Police blitz begins on pubs used as crime ‘safe havens’
Police raid The Grapes pub on Clerk Street. Photo: Greg Macvean
CRIMINALS using pubs in Edinburgh as “safe havens” for drug dealing and selling stolen goods are being targeted by a new police blitz.
A team of 20 officers carried out spot checks on a series of bars yesterday to launch Operation Oberon, a crackdown which will see regular swoops on bars believed to be frequented by offenders.
Sniffer dogs will be deployed to search patrons for drugs while chemical testing kits will be used in pub toilets to check for signs of drug taking.
Police chiefs said the operation, intended to run for several months, was aimed at “driving out” criminals using pubs for illegal activities while often terrorising staff and patrons.
The Grapes in Clerk Street, Newington, Bensons in Dalry Road, and Robertsons Bar in Gorgie Road were the first venues to be visited yesterday. Only one arrest was made for an individual wanted on an outstanding warrant.
Three police vans of officers and a dog unit descended on The Grapes at 1pm yesterday, with officers speaking to staff to check their premises were operating without incident.
Assistant Chief Constable Bill Skelly said: “Unfortunately, there are some people that believe that licensed premises are a safe haven away from prying eyes for criminal activities, including drug dealing, drug taking, selling stolen or counterfeit goods, antisocial behaviour, and using violence and intimidation towards customers and staff. This may also involve the possession of offensive weapons or drugs.
“We are sending out a clear message to criminals that pubs and clubs are hostile places for them. Everyone has the right to enjoy visiting and working at these establishments in safety.”
Operation Oberon follows in the wake of a number of high-profile crimes involving city pubs, including shootings at The Marmion and the Jock’s Lodge, the latter of which police said became a “gang hut” for a group of drug dealers. Preventing extortion rackets targeting pubs is another aim of Operation Oberon. The Gardeners Arms in Gilmerton was closed last year after it was the subject of an extortion bid.
John McCallum, the interim managers of The Grapes, welcomed the police action. He said: “It’s a good thing for our business. If our customers know that drugs are being taken on the premises, they won’t come in. We support the police in what they doing.”
Councillor Marjorie Thomas, the city’s licensing board convenor, said: “We work closely with our partners to combat criminal activity.
“Together, we take strong action on any premises that is not complying with the conditions of its licence and will work with licence holders to resolve any issues or concerns.”
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Thursday 23 February 2012
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Comments
There are 12 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
JimA3220
Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 09:39 PM#10 Tartancult, the troll at #9 reckons it's Chinese, it's about as Chinese as the maple leaf. "His people" LOL
JimA3220
Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 09:37 PM#9, Enslaved your people? I didn't know that Canada had opium wars. Times must be getting hard for you financially if you have to resort to posting on the EEN
Tartancult
Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 07:12 PM#9 the same drugs you enslaved my people with during the "Opium Wars"..........................I see the drugs we enslaved you with have destroyed your mind (or at least the ability to use a keyboard).
..postmark54
Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 03:04 PMComment removed by moderator
steevo
Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 01:20 PMthis is my favourite comment on the yelp site in relation to the grapes: ..... This is where dreams go to die. I wish that I could leave the review at that and warn you never to come here. Living close by I pass this place frequently and its aura just makes me want to run a warm bath and listen to Jeff Buckley and cry. I went in there once by mistake, confusing it for another pub and it was one of the few mid-stride u-turns I've ever done. Amusingly I wouldn't actually have been allowed in there as it's over 25's only. I think they're being a tad optimistic there, as the lowest age in there is at least double that. Outside the pub has its own mini-climate, a natural phenomenon caused by an ungodly amount of smokers puffing away consequently forming one of those cartoon style clouds over their heads. You can be guaranteed to see at least one punter storming out every few weeks with a torn shirt or something similar just generally shouting abuse, aptly confirming the name as The Grapes...of Wrath
Za naszą wolność i waszą
Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 01:17 PMawwwcomoanhowsagadgiegonnamakalivingaboothere ???
dgg
Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 01:10 PMTesting kits? I reckon some very up-market premises are just as likely to prove positive ...
dgg
Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 01:08 PMThe polis may or may not nab someone on the premises, but they can harass pubs that allow dodgy dealings on the premises and build up a folder whereby a licence can be withdrawn. And if the boyz are in blue it's more likely they'll chase off the dealers. With so many legitimate pubs going to the wall it would be a shame if skanky ones survived. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nothing wrong with old-fashioned pubs, just with dodgy licence holders.
scotman
Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 12:51 PMAlcohol is the most dangerous drug in Scotland and the most available.Yet other peoples drug of choice are ilagal. Time to end the so called drugs war
SlyFifer
Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 12:50 PMMy recent esperience is watching drug deals go down on the top deck of Lothian Buses. Watch how the dealer sits at the back. Youths get on at one stop, head up-stairs, make a trade and then get off at the next stop. All co-ordinated by mobile phone. At least it keeps it off the streets !.
Afredo Garcia
Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 12:47 PMThey might have better luck if the polis were in plain clothes...
steevo
Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 12:46 PMyou've got to read the reviews on the grapes here. literary genuises. well done the police!!! http:www.yelp.co.ukbizthe-grapes-edinburgh
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