Underage drinking + associated noise/vandalism

[Penny Calder]

Have you been disturbed by the kids on the beach recently?
Last night (June 3) about 50 kids (aged between about 12-16 by the look of them) built a bonfire and made a heck of a racket on Joppa beach. No-one in our block of houses got any sleep before 3.30am.
There's no doubt they were drinking as they left a large number of bottles and broken glass at the bonfire site.
This has been happening increasingly frequently recently and the numbers involved are also rising. Is this just happening at the Joppa end of the prom, or is it a bigger problem?
I think that the situation is getting more urgent as the numbers have grown from 12-15 to over 50 over the last couple of years and most of that increase is in the last few months.
I for one don't want the beach to end up as the under-age drinking den for east Edinburgh - and all the damage to property and cars that happens in their wake on the way back. We have suffered similar scenarios in the past.
If we all pick up the phone to the police early on, when these gatherings are starting up, we have a better chance of nipping them in the bud. Apparently under the Antisocial Act 2004, the police have the power to disperse noisy gatherings and target persistent offenders for further action, so we don't have to wait until our sleep is disturbed.

[wangi]

Penny, last night was fine for us (far end of the beach at Joppa), but I saw them and the bonfire while walking along the Prom in the evening.

It was Friday evening we had problems and the Police playing the old game of chasing after them trying to get the bottles off them...

But yes, it is kids from all over Edinburgh coming down to the beach.

And I used to think Scots, by and large, weren't racist - living near to the Chinese and hearing the abuse they get, and urinating on their wall...

[DG]

[Sandra]

[Bob Jefferson]

[Penny Calder]

[Gizmo]

[wangi]

[Bob Jefferson]

[Maria]

[Bob Jefferson]

Yes, no doubt it is an infringement of these young people's civil liberties, a contravention of their human rights and inadmissible in court. There are probably data protection issues, FOI issues...

Penny, what were you thinking of?

[Izzie]

There is a council phone number for ASB sorry cant remeber it but I have used it.They came very quickly and soon sorted out the problem and it has not returned.

I also heard the photos were not legal

[Porty]

[nads]

walking back from the Dalriada last night at about 10.30pm at least 3 bonfires with about 15-20 people around each all looked underage and were swigging from bottles and cans then rolling around drunk, couldnt believe it, I was with my hb and my mum and dad and I am early 30's but was shocked at the swearing coming from them!!. Can imagine why people feel insecure walking along the prom now!

[Mate of Marya]

[Izzie]

[wangi]

[Bob Jefferson]

MoM - 666 2222 is the main switchboard number for Howdenhall Police Station. If you call this number, or any other Police Station in the L&B Force area, you will be re-directed to the Force Communiciations Centre.

The Youth Action Team responsible for Portobello is based at Craigmillar Police Station and run by Sergeant Bowie. YATs are made up of serving police officers and partly funded by the Council. The YAT for the Portobello/Craigmillar area comprises of just 6 officers.

If you want to report a 'youth disturbance' you should just call the police on the number you normally use, bearing in mind you will be put through to the FCC in any case. This will ensure the most appropriate and fastest response and all calls are logged. For more general enquiries about the Youth Action Team and the role it plays in Portobello, you should ask to be put through to Sergeant Bowie, who will be happy to discuss your concerns.

So the message is, if you are suffering from this problem - don't put up with it. Phone the Police at the outset and keep phoning. All of these logged calls will show up in the stats and this allows resources to be directed at the 'hot spots'.

[Mate of Marya]

[Bob Jefferson]

[Libby]

[seanie]

[Libby]

[seanie]

I had a look for information on Police powers. The guidance on “Dispersal of Groupsâ€

[Porty]

Seanie, you can be so annoying when you look up rules and regulations.

[seanie]

[Libby]

[Bob Jefferson]

From yesterday's EN:

[Poppy]

[Poppy]

[bearcub]

[Poppy]

[sconegrrl]

I ended up having to post on here about some car vandalism tonight as I couldn't get through to the police and it's not exactly a 999 situation. This doesn't seem right at all.

I do appreciate that there are more serious things for the police to deal with than bonfires on the beach and juice bottles being chucked through livingroom windows, but these things are very upsetting for the folks who have to put up with it.

Not only is it annoying, but I feel there is an undercurrent of intimidation - who feels comfortable confronting people committing these antisocial acts? On 4 seperate occassions recently, I have seen men (young and old) urinating in the high street IN THE AFTERNOON. It seems to be too much trouble to finish their cigarettes and go back inside the Portobello Bar. It's completely disgusting and offensive, but it seems that we just have to turn a blind eye to this behaviour.

I only seem to come on here when I'm moaning about something, but I feel strongly that Portobello is a great place and deserves to be kept that way.

[bouncie_kiwi]

[SoupDragon]

Wonder if some are the way they are because their mother DONT love them.
I'd be black affronted if any of mine were behaving the way I've seen some teenagers act