Neighbourhood safety groups set to meet

THE first meetings of Edinburgh's new "safer neighbourhood groups" are set to take place next month.

The groups, made up of community representatives from local neighbourhood partnerships, will liaise with police to identify crime priorities.

Donald Burgess, partnership development officer of the South Edinburgh neighbourhood, said: "Lothian and Borders Police's new Safer Neighbourhood Teams aim to engage more effectively with local communities in order to identify local priorities for policing.

"It is proposed, that in order to achieve this aim, the police use existing community planning structures as an effective means to engage with communities and their representatives."

The purpose of the Safer Neighbourhood Groups will be to prioritise the three main concerns for the local community.

"Police and partners will address these issues and report back to the groups in six to eight week cycles."

The Safer Neighbourhood Teams are funded by the Scottish Government and have replaced community police officers.