Last night I spoke to Lothian and Borders police constable Alan Bow, 36, from West Lothian, who has been on special duties in Edinburgh over the last six days. He told me what it had been like to be on duty in the capital during the protests and how his job which this week included protecting the US consulate and the Scottish parliament at Holyrood, has differed from his usual duties.
"It has been very different. We've not been there to carry out normal duties. In West Lothian I'm a community control officer, so having specific instructions to protect parliament, or carry out public order work, has been very different."
"The long hours have had an impact on family life. I have a young son and there have been some childcare issues. I've done 17-hour shifts some days, 12 to 13 hours on others."
Despite the long hours, Alan says the events of the last six days have been overwhelmingly positive, both personally and for the local police as a whole.
"I appreciate that the UK has to chair the G8 and it's only right that Edinburgh and Scotland take their turn. It also puts Edinburgh at the centre of the world and it is a good test for the police force, to show what they can do.
"This would be a massive event for any city and it has been a really positive one, good for all involved. It has given a lot of people a lot of good experience.
"Everyone we've spoken to - tourists, members of the public, protesters - have all been very happy to see us, and quite curious about what we're doing.
"The protests have been fine, the conduct of protestors has been superb. Only a very small minority overstepped the mark. All the demonstrations I've seen have been peaceful.
"Only once, at the Sheraton, where delegates from the G8 summit were staying, there was potential for things to become violent, on Wednesday morning.
"One lad kept questioning why I was asking him to leave. It was clear he was there to protest, but he wouldn't listen. Sheer numbers of police meant nothing happened, though."
As the attacks in London shifted the eyes of the world away from Edinburgh, Alan was adamant that he and his colleagues remained focused on the job at hand.
"Despite the bombs in London, we had a job to do here ... there's not been a lot of talk about it, no real discussion.
"The G8 will come to an end for me at the end of my shift tomorrow [Friday]. Obviously things can change and I may be needed on Saturday and Sunday but I think tomorrow will be my last day."
