1330hrs, 02/06/09
Press Office, Fettes

Lothian and Borders Police are taking part in the National Safer Scotland Anti-Violence campaign. The campaign, which runs from 1st June to 31st July 2009, is co-ordinated by the Violence Reduction Unit in Glasgow, and covers three main themes:

Weapon related violence

Alcohol fuelled violence

Public space violence.


Police officers will use a number of methods to target known violence hotspots, including:

Extra high visibility patrols

Increased weapon Stop and Searches (particularly targeting known knife carriers)

Using Bluetooth to send personal safety methods to people in licensed premises phones

Using metal detectors to screen people going into licensed premises


Lothian and Borders Police are committed to reducing incidences of violence on our streets.

Inspector Graham Goulden from the Force's Safer Communities department, said:

'We continue to work with our partners, who share our interest in reducing violent crime. Together, we want to give the public appropriate advice, and gain their support in making their evenings safe and enjoyable.

'Lothian and Borders Police are committed to making our streets as safe as possible, and will deal firmly with those who engage in violent acts: we are already working with the Procurator Fiscal to exclude individuals from licensed premises and areas where violence is known to occur.

'Our partners work with us to find out where acts of violence take place, and this information helps us target our resources for enforcement and intervention purposes. It also allows us to identify causes of violence and take measures to prevent it taking place in the future.'