A group of angry Edinburgh residents staged a protest after rumours surfaced that a convicted child sex offender was back living on their street.
Police attended after around 50 or 60 people got together on Broomhouse Grove at around 6pm on Sunday (June 6). Residents said they were unhappy that the criminal had been homed on the street – and close to a local play park.
Officers were called to the scene at 6.30pm and the crowd dispersed peacefully after engaging with officers. It is understood the man was not inside the property at the time.
Images shared on social media show a group of people stood on the pavement while police look on. Two police vans could be seen parked on the road.
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A local woman told Edinburgh Live how she urged residents to make their opposition known, but warned she did not "condone any vigilante action".
She said: "This wasn't a case of people gathering to cause trouble. There was no trouble or threats of violence or anything. This was simply concerned local residents making their feelings known.
"We want him to know that he is not welcome here, and he won't be welcome here. If he does come back and we know he's here, we'll be out again.
"There were around 50 or 60 residents I would say but that was just organised on the spur of the moment, with very little planning."
The resident added: "I have to say the police engaged with us and handled it very sensitively. They were constructive so we are happy with how they dealt with it."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 6.30pm on Sunday, 6 June, police were called to a report of a small crowd gathering outside a house in Broomhouse Grove, Edinburgh. Officers attended and engaged with the crowd, who dispersed peacefully.”
