Edinburgh Hogmanay: Cardownie slams police bill
The city’s festivals champion has slated a new police policy of charging for officers to staff this year’s Hogmanay.
The council has now agreed to hand over a six-figure sum to cover the costs of more than 200 officers and extra stewards for the annual event which is worth around £30 million to the economy.
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But Steve Cardownie, deputy council leader and festival and events champion, said: “It is a pity they have come up with this charging regime.
“The whole philosophy behind it is wrong, but our concerns have fallen on deaf ears.”
He said police had “substantially reduced” the original figures after meeting with councillors.
A statement from Police Scotland, the council and the festival’s producers Unique events said the full policing plan was put forward last week and the final costs would be confirmed by the end of the month.