Now that summer has left East Lothian and been replaced by the colder weather and darker nights, I would like take the opportunity to highlight some of the work that Police Scotland are undertaking in East Lothian in the coming weeks and months.

Care Experienced week will take place from the 23rd to the 29th of October and as Corporate Parents this is something East Lothian Police will be supporting.

We have 2 police officers who will attend meetings with local care experienced young people who form part of a Champions Board.

This gives young people a chance to directly engage with the organisations they may come into contact with, to meet and consult with them and ultimately put young people at the heart of decision-making processes in the local area.

We have also recently re-established the Police Scotland Youth Volunteers in East Lothian and are currently working with 11 young people from a variety of backgrounds who have expressed a desire to give back to their community by volunteering at local events and other community based initiatives, so keep a lookout for PSYV in the coming months.

I would like to highlight the work being done by Community Constable Cammy Tait from Dunbar Police Station who has spent recent months engaging with local residents and groups and has led the re-introduction of the Community and Police Partnership (CAPP) for that area.

This will provide elected representatives and relevant local organisations a forum to raise local issues and agree the priorities that Police and others will aim to tackle together.

PC Tait has worked in a number of Policing roles across East Lothian and elsewhere throughout a varied career and brings with him significant operational experience and local knowledge.

Work is also ongoing to finalise the preparations for the increased demands on police and other emergency services that typically accompanies Halloween and Bonfire Night.

Further information will be released in the coming weeks, however I would like to encourage everyone to enjoy these occasions responsibly and ensure anything posing a risk to the public is reported to the appropriate agency be that East Lothian Council, Police Scotland or the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.