Clean sweep for Forthview in Firework poster competition Continue reading Primary kids paint firework warning
Tag: #StrongerNorth
Antisocial behaviour? Talk safety safely in Drylaw
Crime capital?
Edinburgh has Scotland’s highest crime rate and the lowest detection rates in the country, according to a report published by police watchdog HM Inspectorate of Constabulary today. Commenting on the report, Chief Superintendent Mark Williams said the Edinburgh force faces unique demands but has made ‘real advances’ in tackling priority issues.
MICS acknowledges that Edinburgh officers and staff are working hard to provide a service to their communities, however, and local police are also actively engaged with the city’s licensed trade to tackle antisocial behaviour associated with the night time economy, which helped reduce violent crime in Scotland’s capital city during 2014/15.
The need for sufficient officers in response and community roles is a consistent theme to many of the challenges affecting Edinburgh Division of Police Scotland and the report calls for a review of the balance between local policing and specialist resources across the city.
The HMICS Inspection of Edinburgh Division, which contains eight recommendations, is the latest in the rolling programme under which all 14 local policing divisions of Police Scotland will be inspected to assess their state, effectiveness and efficiency.
This inspection highlights the additional demands placed on the division in policing Scotland’s capital city and the regular need for local officers to cover other areas such as custody, front counters and Edinburgh Airport.
It also looks at the abstraction of officers to maintain public order at courts and recommends that discussion take place between Police Scotland and the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service to reduce this.
It is estimated the equivalent of 55 officers every day are being drawn from local policing teams to provide temporary cover for a range of additional demands, including policing the 1150 pre-planned events the city typically hosts each year. This impacts on the availability of these officers to respond to public demand.
The report also comments on the changing demands of policing with a significant proportion of police time now spent responding to vulnerable people, whose needs could potentially be better met by other agencies.
In planning how best to use its resources in Edinburgh, HMICS believes Police Scotland should take into account and balance the competing demands from both public and protective policing, and the significant pre-planned demand arising from the numerous events in the city.
HM Inspector of Constabulary, Derek Penman said: “We have taken the view that many of the issues affecting Edinburgh Division have arisen because of the specific challenges that come with being the capital city.
“The single force has provided greater access to specialist support and has provided additional officers to assist in meeting these challenges. However I believe there is now a need for Police Scotland to review the balance between local policing and specialist resources to ensure there are sufficient officers within response and community policing roles across the division.
“The positive trends across Scotland of reducing crime levels and improved detection rates are not mirrored in Edinburgh. However these challenges around performance existed before the creation of Police Scotland; and the reasons for them are complex and examined in our report.”
The inspection notes that Police Scotland is fully aware of the challenges facing Edinburgh Division and a range of activities and initiatives have been put in place to improve performance.
Housebreaking is one such area where Police Scotland supported the division in a co-ordinated response after increases of over 20% in 2014/15. This has seen the number of these crimes within the division beginning to reduce.
HMICS found that the division has a good approach to consultation, using a variety of methods to identify national and local priorities. This ensures policing priorities meet the needs of its communities. Local scrutiny arrangements and the “Think Twice” initiative in the city centre are also highlighted as examples of effective practice.
During the inspection, HMICS looked in detail at the division’s approach to partnership working, assessing the impact of change both locally and nationally on this critical area of policing.
Edinburgh Division and its partners have the shared aims of community safety and wellbeing. While some partners commented that police have focused on enforcement rather than partnership in recent years, this trend is now reversing and partners are optimistic the division is refocusing its attention on local relationships.
During its inspections of each local policing division, HMICS also inspects custody facilities to assess the treatment of and conditions for those detained. Of the four custody centres in Edinburgh, the one at St Leonard’s Police Station is the primary facility.
The unannounced inspection of St Leonard’s custody centre found detainees are well treated and benefitted from the 24 hour health care on site and good cell conditions. However the physical layout of the premises and the volume of detainees processed there, have led HMICS to recommend Police Scotland consider long term options for meeting custody demand in the Edinburgh area.
Other recommendations relate to ensuring person escort records are completed properly, maintaining supplies of items required by detainees, the use of suitable vehicles for transferring custodies to other facilities and regular checks on the state of readiness of the three other overflow custody centres at Craigmillar, Wester Hailes and Drylaw.
The force will be asked to incorporate the HMICS’ recommendations into its own improvement process and ensure good practice is shared across Scotland to promote continuous improvement.
Commenting on the report, Chief Superintendent Mark Williams, Local Policing Commander, City of Edinburgh Division, said: “I welcome today’s HMICS report, which has highlighted some key areas for improvement to ensure we are continuing to keep our communities safe.
“The report has also been valuable in highlighting some of the innovative work introduced and pioneered by Edinburgh Division and provided a focus for us to continue to deliver on the policing priorities we’ve set with the public through our local policing plan.
“We’ve already made real advances to address issues such as housebreaking and, since our specific operation to tackle the issue launched early in 2015, we have halved the number of break-ins per month and doubled our detection rates. We have also seen a reduction in violent crime of over 18% against the five year average with robberies alone down over 28%.
“Theft is a real focus for local policing teams and overall it has reduced by 12% against a five year average with motor vehicle thefts down over 26% in the last year alone.
“We are not complacent and will continue to focus on reducing antisocial behaviour and violence fuelled by alcohol in the city. As the report highlights we are building strong partnerships focused on collaboration and early intervention and examples such as Stronger North, the Safezone Bus, the Violent Offender Watch and our new dedicated ward officers show that we are genuinely committed to preventing crime.
“As today’s report shows, the demand for resources in Edinburgh is unique but we will always seek to respond as effectively as we can, calling upon all the resources available to us at both a local and national level.”
Police seek witnesses to walkway robbery
Cyclists may hold vital information
Police are appealing for witnesses following an assault and robbery in North Edinburgh yesterday.
The incident happened around 6am near the Boswall Place exit on the walkway behind Morrisons that runs from Crewe Road North to Pilton Drive.
A 57-year-old man was approached and assaulted by six youths, who then stole his phone. The scene was attended by the Scottish Ambulance Service and the victim was treated for minor facial injuries.
The first suspect is described as a white male, around 5ft tall, 14-years-old, with a skinny build. He had short dark hair and was wearing a black tracksuit.
The second and third suspects are described as white males, 15-16 years old, around 5ft 5inches in height with skinny builds. They were dressed all in black and one of them was in possession of a bicycle.
The remaining three suspects are all described as white males, 17-18 years old, around 5ft 9inches tall with skinny builds. All were wearing grey cotton tracksuits.
The group were last seen heading in the direction of Crewe Road.
Detective Constable Chris Harding said: “This was an unprovoked and cowardly attack on a lone man as he went about his daily business and we’re urging anyone with information which can help with our enquiries to come forward.
“In particular, we’re eager to trace two cyclists who were in the area at the time of the incident and who may be able to assist us in identifying the suspects.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
#StrongerNorth starts spreading the news!
#StrongerNorth produces first newsletter
The #StrongerNorth team has produced their first of what could become a regular community newsletter.
#StrongerNorth came into being last autumn following a series of incidents in West Pilton which culminated in the attempted murder of a Chinese takeaway shop owner.
Since then, a range of partners have been working together to bring new energy to tackling anti-social behaviour and encouraging safe communities in West Pilton and Muirhouse.
Keeping local residents informed about what’s being done to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour is important, and the #StrongerNorth team’s first newsletter is an attempt to improve communications with the community. If feedback is positive, the newsletter could become a regular feature.
See below for a copy of the #StrongerNorth newsletter:
More arrests following local crime spree
Operation RAC: Crime crackdown continues
Police have arrested and charged a 25-year-old local man following a number of thefts and housebreakings in north Edinburgh. The arrest follows the arrest of two others in connection with drugs offences in West Pilton earlier this week.
On Wednesday, officers executed a search warrant at a property on Ferry Road Drive following intelligence received from the public. Various stolen items were recovered and officers are currently conducting enquiries to reunite the stolen goods with their rightful owners.
The man was subsequently arrested and charged for housebreakings to business premises on Queensferry Road, Cheyne Street and Raeburn Place as well as an attempted break-in on Dean Street.
He was also charged in connection with the recovery of an abandoned Mercedes C-Class, which had previously been stolen alongside another vehicle from an address on Prospect Bank Road, and used in several business housebreakings in the Capital.
Superintendent Alan Porte said: “This arrest should reinforce that we will we act on any intelligence we receive and will pursue all possible lines of enquiry to bring perpetrators of housebreaking and vehicle crime to justice.
“The public can be assured that any information given to us will be treated with the utmost confidence, and used to keep our communities safe for everyone.”
The latest breakthrough follows the arrest of two men who were arrested under the Misuse of Drugs Act earlier this week, following the discovery of a significant quantity of Class B drugs in West Pilton.
Drugs Team officers executed search warrants at flats in West Pilton Drive and West Pilton Loan, where they found cannabis with a potential street value of approximately £90,000.
A total of 128 mature cannabis plants were found at a home on West Pilton Drive along with a further 15 vacuum sealed bags each containing 1oz of herbal cannabis and six 250g bags of herbal cannabis worth a potential street value of approximately £55,000. A 30-year-old has been reported to the Procurator Fiscal in connection with this incident and will appear in court at a later date.
Police Scotland officers also recovered 51 mature cannabis plants and 32 seedlings at an address on West Pilton Loan with a potential street value of approximately £35,000. A 20-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday and a report has been sent to the Procurator Fiscal.
Detective Inspector Stuart Harkness from the Gayfield CID Proactive Unit said “These searches removed a significant amount of illegal drugs from our streets and highlights that Police Scotland continues to tackle those involved in organised crime within the city.
“We will continue with a robust approach to tackle crime in the communities we police and I would appeal for the public to provide us with the information we need to disrupt those involved in criminality. This information may be provided to your community officers, through contacting police on 101 or alternatively in anonymity by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Anyone with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Chain reaction: Community rallies to support Forthview following bike thefts
Mackenzies serves up support for school hit by robbery
The Forthview Primary School community was devastated when their storage shed was broken into over a holiday weekend in May. Thieves stole bikes which had been borrowed to help teach pupils cycling proficiency, leaving the school facing a potential bill of one thousand pounds it could ill-afford to pay.
Forthview’s Tracey Berry said at the time: “Bikes that we had borrowed, so that Bill Stobie could teach bike ability to P6, have been stolen, along with footballs and gardening equipment. We are responsible for the bikes: it will cost us about £1000 to replace the them!
“Our fundraising is meant to be for outings and activities for Forthview children, not replacing things that thoughtless people have stolen. If you find one please hand it to the school – the more we find, the less money we have to pay out from the school funds.”
An appeal went out to trace the stolen bikes (see NEN blog ‘Forthview break-in: can you help trace bikes?, 11 May) – and the community response has been nothing short of remarkable!
Forthview head teacher Eileen Littlewood said: “Not only have parents, grandparents and their friends rallied to make donations for us, but a fairly new restaurant in Davidson’s Mains contacted us when they heard about the theft. They are very eager to support the community in any way they can and they offered to hold a fundraising night where staff and other people could come and enjoy a taster menu with wine for £30 a head.
“Staff who went along had a wonderful evening and the food was delicious. We enjoyed 8 courses and half a bottle of wine each. The cuisine was superb and at the end of the evening, Grant and Jamie who are the partners in the business gave us every penny back – £550!
“They did not even want to cover the costs of the food. We have been overwhelmed by their generosity. As one staff member said: ‘what a fundraiser – we made a lot of money, had a brilliant meal and wine as well!’The business in question is Mackenzies Restaurant and Bar in Davidson’s Mains, which opened under new management at the end of April. Mine hosts Grant and Jamie are local lads- from Granton and Wardieburn – and together with Grant’s partner Trisha pledged to help a local school in need.
The Mackenzies team’s tremendous support is greatly appreciated by all at Forthview – and they may just find that their generosity is reciprocated by a grateful community. Well done, Mackenzies!
PS: And the icing on the cake – a number of the missing bikes have been recovered too!
Cop shop!
PC Helen Lyon will be at Muirhouse Community Shop tomorrow (Tuesday) from 11am -12 noon taking your concerns and queries. If you have the chance please feel free to pop in and speak to her tomorrow. #StrongerNorth
Youth Forum focuses on crime in Forth
North Edinburgh Young People’s Forum launched the third edition of their The Matter? newspaper at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre last night. It was an opportunity to catch up with what the group has been doing and their plans for the future.
The latest issue focuses on young people’s perception of crime in the Forth ward. Late last year NEYPF contacted over 150 young people across the area to find out what they thought about crime in their neighbourhood.
The conclusions? NEYPF is calling for more police patrols in the area and an improved working relationship between police and young people. There’s also a call for improved CCTV and better street lighting
The group’s findings were presented to the Scottish Government at a National Discussion Day event in April and NEYPF’s input will help to influence the Building Safer Communities programme.Stolen motorcycles and joyriding remain a big issue and the group announced exciting new plans to develop a community repairs workshop and garage. This project would encourage young people to gain new skills and qualifications.
NEYPF members have also recently undergone peer educator trainign and plan to create a peer education programme based around community perceptions of crime.
First up, though, it’s an invitation from local Inspector David Happs to visit to Drylaw Police Station and meet the local officers there, and also an opportunity to share their findings with #StrongerNorth’s Gold Team.
For further info contact NEYPF@hotmail.co.uk
visit the Facebook page
Twitter: @NEYPF
As we see it: Youth Forum looks at local crime
Read all about it! North Edinburgh Young People’s Forum newspaper investigates attitudes to crime in Forth
North Edinburgh Young People’s Forum would like to invite you along to the launch of our new newspaper which focuses on the perceptions of crime in the Forth Ward through the eyes of young people. We shall also be seeking opinions on ways we can develop this work and our future plans and ideas.
NEYPF`s Crime Perception Newspaper Launch
@ West Pilton Neighborhood Centre
Wednesday 3rd June 2015
5:30pm – 7:00pm (Registration from 5pm)
Refreshments are provided
All at the Forum hope to see you on the night!!