Police in Edinburgh have launched their annual campaign to keep the public safe over the festive period. Operation Winter City 2018 kicked off on Friday and will run until Saturday 5th January. The initiative will be in place to ensure appropriate police resources are deployed throughout the city to deter crime, maintain public safety and appropriately respond to any incidents, which arise.
Officers will have a high visibility presence within the city centre and other busy areas over the coming months and will be available to provide a range of useful crime prevention advice to the Capital’s residents, businesses and visitors during this time.
The specially-built police ‘Grotto’ will be situated within St Andrews Square again. However, this year it will be in the West of the square, close to both Princes Street and George Street in order to be more visible to the public.
Anyone wishing to report a crime, speak with officers or obtain leaflets providing safety information are welcome to drop in between 10am and 10.30pm each day.
Having been a popular feature of the past few Winter City campaigns, the ‘Countdown to Christmas’ social media calendar will also return for 2018.
Previous stars of the calendar include PD Chase and ‘Bruceo’, and fronting the campaign this year is 16-month-old Holly from Edinburgh, who has some safety messages she wants to share with us all.
Wee Holly will appear on the city’s Facebook and Twitter pages each day between December 1st and January 1st, providing communities with a range of handy festive safety tips.
Winter City Officers will also be appearing to give advice and show how the range of work they are doing within the city centre.
Anyone wishing to obtain these messages should like the Edinburgh Division Facebook page or follow the Edinburgh Police Twitter account.
Chief Inspector Helen Harrison, who is leading on Operation Winter City, said: “With Christmas and New Year now only a few short weeks away, we have once again launched Operation Winter City to ensure all of those living, working and visiting Edinburgh during this very special time of year remain safe.
“Edinburgh over the festive period is one of the most vibrant and beautiful cities in the world and hundreds of thousands of people head to our city centre to go Christmas shopping, socialise with friends and family and of course, enjoy the world famous Hogmanay Street Party.
“With that in mind, we are devoting our resources accordingly, based on demand, and the public can expect to see lots of officers out and about between now and January as we look to engage with the public and deter crime within the city.
“If you’re in the city centre and wish to speak with officers, either to obtain crime prevention advice or public safety information, or to report a crime, then please visit our police grotto on St Andrews Square.
“For those of you familiar with our popular Countdown to Christmas social media calendar, this will also be returning again this year and Holly will be helping us deliver some safety messages in line with the ethos of Christmas.
“As we do every year, we have and will continue to work closely with our relevant partners, including the City of Edinburgh Council and Essential Edinburgh. I’d like to thank both organisations for their continued support.
“On behalf of everyone within Edinburgh Division, I want to assure our communities that we are doing our utmost to keep you all safe during this festive season.”
