The City of Edinburgh Council and Lothian and Borders Police have joined forces to ensure that residents and visitors can enjoy the festivities in the city centre as safely as possible throughout the festival season.
A package of partnership measures will be in operation in the city throughout the festival. New initiatives include the introduction of night-time patrolling for Environmental Wardenson on Friday and Saturday nights along with an increased number of Licensing Standards Officers (LSOs) will also be making more inspections throughout the festival.
The role of the Licensing Standards Officers in this year's festival will be to work hand in hand with the licensed trade and other partnership agencies to combat alcohol related violence and disorder . This will be done in the following ways .
- joint visits to on sale premises will be carried out with Police ELSI (Edinburgh Licensing Standards Initiaitive) team
- joint inspections with the Fire and rescue Service to the temporary venues who are licensed for the festival period. The LSO role in this exercise will be to offer guidance and support to the licensee in connection with any licensing or smoking issues that may occur
-visit off sales in the city centre to ensure that they are aware of the requirements in respect of the sale of alcohol to persons under 18. Off licenses in the city centre will also be visited during the festival period. This will be co ordinated with the Police ELSI team.
- LSOs will also play an important role in the dispersal of night clubs at the end each evening
In addition the licensing officers will visit traders who have set up stalls within the city centre area to make sure they have licenses and are complying with licensing regulations. Joint patrols will be carried out with a police officer and any traders who are found to be unlicensed will be moved on.
A wide range of initiatives will be in place to: combat alcohol-related violence and disorder; help people get home safely after a night out and bolster public reassurance through a highly visible presence.
They are outlined as follows:
- Short measures testing will be carried out by trading standards officers at both established pubs and temporary festival venues.
- Transport Marshals to help people get home safely and highlight alternative night time transport options. (Transport Marshals will be located at the taxi stances on Lothian Road at Rutland Place, Lothian Road at Sheraton Hotel, on the High Street at the Radisson Hotel and at the top of Leith walk at Greenside near the Omni Centre).
- Additional police officers will be patrolling on Friday and Saturday nights
- Community Safety Officers and Environmental Wardens will provide extra patrols to support the Police.
- A joint police and Council operation to tackle alcohol-related crime and disorder in known youth alcohol hotspots, including targeting of known underage drinking haunts.
- Mobile CCTV unit will provide extra support to Police at hotspots within the city
Gordon Greenhill, Head of Community Safety said: "It's that time of year again when the streets, theatres, bars and open areas become packed with residents and visitors to the city. Like most of the service providers in the city we have to step things up a gear at this time of year. We'll be working with the Police and putting more staff on the streets over longer time periods to make sure that the public are safe and that businesses are operating in a fair and professional manner.
Chief Superintendent Colin Campbell of Lothian and Borders Police, Commander for the city of Edinburgh, said: "We want everyone to be able to enjoy themselves during the festivals, but to do so safely.
"We would remind people of the dangers of drinking too much or taking drugs, and leaving themselves vulnerable.
"Make sure you enjoy alcohol sensibly and if you are out with friends, look after each other on the way home or ask the Transport Marshalls for advice."
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Notes to Editors
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