Police in Edinburgh have launched a new operation to keep the public safe this summer during the Festival Fringe and Tattoo.
Following the Covid pandemic, all events associated with the festival were cancelled in 2020 and a far more scaled down version was held in 2021. This mean this year is the first time the iconic festivals will be properly returning to the city since lockdown.
This year, the Festival is returning at full capacity and it is expected that the Capital will almost double in population. With one million people expected to visit or stay in Edinburgh over August. As such, The police are planning on having a far higher presence in the city centre throughout the month to offer reassurance to the public, deter criminal activity and respond to incidents as they arrive.
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The new Operation Summer City will include mobile police stations at Hunter Square and East Princes Street Gardens. Members of the public looking to obtain advice, enquire about lost property or report a crime can visit these facilities as well as contacting the police on 999 and 101.
Over the course of the Festival, Edinburgh police will post a number of personal safety information videos on social media with the hope they will minimise the public's risk of falling victim to a crime or becoming involved in one. Anyone wanting to view these videos can follow Edinburgh Police Division on Facebook and Twitter.
Chief Inspector Mark Hamilton, Operation Summer City Silver Commander, said: “It’s always an incredible atmosphere within Edinburgh during the Festival and with so many people visiting our city, it’s important we have appropriate resources in place to keep people safe and respond to the range of potential incidents that could occur.
”As the city gets busier, we may see reports of certain acquisitive crimes rising and while we will have an increased presence in place to investigate these, the public can play an important role in helping prevent these offences by always keeping hold of their stuff, being mindful of anyone getting too close to them and keeping valuables stored safely away safely.
“Many of our licensed premises will also be operating with later licences and that can mean an increase in alcohol-related disorder and violence. To minimise this, we’ve been liaising with bar and nightclub staff to remind them of their licensing responsibilities and to ensure they share information with one another about anyone who has been within their venue causing trouble.
“I would ask anyone coming into Edinburgh to enjoy the night-time economy to do so responsibly and not have your evening ruined because of excessive consumption. Within the Capital we have special bail conditions that can be imposed on anyone who commits a crime in a licensed premises, or as a result of having been within one. If you are charged in connection with an offence the bail conditions will prohibit you from entering any other licensed premises within the city centre until the conclusion of your trial.
“The last two years without the Festival in its full capacity have been a huge miss to the city of Edinburgh and its local residents and businesses. We look forward to welcoming everyone back, but please work with us to ensure it’s a memorable event for all the right reasons.”
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