves and others in danger by throwing fireworks or flares.

“If this behaviour continues then it will only be a matter of time before someone suffers a serious injury, and we are working with clubs and stewards to do all we can to prevent such dangerous behaviour.

“Anyone who is caught with a flare or firework can expect to be arrested, either at the time, or as a result of a post-match investigation. As well as receiving a criminal conviction, they may very well find themselves being banned from attending future matches throughout the country.”

Let’s hope all the the fireworks are ON the pitch tomorrow!

Drama to educate pupils on fireworks danger

An informative play about the dangers of misusing fireworks will be performed to around 1,500 pupils in schools across Edinburgh during the run up to Guy Fawkes night. TOAST shows pupils how dangerous fireworks can be, as well as raising issues such as peer pressure, bullying and managing aggression.

The production involves two actors playing 11 different characters, with the scene shifting between a hospital, a home, a school and a housing estate. The principal character is drawn into an ill-fated escapade with stolen fireworks, with ultimately tragic consequences.

The play, originally commissioned by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) in Northern Ireland, has been adapted for Edinburgh and is being staged by the Strange Theatre Company. It lasts for 30 minutes and has been organised by staff working in the City of Edinburgh Council’s West Neighbourhood Office.

It will run until Friday (1 November) and will be performed to all S2 pupils in sixteen Edinburgh schools, including locally at Craigroyston – approximately 1,500 young people aged between 12 and 13 will see the drama.

The weeks leading up to Bonfire Night are a time of increased complaints to police and councillors about excessive fireworks noise, with elderly people, the very young and domestic pets often left particularly distressed by fireworks noise.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Environment Leader, said: “Guy Fawkes night is great fun and families enjoy the spectacle of fireworks as the nights get darker. However, fireworks can be extremely dangerous if handled improperly.

“The play ‘Toast’ is an excellent way of helping young people understand the risks and dangers of misusing fireworks. We will be carrying out test purchasing in shops where fireworks are on sale to make sure that retailers are adhering to the legislation.”

William MacDonald, Group Commander for The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Bonfire Night is the busiest time of year for the fire service and we are urging parents and carers to be mindful of the potential risks from fireworks and the need to heed fire safety advice to ensure this year’s Guy Fawkes celebrations stay safe.

“We work closely with partners agencies including the City of Edinburgh Council to raise awareness of the risks and dangers associated with bonfires and fireworks as well as delivering fire safety advice to schoolchildren across the area. Toast, which highlights the dangers associated with fireworks, is an excellent example of this type of initiative. “Every year, hundreds of people in the UK are injured by fires and misusing fireworks which are very similar to explosives. Most at risk are unsupervised children, particularly those who play with fire or who get too close to bonfires. We want everyone to enjoy this time of year but to stay safe and advise they stick to supervised bonfires and firework displays.”

Fire service issues Bonfire Night ‘community call to action’

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is urging members of the public to join Scotland’s fight against fire, issuing a “community call to action” in the run up to Bonfire Night:

Every year careless bonfires take firefighters away from other incidents – putting lives at risk. Choosing to attend only official bonfire events will help keep people, property and vital resources safe.

Bonfire Night is the busiest time of year for the fire service, and during the bonfire period firefighters typically see a 40% increase in emergency calls. Having to tackle bonfires means it could take crews longer to attend serious incidents – with potentially tragic consequences.

Careless bonfires also see public money go up in smoke – in previous years costs have been estimated in millions of pounds of damage.

Assistant Chief Officer (ACO) Lewis Ramsay, Director of Prevention and Protection for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We want everyone to enjoy the celebrations and I would urge the public to join Scotland’s fight against fire and attend official bonfire events this year.

“Not only is it the best way to stay safe, but careless bonfires take crews away from serious incidents in our communities – so choosing to attend organised events will protect people, property and ensure our firefighters can get to where they are most needed.

He added: “Every year we work with our partner agencies to raise awareness of the risk and dangers associated with bonfires and fireworks as well as the preventative measures which can be taken to improve community safety – as local people must continue to play their part in making our communities safer.

”We have no better ally in the fight against fire than our local communities who can make a difference and work together for a safer Scotland.”

ACO Ramsay continued: “Our pre-planning and response arrangements have been much easier to co-ordinate this year, given the commencement of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Our approach incorporates best practice from across Scotland and ensures services are delivered locally in a consistent and co-ordinated manner, with a clear focus on public and firefighter safety.”

Superintendent Alan Cunningham, Head of Prevention and Interventions at Police Scotland, said: “We want people to listen to safety advice and attend organised events so families can keep safe and enjoy the Bonfire celebrations.

“The best way of keeping safe is to attend official bonfire events which will also help reduce the number of unnecessary call outs for Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.”

Minister for Community Safety, Roseanna Cunningham said: “I wholeheartedly endorse the SFRS campaign and recognise the very valuable work of our firefighters at this busy time of year.

“We can all support them and make our communities safer by attending organised events. This guarantees we enjoy the spectacle in safety and have a fifth of November to remember – for all the right reasons.”

‘Join Scotland’s fight against fire’ gives more information about how to be safe on 5 November, with a range of additional information to raise public awareness of fire safety at home and in the workplace.

The campaign lets the public know how to refer family, friends and neighbours – who may be specifically at-risk – for a free Home Fire Safety Visit, or other services that focus on protecting older people from fire.

For a free Home Fire Safety Visit, all you have to do is call the Home fire Safety Hotline on 0800 0731 999. You can also get in touch by calling your local community fire station and more information is available here.

Anyone who decides to hold their own events should always follow our vital bonfire and firework safety advice – available by clicking here.

The Scottish Fire & Rescue Service