Hodge noted that unsecured cones present falling hazards and require expensive removal processes.
"A five-minute laugh with a cone on a statue can mean months of expensive restoration work, or worse, someone getting seriously hurt climbing to place it, or a cone blowing off in the wind and injuring a passer-by," Hodge said.
He urged the public to protect the landmarks and report new sightings to authorities.
"Our iconic monuments like the Scott Monument and the Sherlock Holmes statue aren’t just decorations; they’re part of what makes Edinburgh special," Hodge said.
The official advised residents against continuing the practice on culturally vital figures.
"We’d ask people not to put cones on any of our statues, but especially those that matter culturally and historically.
And if you do spot a cone on something important, please report it through Edinburgh City Council’s website so it can be safely removed," Hodge said.
Heritage groups added that old architectural structures are not built to withstand the physical stress of being scaled.
"Edinburgh's monuments have always inspired affection as well as admiration, and a sense of humour is part of city life.
However, these are important historic structures, many of them listed, and they were never designed to be climbed on," said James Garry, Assistant Director of the Cockburn Association.
Garry stated that council resources are being diverted from long-term preservation to deal with frequent cone removal.
"The concern isn't really the traffic cones themselves, but the damage and safety risks that can result from people scrambling over monuments to put them there or remove them," Garry said.
