Alcohol trouble fines for Portobello Beach
- Published
The crackdown will cover Portobello Beach as well as nearby streets including Portobello High Street
A crackdown on alcohol-related anti-social behaviour has been launched at a beach in Edinburgh.
People who fail to stop fighting, playing loud music or vandalising in and around Portobello Beach will be issued with a £40 fine by police.
The move follows trouble caused by up to 20 people over the May weekend.
Signs are being erected along the promenade letting people know a by-law prohibiting the anti-social consumption of alcohol will be enforced.
The by-law has been invoked using legislation brought into force by Edinburgh City Council in 2006 under the Local Government Scotland Act of 1973. It has not been used in the capital before now.
The crackdown covers Portobello Beach and nearby streets including Portobello High Street.
Ch Insp Tony Beveridge, of Lothian and Borders police, said: "During a recent bank holiday weekend we estimated that several thousand people had made their way to Portobello Beach and it was apparent to our officers that some were drinking very heavily.
"During that weekend we dealt with many complaints of anti-social and threatening behaviour, most of which were drink-related.
"Whilst we are delighted to welcome people to Edinburgh who wish to enjoy themselves, it is important that they respect the rights of others to do the same."
He added that those who obeyed the law while drinking alcohol would not be targeted.
"However, the implementation of the by-law should send a clear message that criminal behaviour linked to alcohol will not be tolerated," he added.
Insp Kevin McLean, of Lothian and Borders Police, who covers the area, told the BBC Scotland news website: "We want to make the area a safe zone."
Jim Hunter, Edinburgh City Council's east neighbourhood manager, said: "The ongoing improvements we are making in Portobello are to give residents and visitors a clean, welcoming and attractive place and we support efforts to ensure a minority of people do not spoil it for others".