Edinburgh's Old Town business owners say thieves, thugs and drug users are making their lives a misery.
Anti-social behaviour problems were branded "totally unacceptable" last week with council bosses considering introducing new police powers. Dispersal orders are one of the measures that council leader Cammy Day believes could be put in place to tackle crime in the area following a desperate plea by local businesses to help them with the ongoing problems.
Edinburgh Live reported last week how some locals even reported "dead bodies" being discovered on Old Town streets. It comes a year after a group of traders warned the council that the area had become a "no go zone" for some members of the public.
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Edinburgh Live went to the Old Town and chatted with local business owners and managers about problems plaguing their streets.
Massimo Andreucci, co-owner of the Clamshell, a fast-food restaurant on the Royal Mile, thinks putting more police on streets will help. He said: "There needs to be more patrols by the police as there is so much going on around the high street such as people injecting drugs.
"There also needs to be more clean-ups of the street, but that only seems to happen during the festival, then for the rest of the year they are let loose and get to do whatever they want."
"There are shops getting stolen from, people come into my shop in a complete state and it is awful for kids and especially tourists to see. We are in Edinburgh City Centre, the heart of the city and to have people causing trouble like this, it is just a complete mess.
"There have been so many times that we have wanted to call the police in these situations, as there have been people fighting outside of the shop. By the time the police get here someone has been hurt, stabbed, or even been killed and that is why we just don't bother anymore."
Massimo went on to say that employees sometimes do have to get involved in breaking up altercations, because the police take so long to arrive, but workers in shops "shouldn't have to be doing that."
The manager of Gordon's Trattoria, Daniela Scott, believes there should be more of a police presence on hand to help with anti-social behaviour.
She said: "I think it a shame that Hunter Square is covered in people taking drugs with some people shouting abuse at residents and tourists who have paid to come to this city.
"The Royal Mile is famous, it is where Edinburgh castle is and you are getting undesirables hanging out in the city centre and the police do nothing, it is not good enough. I just don't think the police care and that is how I feel and it has been like that for a long time."
"I think the council do not care about the street and I have been on the phone to them a million times. All the effort seems to be put onto Princes Street or George Street but the Royal Mile just seems to be abandoned and we should have a lot more love and attention for it."
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Adam, assistant manager of Civerinos on Hunter Square, has been working at the pizza restaurant for almost a year. He believes there should be a bigger police presence.
"Ultimately the police are at Hunter Square every day, there are two officers outside stationed most of the day which is really good to see. But when the police are not present and there is trouble outside, that takes me away from my job and I spend a lot of time on the phone with them.
"At the moment the police are doing great and I have heard some talk of them increasing their patrols. I think more money needs to be spent on having a presence and not just when the Fringe is on."
"As a business, it can be really difficult when you have tourists alongside families and children at your restaurant and trying to explain to them what is going on. It is not something you want to see in such a beautiful city like Edinburgh."
Alvaro Mena, a business owner who looks onto the square claims that a fining system should be introduced.
He said: "I do not think there is a solution, because it is not practical in this country, but there should be more fines, proper fines.
"Some of the incidents that I see can be really difficult to manage but the courts have to do more and I think fining people could help."
Councillor Tim Pogson, Chair of Edinburgh Community Safety and Justice Partnership, said “We’re committed to continuing to work with Police Scotland and other partners to address issues of anti-social behaviour in the capital.
“We take incidents around Hunters Square, The Tron and Royal Mile very seriously as the area is a prime public space in the centre of our beautiful city and we want to make sure it’s accessible and inviting to all. For example CCTV colleagues have installed a new digital camera within the area that has a pan tilt and zoom camera with an additional four static cameras which are monitored 24/7.
“We will continue our work with Police Scotland through the South East Community Improvement Partnership to ensure that Edinburgh remains a safe place for its businesses, workers, residents and visitors.”
Police Scotland were also approached for a comment on the current levels of anti-social behaviour in the city centre.
Chief Inspector Murray Tait, Local Area Commander for Edinburgh City Centre, said: “I want to make it clear to all local businesses and residents within the Tron, Hunter Square and Royal Mile area that all incidents of criminality remain an absolute priority for Edinburgh Division and are investigated thoroughly and professionally whenever they are reported.
“Over the last 12 months, my officers have worked with the City of Edinburgh Council and a range of stakeholders to respond to issues of criminality and anti-social behaviour, but also to seek increased support provision in the area and explore potential environmental improvements.
“As well as enforcement, officers are signposting offenders to a range of specialist support to assist with issues such as homelessness, addiction and mental health.
"Working alongside the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, we have established a wider bail exclusion zone to include the Southside corridor, in addition to the existing Old Town exclusion zone.
"We have also just concluded a six month programme which was partly funded by Police Scotland’s Local Community Policing fund, which sought a holistic approach to working with partners to deliver increased individual support.
“In addition, officers chair a regular working group set up to drive improvements in the area, which includes cleaning and repurposing opportunities.
“We continue to engage regularly with residents and all local businesses to tackle the issues raised and this remains an ongoing commitment.”
