The long arm of the law gets an extension

A City Council press release said today that:

"Community Safety officers from the City of Edinburgh Council could shortly be making history if joint patrols with Lothian and Borders Police are given the go-ahead.

If approved by the Council's Health, Social Care and Housing Committee on 4 March, the trailblazing phased initiative would see Community Safety staff being teamed with Police officers to tackle specific 'hotspot' areas for crime and antisocial behaviour.

Starting with a six month-long trial involving Environmental Wardens, this phased programme would be the first initiative of its kind in Scotland to be carried out on this scale."

It went on to say that

"The key benefits of joint patrolling include:

- Increased numbers of officers on the street
- Improved community safety
- An increased response to antisocial behaviour
- Increased public confidence
- Greater visibility of Council and Police resources
- More efficient use of resources in the tackling of common problems
- More effective partnership working at a operational level"

It concluded by saying

"Comprising 84 Council-funded police officers, the new Neighbourhood Action Units (NAUs) have replaced the existing Safer Communities Units and Youth Action Teams. Their work will be intelligence-led and will include high visibility, targeted patrols and initiatives with partner agencies such as City of Edinburgh Council Environmental Wardens. Officers from the NAUs will be on duty seven days a week. Each unit will be responsible for a specific local area and can be contacted by residents by phone or e-mail, details available at www.lbp.police.uk or look out for leaflets distributed locally".

I think this is brilliant news. See, there, I've said it. Its excellent. It was our administration that started the community wardens, the Youth action teams etc and we were heading in this direction but, credit were credit is due, this is good news for the city and I applaud it.

Shame that the Libdems voted against the levels of funding of police officers that we wanted but it is great to see them now seeing the light and overseeing an operational change that is good news to the city. So my well done is to them also. Honest!