Greyfriar’s Bobby – Sports round up – Drugs charges – Transport Committee – Bad Parking

Today is the anniversary of Greyfriar’s Bobby’s death. The Reporter is off to the Greyfriars Kirkyard to watch a ceremony of remembrance. More later!

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We have started a new feature today – our weekly round up of Edinburgh sport. If you would like to have your team or sport mentioned then please get in touch! Email us at theedinburghreporter@gmail.com

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Five people have been charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act following a community-policing operation in Edinburgh.

Officers working as part of Operation Cipher carried out intelligence-led searches at a number of properties in the Capital over the weekend as part of their ongoing campaign to tackle drug dealing and associated crime.

Operation Cipher was launched in August 2012 to improve the quality of life for communities in the West and Pentlands area of the city through a range of targeted activities.

Following a search of addresses in Hailesland Gardens and Sighthill Drive, over a kilo of cannabis was recovered worth around £11,500 along with over £7,000 in cash.

Two men aged 25 and 27 are scheduled to appear in Edinburgh Sheriff Court today.

Another address in Sighthill Drive was also visited by police resulting in the recovery of £1500 worth of heroin and cannabis and £400 in cash.

A 47-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman were arrested and charged in connection with alleged drug offences and will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today.

Furthermore, a 35-year-old man has been reported to the Procurator Fiscal after officers seized eight cannabis plants during a search of his property in Clovenstone Gardens.

During the enforcement activity a 35-year-old man was also identified for an alleged warrant offence and was subsequently arrested.

Police are now warning criminals operating in the West of Edinburgh that operations like this will continue with the support of local communities.

Chief Inspector Richard Thomas said: “Operation Cipher was launched as part of our Community Commitment pledge, which is our promise to work alongside the public to tackle any ongoing problems or concerns within their area and improve their quality of life.

“Through continued dialogue with local residents within the West and Pentlands area drug crime was identified as an issue requiring an urgent police action and so this weekend’s activity was carried out.

“This resulted in large quantities of drugs and cash being seized and helps reassure our communities that we are listening to their concerns and tackling them with a robust police response.

“Whenever we receive information relating to ongoing criminal activity we will respond accordingly and bring those responsible to justice.

“Anyone wishing to report a crime can contact their local policing team or alternatively the charity Crimestoppers in complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.”

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The council has a lot of major decisions to take in the next few months.  The first of these will be at tomorrow’s Transport & Environment Committee where they will discuss proposals for an enquiry into the disposal of children’s ashes from Mortonhall Crematorium. The committee will also decide on a 20mph zone outside Stewart’s-Melville College on Queensferry Road where a school pupil was run over last year in a hit and run incident, sustaining a broken leg.

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We really like the idea of the Facebook page set up to alert us all to the bad parking practices of some Edinburgh residents, although we do not like some of the parking!! You will find it here. Maybe you know of some other instances? Let us know!

Finally an apology. Sorry for the slow start to January but we have been doing some organisational things and that has prevented us from writing much. But we are back on track now!

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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.