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SETTING PRIORITIES TO FEEL SAFER

Submitted by Editor on

The Leith Feeling Safe Community Forum (FSCF) will meet on 30 November to establish up to six new priorities for Police and Council workers to focus on in the Leith Neighbourhood Partnership area  from December 2013 to March 2014. (This area contains much of what is properly considered Pilrig and Broughton south of Pilrig Street.)

The last such FSCF was held on 18 September, and agreed to focus on:

  • Anti-social and intimidating behaviour by beggars on Leith Walk
  • Speeding motorists and cyclists on pavements on Leith Walk
  • Alcohol-fuelled anti-social drinking in Leith Links and the Kirkgate
  • Safe parking initiatives outside all Leith schools at pick-up and drop-off times.

The next meeting on 30 November will meet at 11.30pm on Saturday 30 November in McDonald Road Library. Present will be police officers, environmental wardens and community safety officers. Anyone who lives, works, studies or visits the area is welcome to attend. There will be unthreatening refreshments.

'Any suggestion which makes Leith a safer place will be considered,' writes Community Safety Officer Michael Traill. 'Although there is no additional funding available, resources such as manpower are freed up to support the priorities.'

If you want to have your say but can’t make the 30 November meeting, Tel. 529 7208 or email here.

A similar (but as yet unscheduled) meeting will be held in December for the City Centre Neighbourhood Partnership area. Here the current priorities are:
  • Rough sleepers and drug misuse in St Andrew Square
  • Antisocial behaviour, rough sleepers and drug misuse in the Cowgate
  • Drug abuse in Blenheim Place, Baxter's Place and Leith Street.

Of note here is the fact that the behaviour of 'rough sleepers' and 'beggars' has been raised simultaneously in both Leith and the City Centre. The question has also been raised at both community councils, and in the pages of the Spurtle (e.g. Breaking news, 25.6.13; Issue 194). There is an obvious public appetite for this problem to be addressed, and a clear need for the 'solution' to involve more than moving victims/troublemakers from one spot to another.
 
On the other hand, saunas – their licences, and the sexual activities which go on in them – 'have never been voted a priority' issue by the FSCF in the City Centre area, an official tells us. Nor has a wish to do so been raised at recent community councils, or by readers in the pages of the Spurtle.

So whatever has been motivating Police Scotland's recent campaign, it does not appear to have originated among members of the public.

Most right-thinking locals have no difficulty with Police Scotland cracking down on illegal activities such as money laundering and people trafficking which have allegedly become associated with some saunas. However, it is Spurtle’s understanding that most would also have strong reservations if Police Scotland bypassed public opinion and
genuinely sought to dictate policy on sexual mores or health according to some obscure agenda of its own making. 

Perhaps these priorities should also be noted at future FSCF meetings.

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  •  Neale Gilhooley More concerned about being able to walk anywhere near the top of Leith Walk or even down Broughton Street safely after midnight.
  •  
    Robbie Court Appalled at the latest genius idea of banning condoms from saunas - Edinburgh won't be improved by increasing STI's and prostitutes on the streets.

  Dee Swift I agree on the sauna score. They are hotbeds of steaming sin!