Edinburgh police to patrol Pentland Hills daily for most of July to stop antisocial behaviour

Police will be carrying out daily patrols in parts of the Pentland Hills throughout most of July in a bid to clamp down on antisocial behaviour.
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Concerns have been raised during the pandemic about unruly campers leaving piles of litter behind in the area’s beauty spots and vehicles parking dangerously along access roads, with people flocking there during the warmer weather.

Recently announced funding for the Pentlands will bring 140 extra car parking spaces along with new entrance paths, cycle parking and toilet facilities. Work on both the parking and toilet facilities is expected to be finished by April 2022.

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Repeated appeals have also been made to dog walkers in the Pentlands to control their pets and avoid fields with livestock following a rise in attacks on sheep in the hills last summer.

Police will be carrying out daily patrols in parts of the Pentland Hills throughout most of July in a bid to clamp down on antisocial behaviour.Police will be carrying out daily patrols in parts of the Pentland Hills throughout most of July in a bid to clamp down on antisocial behaviour.
Police will be carrying out daily patrols in parts of the Pentland Hills throughout most of July in a bid to clamp down on antisocial behaviour.

Between July 5 and July 31, police will be running ‘Operation Boxy’ in the Pentlands with a focus on the Edinburgh side of the hills - at Bonaly Country Park, Harlaw, Torduff, Clubbiedean and Threipmuir reservoirs.

A letter from the force detailing the new operation states: “The purpose of the operation is to combat antisocial behaviour and encourage responsible access and use of the Pentland Hills, including the reservoirs.

“There will be daily patrols during this time where police officers and Pentland Hills Regional Park officers will engage with members of the public with the purpose of education and prevention. However, where necessary there will be enforcement of the law.”

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Colinton and Fairmilehead councillor Scott Arthur said: “The Pentland Hills Regional Park is a fantastic resource, and I am always proud to say a large part of it falls within my ward.

“We all have a duty to ensure remains a place where we can boost our wellbeing by getting closer to the natural environment. That’s why I am delighted to see the local police step up their efforts to deal with antisocial behaviour there.

“I want people to have a great time in the Pentland Hills, but they need to respect local residents and leave the hills just as they found them.”

The police letter states that anyone who wants to report any criminal issues in the Pentlands can email [email protected] with the subject heading ‘Operation Boxy.’ To contact the Pentland Hills duty officer, call 07798 505301 or email [email protected]

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Police also said use of the ‘what3words’ app is proving extremely effective. The app divides the entire world up into 10 foot by 10 foot squares. Each square is then given an individual and unique ‘address’, made up of three random words. It is particularly useful for the emergency services.

The app also does not need a phone signal in order to tell someone their three word location.

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