Violent crime, anti-social behaviour, vandalism and abuse running rampant in Edinburgh's Old Town is threatening the "social fabric" of the historic area, a group of local businesses have warned , as calls are made to step-up police presence in the city centre.
Councillors on the Policy and Sustainability Committee were told they should be "embarrassed" by the current situation, which has led to the Old Town to become a "no go area" for many.
READ MORE: Edinburgh libraries used as Covid test centres to return to communities
In a shocking deputation, a desperate plea was made for councillors, executives and officers to directly intervene to "rescue the Tron area and wider Royal Mile from its decline".
Speaking to members on behalf of the Tron Area Business Group, which represents the views of 15 local businesses, Galab Singh said: "We wonder how many of this committee have become aware of our collective observation that the social fabric of this unique and significant area is breaking down.
"Currently our historic Old Town epicentre in the wider Tron area is now overrun by unacceptable levels of crime, vandalism, anti-social behaviour, threatening behaviour, violence, drug and alcohol abuse and drug dealing."
He said recently staff have witnessed a woman defecating in the street, public drug-taking and dealing and street fights, whilst daily incidents of verbal abuse and shoplifting are reported to the police.
"A recent fight in Hunter Square continued down Blair Street and saw one of the men attacked with a broken bottle and viciously stabbed and slashed with several times," Mr Singh continued. "The assailant then had a heart attack, there was much needed and appreciated response from medicine services.
"Methadone recipients have been seen to trade their medicine mouth-to-mouth, thieves, drug dealers casually walking into Greggs on South Bridge nearly on a daily basis, helping themselves to sandwiches and drinks and walking out without paying, laughing and joking at the staff.
"Professional thieves are regularly active in the area and even use electric scooters for speedier getaways. Security staff are assaulted, spat on, verbally abused and have their lives threatened on a daily basis."
Mr Singh told the committee his own company experiences theft and attempted theft "multiple times every day", but added he has stopped "wasting his time" reporting it to the police as "nothing of any benefit has come from it".
Other anecdotes he relayed to councillors included a security guard being told "I'm going to cut your f****ng throat" and a retail manager who works on the South Bridge being followed home and verbally abused and threatened.
But he said such incidents have now become "normalised" in Edinburgh's Old Town, adding: "We think this normalisation is totally unacceptable not just for this city but for any city.
"The lack of police presence in this growingly well-known crime, anti-social behaviour hotspot is beyond ridiculous now.
"This is the heart of Scotland's capital city within a view or walking distance of national and locally-leading institutions including the City Chambers and I ask this committee is this not embarrassing for you and all of us?"
As a result of a lack of police presence in the city centre, more security staff have had to be hired in response to rising crime rates, he said.
"These security staff spend most of their day in the Tron and High Street areas and are threatened with violence," he added.
"We have had to act and it's surely the council's responsibility to be a major part of ensuring the city is a safe place for all its residents, workers, visitors and businesses. The City of Edinburgh Council and Police Scotland is failing to meet its responsibilities to the people it is here to serve.
"The disgraceful and unchecked criminality and anti-social behaviour is thriving when it should be our community, its residents and a safe and welcome place for visitors."
Furthermore, Mr Singh said the presence of a methadone dispensary on the Royal Mile has "greatly contributed to the social decline and criminality" and urged the council to work with the NHS to relocate the pharmacy.
He finished his deputation by asking council leaders and executives to attend an upcoming meeting of the Tron Area Business Group to help "rescue the Tron area and wider Royal Mile from its decline".
Councillor Lezley Marion Cameron agreed some now avoid the area due to crime, adding: "This is the jewel in the crown of our city and no one wants to see it deteriorate, we want it to shine and to be attractive, safe and welcoming."
Conservative group leader Iain Whyte tabled an addendum at the meeting drawing members' attention to the number of police officers in Edinburgh relative to other cities, highlighting that there is one officer for every 344 citizens in Glasgow and one to every 479 citizens in the capital.
The addendum – defeated by 10 votes to 6 – also noted the Edinburgh Division has "fewer local Officers than at any time since 2013, despite the population served increasing by close to 10 per cent over the same period" and asked Edinburgh City Council's Chief Executive Andrew Kerr to "write to Police Scotland to request an acceleration in plans to increase the allocation of Police Offices to Edinburgh".
Councillor Whyte said: "We would like to see, if we can, an acceleration in plans to increase the allocation of police officers to Edinburgh by Police Scotland.
"That may not be possible, but it's a perfectly reasonable request for this council to make on behalf of the citizens of Edinburgh when we want to see a reduction in crime and anti-social behaviour and a more accessible and visible police force in this city."
