Let’s make this Bonfire Night a safe one for all of us - Mairi Creanor

Gino Santa Maria
Having taken over as the new local area commander for north-east Edinburgh at the end of July this year, I am delighted to have this opportunity to introduce myself to the Edinburgh Evening News readers in my first Capital Cops column.

While I am new to this role, I am by no means a stranger to the division. I began my policing journey in Edinburgh in 2003 and I have worked in various stations across the capital. After a number of years in national divisions, I was keen to return “home” to Edinburgh and moved back last year. My career passions have centred around operational policing, crime prevention and partnership working. My focus has always been on people, and I have had the pleasure of working with many talented and committed individuals and been part of many inspiring teams.

I care passionately about the public and the standard of service we deliver. Equally, I care deeply about my colleagues and have total confidence in their abilities, compassion, and dedication. I believe that working collaboratively with others, such as the public and our partners, whilst empowering people, is key to providing the best level of service to our communities.

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I would like to take a moment to thank my predecessor, chief inspector Kieran Dougal, for the outstanding work he did and oversaw whilst in this role. Kieran has now moved to our Preventions, Interventions and Partnerships Department, where he continues to do great work with our key partners.

In addition to my new role, I am the Tactical (Silver) Commander for Operation Crackle – Edinburgh’s policing operation for Bonfire Night. As some of you may know, this is our dedicated multi-agency response to ensuring that people can enjoy this period safely. As well as keeping the public, police emergency staff and wider partners safe, Operation Crackle will ensure that people intent on committing criminal, dangerous and anti-social acts, are held to account.

As the communities of the north-east will know, last year we experienced unprecedented levels of violence and hostility while responding to fireworks-related incidents. More troubling was that many of the incidents that terrorised our neighbourhoods involved young people who were encouraged and even coordinated by adults, some of whom had links to organised crime.

Several police officers were injured during the violence we witnessed last year, and this cannot be tolerated. Like everyone reading this, police officers are human beings, they are someone’s son or daughter, mother or father, friend or neighbour and they should not face such unnecessary risk to their health and wellbeing whilst trying to protect their communities. Of course, it’s not just the police and other emergency services who suffered because of the disturbances we experienced last year. Many local businesses that have proudly served their areas for years, saw their properties damaged and business disrupted. Local residents who call the north-east their home, were left in distress at what they saw unfold.

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Engagement with the public is key to our success and as part of Operation Crackle, we will have local policing teams out on patrol speaking with members of our communities. Like last year, we will once again be supplemented with public order resources from Police Scotland’s national campaign, Operation Moonbeam.

Some of my favourite memories as a child were at my local bonfire gathering, so please believe me, we are not spoilsports, we want everyone to enjoy themselves. However, for this to be possible, we need everyone to feel and be safe. As one parent to another, I would ask all parents and guardians to have frank conversations with young people about the risks and consequences associated with the reckless, anti-social or criminal use of fireworks.

Chief Inspector Mairi Creanor is local area commander, north-east Edinburgh

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