Edinburgh tourist tax funding for new city centre police officers

Money raised by Edinburgh's tourist tax will be used to fund police officers as part of the launch of a new city centre unit.

Police Scotland's City Centre Policing Unit (CCPU) is made up of one inspector, three sergeants and 45 constables.

The annual staffing cost is expected to be £2.78m, with £1m coming from the visitor levy, which comes into effect on 24 July.

Edinburgh city council hopes to raise around £50m from the 5% fee on hotels, B&Bs and self-catering accommodation.

It is hoped the CCPU will reduce the demand on frontline officers from other areas of the city and help to support planned city-centre events.

In February the council approved a £5m funding pot in its plans for the tourist tax to build nearly 500 affordable homes to tackle the city's housing emergency.

Investments are also planned for public spaces and parks across the city, as well as cultural heritage projects such as the Royal High School and Leith Theatre.

Police Scotland said the increase in city centre officers would allow the Edinburgh Division to focus on other neighbourhoods across the city.

Officers will work with specialist units such as the Retail Crime Taskforce and Scottish Violence Reduction Unit to address specific crime in the city centre.

Ch Supt David Robertson, divisional commander for Edinburgh, said: "Our partners at the City of Edinburgh Council have recognised the importance of having a dedicated policing team to serve the specific needs of the city-centre.

"With the Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe only a few short weeks away the CCPU will have to hit the ground running."

Council culture and communities convener, Margaret Graham, said: "By working closely with our partners at Police Scotland, we're ensuring that the people who live, work and visit Edinburgh feel safer and better supported."