Edinburgh police already preparing for Christmas

20/06/2008

The authorities in Edinburgh have started putting a strategy together to police the numerous Christmas parties in the city that will take place later this year.

Funding from the Scottish Government for community safety initiatives has enabled the launch of More Christmas Presence.

The City of Edinburgh Council has joined forces with its partners Lothian & Borders Police, the Edinburgh Community Safety Partnership and British Transport Police to implement the scheme, which involves installing transport marshals at five key taxi stances in Edinburgh city centre.

Wearing distinctive yellow jackets, their job will be to help people get home from their Christmas party celebrations, as well as advise on alternative transport options.

Extra police patrols will be carried out on Friday and Saturday nights over the Christmas and New Year periods. Police are also doing late-night patrols of pubs and nightclubs.

'Gateway checks' by police and bus route managers will confiscate from young people travelling to Christmas parties in the early evening period.

The council is also taking part in the scheme by providing a mobile CCTV unit, while the Edinburgh Licensing Standards Initiative (ELSI) is targeting illegal alcohol sales.