How police are funding war on crime with events work

THEY may be famous for their rebel swagger and their anthem to the joys of Cigarettes and Alcohol, but rock icons Oasis have also become one of the biggest private contributors to Lothian and Borders Police funds.

The concert promoters behind their Murrayfield Stadium gig last June, Regular Music, paid the force more than 50,000 for helping keep order around the event.

The gig was marred by violence when a man in his 30s was badly beaten by drunken thugs while support act Kasabian were on stage.

The concert was just one of dozens of commercial events for which the police charged private firms in the last year.

Hibs and Hearts were passed the biggest bills, of 83,774 and 77,726 respectively, for the policing of matches at Easter Road and Tynecastle.

Among the most colourful police postings, the new Burke and Hare movie, starring Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis, was charged 1,461 for policing in locations including the High Street earlier this year.

The force has policed a raft of TV and film productions over recent years, including blockbuster The Da Vinci Code at Rosslyn Chapel in Midlothian, which cost 5,400, and several episodes of dramas featuring Ian Rankin's detective Rebus.

Ocean Terminal, the Royal Highland Show and the city's two bus firms are among the others who paid for an extra police presence in the last year.

The force received more than 300,000 from nearly 30 private firms, but that figure is dwarfed by the almost 2.7 million it received from the city council for special policing projects.

The council directly funded 18 officers for the city centre and 64 officers from Neighbourhood Action Units.

BAA, the operator of Edinburgh Airport, also provided in the region of 1.8m for policing there.

Police chiefs said the varying circumstances of each organisation and its demands were taken into account when deciding on levies, which are calculated to cover the force's costs and no more. The amount the police received fell slightly last year compared to the year before.

A police spokesman said: "There are a multitude of events that take place across the force area which require additional resources in terms of policing.

"While some events are policed without charge, there are many occasions where it is deemed appropriate for the organisers to bear the costs of providing additional police officers.

"Sporting occasions such as football and rugby matches, concerts, and filming requests are examples of events run for profit, where it is entirely appropriate for the organisers to bear the costs involved."

The cost of policing games has fallen in recent years as the clubs made greater use of stewards, particularly inside the stadiums, while police concentrated on security outside. Hearts and Hibs paid out 137,745 and 128,965 respectively as recently as the 2007/08 season.

A Hearts spokesman said: "We employ the police for at least 19 home games at Tynecastle throughout the season. In recent seasons there has been a slight reduction in the number of police active in stadiums in favour of stewards. This move has been possible due to better stadium facilities, improved family packages and a crackdown on anti-social behaviour."

A Hibs spokesman said: "We continue to have an open and excellent relationship with Lothian and Borders Police, and work closely with them."

The city council has funded a range of extra police functions in the Capital, including two sergeants to tackle youth crime at a cost of 40,000 last year.

A city council spokesman said: "We have a strong working relationship with Lothian and Borders Police and they provide a valuable service to the residents of and visitors to this wonderful city.

"We have provided funding for police officers for several years and the 64 officers in the Neighbourhood Action Units have been making a significant impact in the prevention of crime across the city."