More city centre night attacks lead to Christmas restrictions
Clubbers
A large-scale crackdown on anti-social behaviour in the city centre has been launched by police, following a spate of violent assaults outside Edinburgh nightclubs.
The initiative, which began on Friday 30 November, will see city council wardens assist officers on the ground and create a high-visibility police presence throughout December in a bid to make the city’s nightlife safer for festive revellers.
In addition, for the second year running, transport marshals will monitor taxi ranks and bus stops to ensure that clubbers get home safely. Chief Superintendent George Simpson, police commander for Edinburgh, said: "We want everyone to be able to enjoy themselves but to do it safely. We would remind people of the dangers of drinking too much or taking drugs, and leaving themselves vulnerable.”
The drive was announced following reports of three violent attacks within ten days in and outside popular city nightspots.
In the early hours of Sunday 18 November, a 27-year-old woman suffered a serious sexual assault behind the Playhouse Theatre. The victim is thought to have left a nightclub at the top of Leith Walk, before talking to a lead suspect at the Omni Centre taxi rank.
On the Cowgate, a 21-year-old man was left with a fractured skull after being attacked inside The Base nightclub, formerly known as Subway. The victim was approached by the suspect on the dancefloor shortly before 3am. He was punched in the head before being pushed down a flight of stairs. And in another incident on Wednesday 28 November, a man was seriously assaulted on Blair Street, Cowgate while returning home at 12.40am.
Police are appealing for witnesses to each of the crimes, which have come within a month of the launch of Unight, a joint scheme targeting threatening behaviour in 21 nightclubs across the city. By trading CCTV footage of persistent troublemakers, the partnership imposes blanket bans on violent patrons, preventing them from entering any of the member venues for a set period of time.
But the initiative makes no provision for clubbers’ behaviour outside its establishments. The police crackdown this December aims to rid Edinburgh’s streets of the threat of violence at a time of year when alcohol related disorder can reach its annual peak.
Alcohol and knives will be seized from potential offenders on bus routes into the city centre, while officers target known troublespots, and underage drinking hangouts, including the Winter Wonderland in Princes Street Gardens.
City community safety leader Councillor Paul Edie said: “Christmas is a great time to go out. We want to make sure this happens in a safe environment, and that people are protected in the city."
The clampdown will run until the new year.
0 comments on More city centre night attacks lead to Christmas restrictions