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ELREC AGM

Edinburgh Prevention, Intervention & Partnerships Department

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POLICING UPDATE

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Police Campaigns

Community Engagement

Events

Hate Crime

In April 2025, Shopwatch was introduced to Edinburgh City Centre, namely the Business Improvement District, with the support of Essential Edinburgh. Each member of the scheme was provided with an Apex radio and information pack. All of the members can hear each other transmit on the radios, as can the Edinburgh Operations Centre CCTV operators and police officers based in the Central Initiative Team and newly formed Retail Crime Task Force.

During the first year of Shopwatch, we have received very positive feedback from the retailers. Their staff have seen a reduction in shoplifting incidents, and they now feel safer at their work, because they feel part of a retail community, having the ability to raise alerts with each other on the radios. Shoplifters have been arrested, and stolen property has been recovered and returned to shops. People committing crimes of violence have also been immediately apprehended, thanks to swift transmission on the radios by security officers, which enables CCTV operators to quickly guide police officers to the culprits. Weapons have been seized by police, making the city centre a safer place to be.

Leith have recently adopted their own Shopwatch scheme in the New Kirkgate area and we have high hopes for it having the same success as in the city centre.

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POLICING UPDATE

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Shopwatch

Launched April 2025 – Edinburgh City Centre

Links - Shops, Police, Edinburgh Operations Centre CCTV

Reported reduction in shoplifting

Staff reporting feeling safer at work

Result of swift radio transmissions by staff

Shoplifters immediately apprehended
Stolen property recovered
Weapons seized

In April 2025, Shopwatch was introduced to Edinburgh City Centre, namely the Business Improvement District, with the support of Essential Edinburgh. Each member of the scheme was provided with an Apex radio and information pack. All of the members can hear each other transmit on the radios, as can the Edinburgh Operations Centre CCTV operators and police officers based in the Central Initiative Team and newly formed Retail Crime Task Force.

During the first year of Shopwatch, we have received very positive feedback from the retailers. Their staff have seen a reduction in shoplifting incidents, and they now feel safer at their work, because they feel part of a retail community, having the ability to raise alerts with each other on the radios. Shoplifters have been arrested, and stolen property has been recovered and returned to shops. People committing crimes of violence have also been immediately apprehended, thanks to swift transmission on the radios by security officers, which enables CCTV operators to quickly guide police officers to the culprits. Weapons have been seized by police, making the city centre a safer place to be.

Leith have recently adopted their own Shopwatch scheme in the New Kirkgate area and we have high hopes for it having the same success as in the city centre.

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POLICING UPDATE

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System Wide Approach to Preventing Homelessness (SWAP)

In November 2023, the City of Edinburgh Council declared a housing emergency in response to the various housing challenges it was facing.

Clear link between Poverty/Homelessness and criminality (victim or perpetrator)

Pilot will operate within the Wester Hailes Boundary to December 2026

Have a single point of contact for the partnership that can co-ordinate activity

Deliver training for Police Officers on how they can help to combat poverty and homelessness

Imbed homelessness and poverty prevention into Police practice in Edinburgh Division

The ASK and ACT pilot creates the requirement for Police to be part of a whole system approach to support people at the risk of becoming homelessness or who find themselves in severe financial crisis, from a Police perspective people in these circumstances are more likely to become the victims or indeed perpetrators of crime and the pilot is looking to engage with these people before they reach crisis point.

The work in this pilot should therefore have an overall benefit to everyday Policing by potentially reducing criminality in our communities and therefore reduce the number of incidents Officers need to attend, just by identifying and asking people at risk of homelessness 1 question ASK and 1 action ACT.

The Partnership aims to achieve shared outcomes,

By reducing homelessness and poverty.

Thereby reducing harm to vulnerable people and reducing those at risk of becoming victims or perpetrators of criminality. (root causes of harm/crime)

·Shared expertise

·Co-ordinated interventions

·Better data and insight

·Wider referral pathways

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POLICING UPDATE

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People are prevented from homelessness People access the right health supports that they need

People access income, debt and welfare advice and have enough money to live on

Prevention of poverty through access to employment

People have support to access accurate housing advice

Identifying the range of actions different relevant bodies can undertake as standard practice

The Ask and Act pilot aims are:

System Wide Approach to Preventing Homelessness (SWAP)

The ASK and ACT pilot creates the requirement for Police to be part of a whole system approach to support people at the risk of becoming homelessness or who find themselves in severe financial crisis, from a Police perspective people in these circumstances are more likely to become the victims or indeed perpetrators of crime and the pilot is looking to engage with these people before they reach crisis point.

The work in this pilot should therefore have an overall benefit to everyday Policing by potentially reducing criminality in our communities and therefore reduce the number of incidents Officers need to attend, just by identifying and asking people at risk of homelessness 1 question ASK and 1 action ACT.

The Partnership aims to achieve shared outcomes,

By reducing homelessness and poverty.

Thereby reducing harm to vulnerable people and reducing those at risk of becoming victims or perpetrators of criminality. (root causes of harm/crime)

·Shared expertise

·Co-ordinated interventions

·Better data and insight

·Wider referral pathways

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Relevant Bodies

Local Authorities
Registered Social Landlords
Police
Health Boards
Integrated Joint Boards
Special Health Boards
Social Security Scotland
Ministers in relations to duties for Prisons

CEC Housing & Homelessness Services
Prospect Housing
Police Scotland
NHS Lothian
Health & Social Care Partnership
Social Security Scotland
Scottish Prison Service
Crisis & other third sector partners
DWP

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System Wide Approach to Preventing Homelessness (SWAP)

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Community Engagement

ESOL
Asylum Hotels
BSL Students
EIFA Probationer Training & Faith Roadshows
Lothian Buses & Trams
Community Tensions, Russia Ukraine
Community Advisors
University/College students
Chinese Student videos – Scam Sense

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POLICING UPDATE

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POLICING UPDATE

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Community Engagement

Chinese Community – Southside and Universities

Gambian Community – The Gambian Community in Edinburgh

Nigerian Community – Belonging in Action

BSL Interpreters Heriot-Watt University

Prayer Rooms in Police Buildings

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Events

Multicultural Burns Night
Young Drivers
Shut out Scammers
Be Bright Be Seen
CAP – Young Peoples Engagement Days

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Hate Crime

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‘Any CRIME which is perceived by the victim or any other person as being motivated by malice or ill-will based on a victim’s actual or presumed membership of a social group’

Age
Disability
Race, colour, nationality, or ethnic or national origins
Religion
Sexual Orientation
Transgender Identity
Variations in Sex Characteristics

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Contacting the Police

Attend local Police Station

Phone – 999 Emergency

Phone – 101 Non-Emergency

Stop a police officer on the street

Police Scotland Website online reporting

3^rd Party Reporting Centre

Crimestoppers 0800 555 111