The Safer Neighbourhood Team led an operation to deal with off-road motorcycles in the Howdenhall area, particularly targeting the Gracemount Drive area and the Burdiehouse Burn ‘Valley Park’ aka The Dip. The operation utilised Roads Policing Officers using off-road motorcycles, officers from the mounted section, and uniformed and plain clothed foot patrols in conjunction with CEC Community Safety Team officers. 

Three motorcycles were seized, intelligence was gathered on areas and times of use, and we received great support and co-operation from the local community.  In one case this involved a dog walker who had been briefed by uniformed officers in the Burdiehouse Dip subsequently videoing an off-road bike in use there with his mobile phone.  We were able to identify the person and traced the motorcycle to a local address where the owner was interviewed and charged. 

Safer Neighbourhood Team officers conducted further succesful ‘Street a Week’ operations during April, notably at Cumnor Crescent, Rutherford Drive, Woodstock Place, and Glenvarloch Crescent. 

Working in partnership with CEC colleagues, SNT officers visited a total of 67 addresses within the Inch Community, taking on board local issues and offering suitable advice. All addresses visited were left with a useful contacts leaflet, fire safety advice leaflet, and free smoke alarm installation leaflet. 

We continue to take in local concerns, some of which directly affected out taskings at this month’s Priority Setting group.

Officers targeting street disorder and anti-social issues in the Howdenhall area came across a disturbance in the street at Liberton Gardens.  A number of persons attempted to make off, the majority of whom were detained at the scene.  We recovered a wooden bat and a metal pole and made 2 arrests.  After more local enquiry we confirmed that there had been a fight at a nearby petrol station garage between two rival groups.  Further street stops were conducted a short distance away, and after additional searches we

arrested one young person found in possession of a butterfly knife. Numerous statements were taken and evidence gathered resulting in 6 individuals being reported in total.  Since that time the SNT has led follow-up work with those involved.  We will continue to target issues and areas you tell us we need to focus upon, so we can reduce the likelihood of such incidents occurring, and react swiftly and decisively on the few occasions a problem arises. 

Local SNT officers continue to work closely with their partners from the education department.  Whether dealing with parking issues at Gracemount Primary School or visiting local schools to give a number of talks, Local Operations and Initiatives bridges continue to be built.  Youth issues at Gilmerton and Moredun Primary Schools were tackled, involving close liaison between the SNT, the schools and the parent body.  PC Brooks continued with his work at Liberton High School and arrangements are being finalised to develop new and closer working links between Gracemount High School and the SNT. 

Following requests for information last month, officers were able to identify, trace and charge a local youth with a number of acts of vandalism, where he had used a marker pen to graffiti street furniture in the

Moredun area.