A new city centre policing unit fully funded by Edinburgh’s incoming visitor levy was wheeled out at the City Chambers on Thursday.
After the announcement of the visitor levy being introduced in Edinburgh, an agreement was reached between The City of Edinburgh Council and Police Scotland’s Edinburgh Division to fund the City Centre Policing Unit (CCPU).
The CCPU will comprise 49 officers with an Inspector, three sergeants and 45 constables.
Council officers said the unit will cost £2.75m allocated over a three year period, part of the £50 million per annum the visitor levy will eventually bring in to the city coffers.
Edinburgh CCPU officers at City Chambers, joined by Councillor Margaret Graham (5th from right) and Chief Superintendent David Robertson (4th from right). © Tom H. Wilson
Following the three-year period, funding for the CCPU will be reviewed by the council.
Police Scotland announced that the investment would be “match-funded” by the national force.
In January 2025, Edinburgh Council formally agreed to introduce a 5% charge on overnight accommodation in the capital for those visiting on or after 24 July 2026 (subject to very few exemptions).
The council expects to raise up to £50m in revenue each year, and the funds will be used to sustain and enhance Edinburgh’s “reputation as one of the most beautiful and enjoyable destinations in the world.”
Funding for the CCPU has been allocated for three years, after which it will be reviewed by the council.
Members of the public take a selfie with an officer from the new unit. © Tom H. Wilson
Culture and communities convenor, Cllr Margaret Graham, told Deadline News: “Without the visitor levy, this unit wouldn’t have been possible. So it is one of the first big projects that we are going to do.
“I think it’s a win for the citizens of Edinburgh and for the businesses, because the more visible policing will help them, as they have been struggling a little bit with things like retail crime.”
Cllr Graham explained why the new unit is focusing on city centre crime. She said: “That’s where the volume of tourists are, and at the end of the day, it’s a tourist visitor levy, so it’s got to be seen to be benefiting the tourist economy in some sort of way.
“In this project, we’re getting the benefit from both the tourists feeling safe in a safer environment, along with the residents being in a safe environment as well.”
Cllr Graham said that the new unit will be “very scrutinised and monitored” following initial “scepticism” from city councillors on funding for the division.
The CCPU will support planned city-centre events and will work alongside specialist units such as The Retail Crime Taskforce and Scottish Violence Reduction Unit to “ensure specific crime-types affecting the city-centre community are affectively addressed.”
Police Scotland Chief Superintendent David Robertson. © Tom H. Wilson
Chief Superintendent David Robertson, Edinburgh Divisional Commander who was at the event along with other Edinburgh police officers told Deadline News that anti-social behaviour, which has risen in the city in the last few years, is “a great concern for communities” and that the unit “is intended to tackle that.”
He said: “I think because there’s been a gap in truth, it’s an area where we have seen reduction in resources. Rightly, the communities, the businesses, residents, our third sector partner have all said they want to see more police and presence in the city centre, and that’s exactly what we’re going to deliver.”
He added: Edinburgh’s city centre is a unique and vibrant destination for residents, businesses and visitors, and it is absolutely vital that we have appropriate resources in place to ensure it remains a safe place to live, work, and visit.
“Our partners at the City of Edinburgh Council recognised the importance of having a dedicated policing team to serve the specific needs of the city-centre and the Visitor Levy revenue was identified as an ideal opportunity to achieve this.
“Almost 50 officers will now support policing operations and activity within the city-centre, and I am delighted that our council partners have shared our vision of how the CCPU can provide immense benefits to the city.
“With the Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe only a few short weeks away, and the festive celebrations emerging on the horizon, the CCPU will have to hit the ground running. However, I am confident that the team will quickly demonstrate their value to not only the city-centre, but to the Division as a whole.”
