community safety – Page 41 – The NEN

Sectarianism: Ministers welcome ‘most comprehensive study ever’

Scottish Ministers have welcomed the publication of a series of reports into sectarianism and the impacts of marches and parades in Scotland.

The work, as recommended by the independent Advisory Group on Tackling Sectarianism in Scotland, explored attitudes and experiences of sectarianism and the community impact of processions on Scottish society.

The research was discussed at a Glasgow conference yesterday which looked at how research is helping to shape our understanding of the nature and impact of sectarianism in modern Scotland.

The mix of quantitative and qualitative research was undertaken by independent researchers from Newcastle University, the University of Stirling, the University of Oxford and ScotCen Social Research.

Some of the findings within the Scottish Social Attitudes survey 2014 and the Community Experiences of Sectarianism reports include:

Scotland is becoming more secular, with the percentage of Scots who do not identify with any religion increasing from 40% in 1999 to 54% in 2013
The majority (88%) of those surveyed believe sectarianism is a problem in Scotland but most (69%) believe it is only a problem in certain areas
Football is the most commonly mentioned factor people believe contributes to sectarianism in Scotland (88%)
Those surveyed didn’t believe sectarianism happened everywhere, but did happen at specific places and times including football matches and Loyalist and Irish Republican processions.
Gender was believed to play a big part in people’s experiences of sectarianism. Men were much more likely to be the instigators, with both sexes identified as being victims.
Those surveyed believed families, schools and football clubs were best placed to tackle sectarianism.

In addition, the study into the Community Impact of Public Processions found that:

Public processions have a significant meaning for those taking part but there is often a gap between the purpose and meaning around Loyalist and Irish Republican marches for participants, and how they were viewed by the wider public. Communities often associated them with community and social problems and sectarianism.
These types of marches were viewed negatively by people surveyed in the locations they were held, compared to other types of processions, including community and political.
Despite concerns around ‘spikes’ in antisocial or criminal behaviour following these types of procession, police data did not show evidence of this.
Processions organised by the Scottish Defence League and emerging Loyalist organisations, often taking the form of ‘static’ demonstrations, created problems and significant disruption for local authorities and Police Scotland and upset to local communities.

Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs Paul Wheelhouse said: “The publication of this work is a significant step forward in helping us build the most comprehensive understanding of the nature and impact of sectarianism in Scotland that we have ever had. It will undoubtedly play a huge part in influencing collective thinking and shaping how we tackle sectarianism going forward.

“This research also shows us that there is a gap between the perception of sectarianism and the reality of people’s experiences, and this is something I know the Advisory Group will be considering in the coming weeks and months.

“Sectarianism has no place in Scotland in the 21st century and we are fully committed to help rid Scotland of the prejudices of the past and tackling this problem which has blighted many communities.

“Religiously aggravated offending is falling and is now at its lowest level in a decade, last year alone there was a 15% decrease, but we will always seek to do all we can to stamp out this problem. That’s why the Scottish government has invested £9 million over three years to tackle this issue, including supporting 44 community-based projects in their efforts to tackle sectarianism in Scotland.

“The final report of the Advisory Group is due later this year and this will include advice on the future development of our agenda on tackling sectarianism. The Advisory Group will ensure that the findings from today’s publications are incorporated into their report to ensure that the advice they are giving is based on the best and most up-to-date information available.

“This government fully respects the right to hold marches and parades but also recognises that this right needs to be balanced against the right of communities to go about their business undisturbed. We will be looking closely at the University of Stirling’s findings to consider how we can best achieve that balance.”

Chair of the independent Advisory Group on Tackling Sectarianism in Scotland, Dr Duncan Morrow, added: “From the outset the Advisory Group has been clear that we need strong and robust evidence as a basis for our work on tackling sectarianism. I am delighted that the Advisory Group has been able to commission these excellent pieces of research with the support of the Scottish Government. There is no doubt that they are a significant addition to the existing evidence base and we will be using the findings to shape or final report to the Scottish Government later in the year.

“The research is clear. There is absolutely no doubt about the fact that sectarianism impacts negatively on people’s lives and that it is not confined to particular communities.

“The evidence highlights some of the complexities of the problem and that there is no single cause and no single solution. A culture of finger pointing, blaming and outright denial has provided comfort to many excusing the familiar behaviour that acts as a life support to anachronistic sectarian attitudes, but such a culture fails to address either the problem or provide a solution. That is why we believe that local solutions are central to tackling this issue, but also recognise that organisations and institutions must play a full role. This research points to the fact that there is a real thirst for change and that public opinion is overwhelmingly in favour of extinguishing the final embers of sectarianism.”

To read the research reports click on the links below:

Scottish Social Attitudes survey 2014: Public attitudes to sectarianism in Scotland

http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/02/5330

http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/02/6038

Community Impact of Public Processions

http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/02/3769

http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/02/9505

Community Experiences of Sectarianism: http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/02/9920

http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/02/6496

Summit to highlight the dangers of metal theft

‘It beggars belief that criminals continue to dice with death for a few pounds worth of scrap metal’ – Guy Jefferson, SP Energy Networks

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) will host the Scottish Business Resilience Centre’s Metal Theft Summit next week. The event will highlight the devastating impact metal theft in Scotland has on our economy, businesses and public safety.

Speakers at the summit on 25 February will include the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s Deputy Assistant Chief Officer David McGown, Mr. Paul Wheelhouse, Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs and Chief Superintendent John McBride of the British Transport Police.

Metal theft puts lives at risk with the potential for cables to become exposed, dangerous chemicals to be released or fires to start being greatly increased. The cost of repair after metal theft can often outweigh the materials stolen and so the impact on businesses can be colossal.

Assistant Chief Officer Lewis Ramsay, Director of Prevention and Protection, SFRS, said: “Metal theft is extremely dangerous and causes huge problems for both the public and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

“Metal theft not only leaves businesses and communities out of pocket, but it puts life at extreme risk. Many hazards are created as a consequence of metal theft, not to mention the disruption it creates for the public going about their work and daily lives.

“Only recently in November 2014, 16 dry riser outlets were stolen from a multi-story flat building within Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire. The risers were swiftly replaced within 48 hours but were again stolen only two weeks later. Should there have been a serious fire in the affected building at the time of the dry riser being out of operation, the immediate lack of a sufficient water supply to the fire floor level could have led to the possibility of serious damage to the building, and worse, the increased potential for endangerment and loss of life to both residents, and firefighters.

“Metal theft is also extremely dangerous for the persons committing the crime. In July 2013, a man was killed in North Lanarkshire as he attempted to steal an 11000-volt overhead cable. This incident also left 280 homes without power.”

Mr. Paul Wheelhouse, Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, said: “Metal theft is not a victimless crime. It affects everyone, from individuals and communities to churches and businesses – it can even put innocent people at risk – which is why the Scottish Government is continuing to clamp down on this extremely harmful and illegal activity.

“The Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Bill, currently with the Parliament, includes measures to improve the regulation of scrap metal dealers and end cash payments for scrap metal, making it more difficult for thieves to profit from their crime.

“Further to our proposals for tougher legislation more effective enforcement has also been introduced with the British Transport Police team now dedicated to tackling metal theft and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service adopting a tougher prosecution policy for this crime.

“This is an extremely disruptive, selfish and harmful crime and we will continue to do all we can to make Scotland a hostile environment for criminals involved in metal theft.”

Chief Superintendent John McBride, British Transport Police, said: “Metal theft continues to disrupt the lives of Scottish people. Industry and communities continue to be affected with rail and electricity cable being stolen and damaged recently and schools have had to close following water damage when lead was stolen from roofs which impacts on the children’s education, teachers and parents and comes with a not insignificant cost to taxpayers.

“Police forces and other enforcement agencies have been pro-active and will continue to take steps to enforce the law and tackle metal thieves and those who help dispose of stolen material. We work in a broad partnership with industry and others to help safeguard their property, and we look forward to the Scottish Government’s proposed new legislative arrangements for the Metal Recycling industry.”

Chief Inspector Alistair Muir, Police Scotland, said: “Metal theft is a crime that affects all communities across the length and breadth of our country. Whilst Police Scotland remains committed to tackling this problem we cannot do this in isolation. A strong focused partnership remains the key to significantly reducing the incidents of metal theft and the resulting negative impact this type of crime has on our homes, transport infrastructure, communications, public services and businesses.

“By working in partnership we can reduce opportunities for criminals, improve detection rates and reduce market opportunities for stolen materials.

“2015 will see the implementation of significant changes to metal dealer licensing in Scotland bringing us more into line with England and Wales. Working with industry partners in metal recycling will be key to the success of these legislative changes. By supporting the majority of legitimate, ethical businesses we can focus on those unscrupulous dealers who trade on the misery metal thieves bring to our communities.”

Mr. Iain Hetherington, Director General, British Metal Recycling Association, said: “The Summit comes at a very critical time. Metal theft is a major problem for the Scottish infrastructure and our communities. As police and public services are tightened it is imperative that we come up with smarter solutions to this insidious crime.”

Mr. Guy Jefferson, Distribution Director, SP Energy Networks, said: “Metal theft from the electricity network continues to put lives at risk, and threaten the safety of communities. It beggars belief that criminals continue to dice with death for a few pounds worth of scrap metal. What is more concerning is their complete disregard for the power cuts they have caused, and the house fires they have started.

“We support all efforts to stop these selfish criminals, and restrict their ability to sell stolen metal. Along with other industries, we are keen to see the new legislation that The Scottish Government is proposing on scrap metal implemented as quickly as possible.”

Ms. Jessica Snow, Senior Technical Officer, Historic Scotland, said: “At a time of high global demand for raw materials, thieves are targeting lots of different types of metal on old buildings – especially lead and copper. The most common target seems to be lead from roofs, with churches being particular targets, although statues, lead downpipes and even war memorials have also been stolen. Obviously this is of great concern to Historic Scotland, so we’re keen to work with our partners to formulate preventative measures and agree how best to deal with the immediate and longer-term effects of metal theft.”

Mr. Paul Mumford, Crestatech, said: “Substation theft causes severe safety risks both at the site and at customer premises. If such theft remains undetected, the safety risk to both engineers and first responders entering site without prior knowledge of the event is high.

“Cresatech have been working with Scottish Power and SSE to detect such events and enable mitigation of the safety and service continuity risks that result.”

Trinity man sees off gang of intruders

Police seek occupants of silver Vauxhall following Trinity robbery

A man fought off up to six intruders after they broke into his home in Trinity earlier this week.

The 36-year-old resident disturbed one of the robbers in his Afton Terrace home at around 9.30pm on Tuesday.

The pair struggled and were joined by more intruders – all are thought to be teenagers – who entered the house by the back door. The robbers then ran off and escaped in a silver Vauxhall which was parked at the front of the house.

It is understood a quantity of cash was taken.

The first robber is described as white, 5ft 10in, slim, around 17 years old, with short dark hair and was wearing a black woolly hat and a dark navy tracksuit with stripes and a gold logo on the arm.

The second was white, around 19 years old, 5ft 10in, slim, with short hair and was wearing a white and red scarf over his face, grey hoodie and grey trousers.

A third was white, around 19, 5ft 8in and chubby. The others are described as aged between 16 and 18 and wearing dark clothes.

Detective Constable Mark Seymour said: “This was a very frightening experience for the victim who discovered the suspects within his home and who was then assaulted.

“Anyone who was in the area of Afton Terrace and Granton Road at around 9.30pm and saw a silver Vauxhuall car or has information about who was responsible is urged to contact Police Scotland on 101.”

Extra £2m for ambulance service

The Scottish Government is to invest an additional £2 million in the Scottish Ambulance (SAS) next financial year. The cash has been earmarked to progress service developments that will improve patient care.

The extra funding will be used to help the ambulance service deliver their refreshed strategy, Towards 2020: Taking Care to the Patient, that will support the overall vision for the health service to provide more care to patients at home or in the community and help to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.

To achieve this, more investment will be targeted at developing the clinical skills of the current ambulance service workforce to operate to the full scope of their practice, as well creating new roles with enhanced skill sets.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “The Scottish Ambulance Service play a vital role in the delivery of NHS care for patients, often being the first to attend to a patient who is unwell. They have a key part to play in this Government’s vision for a health service that works around the needs of a patient and delivers the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

“That is why we are supporting the vision set out in this strategy with this additional funding which will help accelerate the pace of change and mean patients will start to benefit sooner. I know how committed and dedicated ambulance staff are to delivering high quality patient care day in and day out, and it is important we ensure they are equipped with the appropriate skills, training and clinical support to be able to deliver more care in the community.

“Our vision for a health service that meets the changing needs of our population, also needs our local services to evolve. With this vision, and investment, the ambulance service will be better prepared to meet the needs and the challenges of the future, working with local services.”

Over the course of the five-year strategy, the SAS aims to decrease A&E attendances by around 12 per cent by taking high quality care to people in the community and bringing those who need it directly to specialist care, rather than having to be admitted through emergency departments.

It also outlines plans to take forward investment in new technology to enhance diagnostic capacity and clinical decision support to frontline staff, as well as making further improvements to pre-hospital cardiac care by leading a national programme of improvement for out of hospital cardiac arrest.

Pauline Howie, Chief Executive, Scottish Ambulance Service said: “Our strategy recognises the principle that care should be appropriate to need, so we will continue to respond rapidly to serious emergencies while developing care pathways that are integrated with other health and social services in local communities to enable patients to be treated safely at home or in their community when appropriate.

“Last year over 77,000 patients avoided attendance at A&E after being treating safely at home by our teams and we continued to improve cardiac arrest survival rates.

“Our strategy is supported by a programme to develop our staff to meet the changing needs of patients within the new landscape of integrated health and social care in Scotland.”

Towards 2020: Taking Care to the Patient, A Strategic Framework for 2015-2020, is available at:

http://www.scottishambulance.com/UserFiles/file/TheService/Publications/Strategic%20Plan_Online%

SFRS: stay safe on Valentine’s Day

Firefighters are urging the public to make sure they don’t risk tragedy if they plan to turn up the heat on Valentine’s Day …

With people throughout Scotland set to enjoy a romantic evening with someone special, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is reminding everyone how they can prevent distraction leading to disaster.

Assistant Chief Officer Lewis Ramsay, the SFRS director of prevention and protection, said: “Many people will be marking Valentine’s Day with a romantic meal at home so it’s important that they aren’t leaving themselves and their loved ones at needless risk from fire.

“Kitchens are the most common starting point of house fires and someone getting distracted while they’re cooking is a very common cause.

“It only takes a moment for a fire to start and if you’re not concentrating then cooking even the simplest meal can lead to a serious incident.

“The chance of a fire happening dramatically increases if a person tries to cook while they’re under the influence of alcohol – we all need to accept these things just don’t mix.”

People should never walk away from a cooker while the grill or hob is on.

As householders look to set a romantic atmosphere SFRS is also making clear that even the small flame from a candle can lead to a home, or lives, being lost to fire.

ACO Ramsay added: “Candles are very popular decorations but they’re also a significant fire risk and anyone using them needs to make sure they do so safely.

“It’s vital lit candles aren’t left unattended or placed where they could be accidentally knocked over or set fire to things like furniture, curtains or clothing.

“The fact is fires tend to start when our attention stops. Understanding the hazards and choosing to take a few very easy steps to address them really does save lives.”

Where fires do start, early warning is crucial if people are to get to safety, with working smoke alarms known to save lives, prevent injuries and minimize damage to property.

Householders can also install heat alarms in kitchens as these devices will detect a fire early without being activated by smoke produced from cooking.

Talking tagging in community shop

Steve Harte, Young People’s Service Manager attended the shop this week. Steve works a lot with the Police and Youth Offenders.

He brought with him electronic tagging system and shown residents how it worked.
Nearly 800 tags in Scotland are monitored 24/7 by G4S.

This is all part of Muirhouse Community Shop raising awareness of #StrongerNorth

Link to pictures here

Robert Pearson

Safer Internet Day: friendship in a digital age

Young people take the lead in nationwide Safer Internet Day campaign

Young people across the UK are joining together to create a kinder online community today,Safer Internet Day 2015, as a new study into Friendship in a Digital Age reveals that 30% of young people have been on the receiving end of mean online behaviour in the past year.

The research comes as official organisers of the day, the UK Safer Internet Centre, launch #Up2Us, a new film made by over 150 schoolchildren about their online experiences – both good and bad – with the aim of inspiring young people across the UK to do something kind online this Safer Internet Day. The film will be premiered at events across the UK today, attended by government Ministers and young people.

Celebrities, including young stars such as Britain’s Got Talent finalists Bars and Melody, and Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle, have backed the campaign. Beth and other celebrities feature on Safer Internet Day TV, which is hosted by CBBC Friday Download presenters Molly and Harvey, and will be available online today from 11am and 2pm, with a social media takeover by Bars and Melody at 8pm.

They join hundreds supporting the #SID2015 social media campaign to ‘share a smile online’, which is set to reach over 1.5 million in a mass tweet at 8am today, along with over 800 organisations that have pledged their support for Safer Internet Day 2015. High profile partners including the BBC, CEOP, Disney, the FA, Facebook, Google, Lloyds Banking Group, Microsoft, NSPCC, Twitter and the UK Government, as well as hundreds of schools and other organisations, are all coming together to deliver a range of inspiring activities across the UK.

Friendship in a digital age

According to the online study of more than a thousand 11-16-year-olds conducted by ResearchBods, more than three quarters (78%) believe that young people have the power to create a kinder online community. The majority (88%) of the young people questioned say they always try to be kind in their online interactions.

The study reveals the huge role that technology plays in supporting young people’s friendships, with over half (55%) saying they interact online with their closest friends several times an hour and 63% saying they are closer to their friends because of the internet. Reassuringly the internet is a positive place for the majority of young people surveyed. When questioned about their time spent on social networks and messaging apps, the majority of 11-16s (63%) felt that people were kind to them on the internet most of the time.

However, some young people face negative experiences online. Almost a third (30%) of young people said that someone had been mean to them in the last year, with 1 in 20 (5%) saying that people were mean to them most of the time on the internet.

Many of these young people are taking positive steps to tackle these negative experiences, with three-quarters (75%) of young people who experienced mean behaviour saying they have blocked someone in the last year, while 68% said they have supported someone else who was being targeted online. More positively, 64% of young people said they felt able to cope with anything negative that might happen online and 81% said they know what to do if someone is abusive towards them online.

An additional survey of UK adults by ComRes demonstrates that this isn’t just an issue for children. 45% of adults who use social networking and messaging apps said they occasionally see people on their social networks and messaging apps posting unkind, negative or upsetting content. People sharing gossip and rumours has occurred for three quarters (72%) of adults using social networking and messaging apps, while around three in five (59%) have experienced people posting things that attack a certain group (e.g. racist, sexist or homophobic comments).

That’s why everyone is being encouraged to play their part in creating a better internet.

Will Gardner, Director of the UK Safer Internet Centre, said: “It’s heartening to hear that the majority of young people are finding the internet a positive place on the whole, but there’s more to be done to make sure that’s the experience for everyone. We’re encouraging everyone to take action today – whether that’s sharing a smiley face or making a promise about your online behaviour. It really is up to us to make the internet a better place.”

For more information on the activities taking place to celebrate Safer Internet Day, visit the UK Safer Internet Centre website.

Report: Friendship_in_a_Digital_Age

Seen something? Say something!

Campaign encourages Scots to act if they think an adult is being harmed

Scots are being urged to act if they think an adult is being harmed, neglected or exploited. The Scottish Government’s ‘Seen something? Say something’ campaign is being launched today. It aims to raise awareness of the issues of adult harm and adults who are at risk of being harmed.

The campaign encourages people to act on their suspicions or instincts that somebody may be experiencing harm. An email or anonymous call to your local council is all it takes, and they will investigate the matter sensitively.

Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health, said: “It’s a sad fact that there are many adults in our society who are suffering at the hands of others. This could be physical harm, sexual abuse or financial exploitation. It could be neglect, psychological bullying, or taking advantage of a vulnerable person for your own advantage.

“It’s time that this suffering, which so often takes place in the shadows, came to an end. Through this campaign we are urging people to take action if they think an adult is being harmed.”

Contact details for all of Scotland’s local adult protection teams can be found at www.actagainstharm.org.

Getting complete statistics on adult harm in Scotland is difficult, and the full picture is unclear. However, it’s estimated that there are about 300 referrals to council social work departments every week and that, on average, 16 of these will result in an investigation.

It’s not always easy to tell if an adult is in trouble. But there are signs and situations to be aware of. For example, a person may have unexplained cuts and bruises, or refuse to talk about injuries. They may be failing to look after themselves or their property, be confused about where their money has gone, or be giving money to people they know for reasons that might raise concerns.

They may appear quiet, withdrawn or nervous around certain people, get upset at the mention of their relationship, or may constantly be having people – friends or strangers – visiting and using their home for reasons that are unclear.

Paul Comely, National Adult Protection Coordinator at WithScotland, said: “People often have an instinctual feeling that someone is being harmed or is at risk; a sense that something is not right. By acting on this, they could help a person who is at risk to overcome the situation and become safe from harm.

“Sometimes people don’t want to get involved, for fear of being seen to intrude in other people’s lives. Or they are worried they might be wrong about the situation and their actions will result in another person being unfairly accused. But it is vital to raise concerns, and it is safe to do so; the local council will check the situation sensitively and support will be given, if needed.

“If you think an adult is at risk of harm and something feels wrong, you’re right to get it checked out. If you’ve seen something, say something.”

Police Scotland Detective Superintendent Willie Guild, said: “One particularly insidious type of harm is financial harm with people being exploited through a range of scams, as well as doorstep criminals such as bogus callers or rogue traders, putting pressure on people to hand over their money or belongings. However it is not always strangers who pose the risk to vulnerable members of our communities and it is not always easy to identify a person is being harmed. I would urge people if they are concerned about an adult who may be at risk of harm to act on their instincts by contacting their local authority.

“Alternatively contact Police Scotland on 101. In an emergency always contact the police by calling 999. We will act on calls we receive and together we will tackle adult harm and improve adult protection across Scotland.”

Scheme to identify harmful drinking goes citywide

A successful pilot scheme that helps frontline staff identify problem drinking amongst elderly people in the west of Edinburgh is set to be rolled out across the city.

An advice toolkit was drawn up after alcohol-related harm was identified as a significant concern amongst those aged 65 years and over and living in the Almond and Western Edinburgh areas of the city.

A report about the scheme will be made to members of the Communities and Neighbourhoods Committee when it meets on Tuesday (10 February).

Staff training and the toolkit, which includes a unit measuring glass, phone numbers and information leaflets, has been well received and it is anticipated that similar training may be received by Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue and third sector partners in the future.

The scheme was created by the joint Almond and Western Edinburgh Neighbourhood Partnership Health and Community Care Sub-Group in collaboration with NHS Lothian who had concerns about drinking habits; these were supported by local health care partners and local GPs.

The next step is to roll the training programme out to third sector partners, equality groups and local businesses. Information sessions are also planned for GP surgeries, pharmacies, libraries and shopping centres.

Councillor Maureen Child, Communities and Neighbourhoods Convener, said: “Many elderly people enjoy the occasional tipple, and there is nothing wrong with that. This toolkit is aimed at those whose drinking habits are causing harm to their health and are in need of advice.

“Staff have been very positive about the pilot scheme and have welcomed the support it gives them to approach residents who may be struggling. It makes sense to roll it out to other areas of the city, and it’s fantastic that other organisations are also interested in using it.

“The health and well-being of our residents is the most important factor, especially with our ageing population. Anything that helps to reduce health inequalities should be welcomed.”

Lesley Taylor, Neighbourhood Support Service Manager for the Council, has taken part in the training. She works with vulnerable adults through the housing support service. Lesley said: “Our priority is to support the people we visit to make the best choices regarding their health and lifestyles. This toolkit has been extremely helpful by giving staff the confidence to talk to clients where there is a concern about their drinking habits. We’ve found that people are open to the advice and have been able to dispel some of the myths surrounding alcohol use.”

Eleanor McWhirter, NHS Lothian Lead in Alcohol Brief Interventions, said: “This pilot is a great example of community groups, NHS Health Promotion Service and the Council working together to promote the health and well being of the local population.

“It revealed that intervening early and focusing on the needs of local people can be effective in reducing alcohol consumption. We look forward to potentially expanding this work to other areas of the city.”

#StrongerNorth: Action Update

Steady progress on tackling community concerns

How has the #StrongerNorth initiative been performing?The latest figures, compiled at the end of January, are very encouraging:

Housing

• 17 housing enforcement actions taken against residents in response to behaviour

Including 13 warnings, 1 Final Warning, 1 Notice to Quit, 1 Notice of Proceedings for Recovery of Possession, 1 ASBO under consideration.

Offending

· 7 Young people identified and targeted due to offending (Police, Council, Social work etc)

· 3 charged as adults, 2 in Children’s Hearing system and 2 in court system (last four all reducing offending)

· 4 young people subject to Movement Restriction Condition

· 4 young people placed in secure accommodation in last 12 months (2 twice)

· Calls to Police have really reduced between October and December 2014 (209 to 119 calls)

· Reduction in offences committed by the most problematic young people – including a significant drop by one prolific housebreaker.

Youth Work

• Positive engagement over a number of weeks with group working on bothy at Towford

• Conversation cafe with Positive Prison organised for 30 January.

Employment and Training

• Employment experience and training programme developed by Council, Urban Union and Edinburgh College. First group ready to benefit.

Pre-School and School

• Respect programme expanded to Craigroyston and Forthview Primary Schools

• Youth Engagement Programme at Crewe Road Fire station – participants selected from Craigroyston Community High School.

Physical Improvements

• Community clean ups in backgreen at West Pilton Gardens/Crossway and roadside verge along Granton Mill well-attended.

West Pilton/West Granton Community Council

• Community payback team cut back bushes in West Pilton Park where motorbikes were being hidden.

Communications

• Regular daily tweets and 1,343 followers

• Over 230 Facebook likes.

Community activity

• Community survey planned to track community views about local action

• Tenants and Residents in Muirhouse #StrongerNorth campaign – Community Shop window display

• Weekly lunch time drop in sessions at Muirhouse Community Shop and Pilton Community Association flat – six week programme started 19 January

• Community feedback event 4 February.