New Edinburgh council CCTV helps police act against 'boy racers' in South Queensferry
Residents’ plea for overnight closure of Hawes car park still rejected
New CCTV cameras installed by Edinburgh council are helping the police to act against “boy racers” in South Queensferry.
The cameras give improved coverage of the Hawes car park which is a favourite gathering place for the nuisance drivers - not all of them young - and have enabled police to report some of them to the procurator fiscal over their “vehicle-related antisocial behaviour”.
Locals have previously described how up to 100 people with cars and motorbikes regularly assemble at the car park on the promenade, revving their engines, backfiring, intimidating and abusing passers-by, and then go on a circuit of the town, carrying on until 3 or 4am.
The council has installed traffic calming measures both at the car park and on the Dalmeny Park estate, part of the racers’ favoured route to try to combat the problem.
In an update to the transport and environment committee, council officials say around £12,000 has been invested in three additional static, and two additional Pan Tilt Zoom CCTV cameras in the vicinity of the Hawes car park.
“These cameras can be directed as required, providing excellent coverage of the car park and promenade. The cameras capture high quality images and any relevant footage is shared with Police Scotland.
“To further enhance the capabilities of the CCTV Cameras and potentially discourage antisocial behaviour six streetlights at the car park have been operating at 100 per cent brightness since July 2026.
“In August 2026 Police Scotland advised that they had utilised the council’s CCTV system to assist in reporting 36 charges to the procurator fiscal, including 13 dangerous or careless driving charges, five drink drivers, one drug driver and seized four cars under no insurance or antisocial behaviour legislation in the last year.”
The update says the council is also working with Police Scotland to develop a communications campaign making clear that antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated and is being observed at the car park 24/7.
They are also working together on noise monitoring. But the update says: “It is acknowledged that this is a very difficult issue to correctly measure and decisively identify culprits.”
However, the council is still resisting pleas by residents for the Hawes car park to be closed between 10pm and 6am every night to prevent the racers meeting there.
The update says: “Senior officers and Police Scotland have had a further meeting with a representative of a residents’ association and a local MSP to discuss ongoing concerns.
“It was acknowledged that both Police Scotland and the council have limited resources and funding available and all agencies will continue to deliver a ‘whole-system approach’ involving local, targeted enforcement, engagement, CCTV monitoring, environmental improvements and community reassurance. improvements focussing on local, targeted engagement and enforcement.
“Officers consider that a nightly closure of the car park is not aligned with a whole system approach to vehicle-related antisocial behaviour. “
The key messages which the police and the council want to convey both to the community and the racers is that CCTV is in operation; antisocial behaviour can and will be investigated; drivers committing offences will be identified; evidence from the local community can support enforcement action; offenders may be reported to the procurator fiscal; and vehicles may be seized where legislation permits.