Edinburgh no-go area alert

Tollcross and the Meadows have been singled out as places to steer clear of after dark as part of a new drive aimed at thousands of Edinburgh University students.

The Grassmarket and the Cowgate are also described as places which should be approached with caution in an advice pack produced as part of the campaign.

The warning follows growing concern about problems caused by binge-drinking and cut-price booze offers in some of the busiest parts of the city centre.

Around 2000 advice packs are to be given away as part of the campaign, which will also feature posters, beer mats and computer-screen savers to promote the various safety messages.

The campaign is being run by Edinburgh University Students Association to coincide with the start of the new term later this month. Students are also being urged to think about taking self-defence classes and to learn emergency first aid.

They are being told not to wear headphones when they are walking, so that they are aware of what is going on about them, and to walk confidently so as to avoid appearing vulnerable.

The organisation - which is giving away 1000 personal alarms as part of the campaign - is warning students they risk being attacked when they go out in the Capital and need to take steps to protect themselves.

The safety packs state: "Avoid areas with high incident rates, such as the Meadows, Tollcross or Lothian Road (and be careful in the Grassmarket and Cowgate), mostly at weekends and week nights, especially if you are on your own."

It adds: "Try walking with a friend or in a group, especially at night. Walk confidently, don’t ‘look’ like a victim. Attackers look for people who appear vulnerable.

"Do not wear headphones, so you can hear what is happening around you. Carry your keys in your hand, so you can get into your car or home quickly. If followed, walk quickly to a well-lit area with lots of people."

The warning by EUSA comes after Lothian Road was branded a "no-go area" at night for women, by the respected Lonely Planet guide, two years ago.

Community leaders in the area have launched a campaign to curb binge-drinking and happy hours because of fears over their links to violent incidents.

The city council slapped a ban on new licences being issued for sites in the Cowgate and Grassmarket almost two years ago in the wake of a string of protests from residents and businesses over late-night disruption.

Matt Dale, spokesman for the Grassmarket Traders’ Association, said: "We believe too many licensed premises have been allowed to open. A culture of binge-drinking has been allowed to develop and that’s what causes a lot of the fights in the Grassmarket. That is what needs to be tackled."

David Rintoul, chairman of the Tollcross Community Council, said most of the problems with street violence were being caused by teenagers.

He said: "It doesn’t surprise me at all that students are being issued with this advice. Things have got a lot worse with antisocial behaviour over the last few years and the danger to young people is mainly coming from people of their own age and younger."

Figures published last year by the police revealed that almost 294 violent incidents were recorded in the space of one year on Lothian Road, with another 235 taking place in the Grassmarket and Cowgate.