‘It has profound effect on quality of victims’ lives’

MUGGING is a serious crime that has an impact way beyond the immediate obvious cost to the victim.

Stolen money can be replaced and cuts and bruises heal, but getting back your peace of mind can be a very different matter. Street robberies leave some victims, and their families, afraid to leave their homes.

And it is not just the person who has been mugged who is affected, their family, friends and neighbours get scared too.

Mugging may be regarded as a relatively low-level offence, but few crimes have such a profound effect on the quality of life in the Capital.

So the success of Operation Arable, which has seen more than 100 muggers caught in two months, will be welcomed across the Lothians.

Residents will be reassured that the police are making this a priority and that those responsible do often get caught.

When talking about street crime, it is always important to keep things in context.

We have said it before, but it is worth making the point again, Edinburgh is by and large a safe place to live. Your chances of falling victim to a mugger are low, no matter whereabouts in the city you live.

It is right nevertheless that those who do target the vulnerable in the street in this way are given special attention by the police.

They’ve done their job, now it’s down to the courts to do theirs, and take these people off the streets for a long time.

Day to remember

He is the city’s greatest novelist and celebrated across the globe. Now the Capital is making plans for an annual Robert Louis Stevenson Day to recognise the achievements of the Treasure Island author.

Speeches, chalked quotations on pavements, the obligatory flash mob and a continuous public reading of Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, will ensure there is something for everyone. The Stevenson archive in the Writers’ Museum will certainly prove popular.

The move underlines Edinburgh’s status as a City of Literature, builds on the success of the Book Festival, and should be welcomed by tourist leaders and city chiefs.

While the audience will be niche, the success of Bloomsday in Dublin, which celebrates the work of author James Joyce, shows that our greatest writers – who are international brands – have a loyal following.

The November date – to coincide with Stevenson’s birthday – will also attract visitors outside of peak 
season.