Six people have been arrested as part of a day of action during Operation Austinburg.
Officers in the South of Edinburgh launched the partnership initiative this week to combat drug crime and associated antisocial behaviour.
Council Environmental Wardens, Edinburgh University security officers and staff from Castlerock Edinvar Housing Association, supported local policing teams during scheduled activity throughout the day.
During the morning officers focussed on locations where drug abuse had been reported and two specific properties were targeted in coordinated house searches in Nicolson Street.
Joint patrols were then taken around the Edinburgh University Campus and stair checks and clean-ups were carried out along with council staff in the Newington area to deter drug use.
As a result of yesterday’s enforcement a a 27-year-old man, and 35-year-old woman, were detained under the Misuse of Drugs Act in relation to drug dealing from a property where £200 of heroin was recovered.
The two people were later arrested on outstanding warrants.
Another man, aged 41, was also arrested for possession of a knife following a stop and search by officers in Clerk Street.
Police also detained and subsequently charged a 20-year-old, for a housebreaking which was observed in The Pleasance while a fourth man, aged 41, was arrested in connection with the theft of items from a motorcycle in Nicholson Street.
Later in the evening a 31 year-old man was arrested by officers for stealing from a hotel in Dalkeith Road.
Chief Inspector Mark Rennie, Area Commander for South Edinburgh said: “The co-ordinated work we carried out yesterday was in direct response to concerns raised by residents. If we get information, we will act upon it and I’d encourage local people to continue to call in if they have information regarding local dealers.
By working together with partners we were able to have maximum impact and gather information and intelligence which will lead to further direct action against those involved in drug dealing.
“Operation Austinburg will continue throughout the summer and local people will continue to see the commitment of local agencies to tackle drug misuse in the area ”.
Anyone wishing to follow updates on the Operation can do so by following the: @EdinburghSouthPolice Twitter account or EdinburghPolice Facebook page
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
