Dirleton | Police

After local government reorganisation in 1975, the two Gullane policemen were transferred to the North Berwick police station. The Gullane office was then used as a ‘policebox’ until it was sold at the end of the century. Further changes to policing came to the area in the 1980s with the introduction of the community policeman. The incumbent attends community council meetings, visits the school, advises on security, polices the Gullane Games Week parade and generally tries to create ties between the police and the community, including doing foot patrols. Policing is generally via North Berwick with telephone calls switched to Dalkeith after office hours. Crime in the villages is principally theft from cars, with golf clubs a particular target. In the late 1990s in Gullane there has been vandalism by children with under-age drinking more of a problem than drugs. Dirleton is noteworthy for a particularly low crime rate. Neighbourhood Watch schemes have been set up in both villages though that at Gullane is presently not noted for its high profile.