Resource Spending Review: Ambitious but realistic?

An ‘ambitious but realistic’ public spending framework has been published which outlines how more than £180 billion will be invested to deliver priorities for Scotland.

The Resource Spending Review, which is not a budget, outlines how the Scottish Government will focus public finances in the coming years to tackle child poverty, address the climate crisis, strengthen the public sector as Scotland recovers from Covid and grow a stronger, fairer and greener economy.

A targeted capital spending review has also been published to address a reduction in capital investment by the UK Government. As well as supporting the NHS and affordable housing, the capital spending review will invest around £18 billion up to 31 March 2026, with over half a billion of additional funding directed to net zero programmes compared to previous plans.

Finance Secretary Kate Forbes said: “We are of course still recovering from the Coronavirus pandemic. There is still acute pressure on the NHS, on business and the wider economy. The illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine is a humanitarian crisis, which is affecting the global economy. Rising energy prices and constrained supply chains have affected countries worldwide. While inflation is also  impacting other countries, it is not impacting them equally.

“The UK currently has the highest inflation of any G7 country– almost twice the rate of France.  Brexit has made this problem worse, with increases in food prices, hitting the poorest hardest. We are experiencing an unprecedented cost of living crisis. Inflation is at a 40-year high of 9 per cent with households facing considerable hardship.

“Today’s Resource Spending Review is not a Budget. However, it is essential to share high-level financial parameters with public bodies, local government and the third sector, so we can plan ahead together.

“Today I set out an ambitious but realistic public spending framework for the years ahead. It does not ignore the realities of our financial position, but neither does it roll back on our ambitions for change.”

Further changes to Scotland’s fiscal position and to tax and social security forecasts are expected to change the funding picture ahead of annual budgets.

The spending review however does prioritise sending in key policy areas.

These are:

Tackling child poverty and supporting households and businesses with the cost of living

  • £22.9 billion for social security assistance
  • increasing the Scottish Child Payment from £10 to £25 and expanding eligibility by the end of this year
  • providing universal free school meals to primary school children in P1-5 and expanding provision beyond that
  • uprating devolved benefits

Securing stronger public services

  • investing £73.1 billion in health and social care including developing a National Care Service
  • increasing investment in frontline health services by 20 per cent over this Parliament
  • spending more on primary and community care to ensure people get the right treatment in the right place
  • funding of £42.5 billion for local government for the delivery of services
  • investing £11.6 billion in the justice system

Achieving net zero and tackling the climate crisis

  • up to £75 million per year to deliver the Heat in Building Strategy, enabling £1.8 billion investment towards decarbonisation
  • up to £95 million towards meeting woodland creation targets
  • £46 million to introduce the community bus fund and an increase in funding for concessionary travel schemes
  • investment of over £12 million in peatland restoration
  • £4 million of resource spending alongside £150 million capital and financial investment for the North East and Moray Just Transition Fund

Building a stronger, fairer and greener economy

  • capital investment of £581 million to support the economy, including our enterprise agencies and the Scottish National Investment Bank
  • continuing through the Inward Investment Plan to attract high quality inward investment in areas such as energy transition and the space sector
  • pushing forward with the export growth plan A Trading Nation to scale up Scotland’s international reach
  • embedding entrepreneurship in education, to give young people opportunities to start and grow businesses

The spending review provides a platform for engagement ahead of the next budget on how best to reform Scotland’s high performing public sector to become more efficient, to deliver ambitious outcomes. That means rapidly digitalising the public sector, maximising revenue through public sector innovation, reforming the public sector estate and the public body landscape, and improving public procurement.

The annual Medium Term Financial Strategy has also been published to provide the economic and fiscal context for the Resource Spending Review and Capital Spending Review, including the fiscal challenges that lie ahead.

Read the Cabinet Secretary’s statement to the Scottish Parliament in full here.

COSLA has stated that the implications of the Scottish Government’s spending plans for the rest of the parliament are deeply concerning for communities across Scotland and fail to recognise the fundamental role Local Government has in addressing the Government’s own priorities of child poverty, climate change and a stronger economy.

The ‘Resource Spending Review’, published on 31 May, shows no prospect of an increase to Local Government’s core funding for the next 3 years, which is especially concerning in the current context of soaring inflation and energy costs.

This “flat-cash” scenario gives extremely limited scope for recognising the essential work of our staff, whose expectations around pay continue to be, quite rightly, influenced by Scottish Government’s decisions in relation to other parts of public sector. Put simply, the plans as they stand will mean fewer jobs and cuts to services. COSLA is seeking an urgent meeting with the First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance to discuss this further.

COSLA’s Resources Spokesperson Gail Macgregor said “Every year at Budget time, COSLA argues for fair funding for Local Government to maintain the essential services our communities rely on.

“No increase in our core funding damages these services and yesterday’s announcement will see this continue for at least the next three years. Our communities are starting to see and feel the difference”

Yesterday, the Fraser of Allander Institute also immediately recognised the impact on councils –   “The local government budget will decline by 7% in real terms between 2022/23 and 2026/27…….the real terms erosion of the funding allocations of local authorities represents the continuation of a longer trend”

Commenting on the resource spending review, a spokesperson for the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition commented: “The Scottish Government’s resource review, which highlights a spending gap of around £3.5 billion by 2026/27, points to highly challenging times ahead for our public services (1st June 2022).

“The Fraser of Allander Institute noted that, within this, councils will see real term cuts of 7 per cent between 2022/23 and 2026/27, the implications of which are highly disturbing for those with additional support needs (ASN) who we support.

“Those with ASN make up around a third of our children and young people, including autism, dyslexia and mental health problems, many of whom were already facing considerable barriers to support and not receiving the care they need when they need it.

“While we have witnessed a more than doubling in the number of these individuals over the last decade, putting an immense strain on services, there has been a cut in spending on additional support for learning and a slashing in specialist educational support.

“Covid-19 has had a further major impact, denying care to many, and with these latest swingeing public service cuts we are potentially facing a ‘lost generation’ of vulnerable children and young people.

“We would urge the Scottish Government and newly elected councils to work together to ensure that those children and young people with ASN are made a priority, able to access the necessary support to allow them to reach their full potential.”

The STUC have yet to comment on the Spending Review.

Up & Running heads back to its roots with new Edinburgh store

  • Up & Running Founder and CEO Gillian Macfarlane was born and bred in Scotland –
  • She is realising her ambition of opening a store here in the same year that Up & Running celebrates its 30th anniversary –

The UK’s leading independent running shop, Up & Running, is preparing to open its doors for the first time in Scotland on Queensferry Road in Edinburgh. 

The latest addition to the city spells good news for runners and fitness enthusiasts alike as the store promises a wide selection of running shoes and kit, as well as offering free gait analysis, advice and guidance. 

The shop, which is set to open in June, will also be host to a free weekly Social Run Group, leading weekly 5k runs around the city for all abilities, providing a great opportunity to meet other local runners.

Six new jobs have been created with the opening of the new store and the company is actively recruiting for a Store Manager, Assistant Manager as well as full and part time sales assistant positions. The roles provide an ideal opportunity to combine a passion for running while connecting with other runners, running clubs, groups and fitness enthusiasts.  

This comes at an exciting time for Up & Running as the company celebrates its 30th anniversary year. The first Up & Running store opened in the North Yorkshire spa town of Harrogate in 1992 and a further 28 stores nationwide have opened since, as well as building a successful online business.

Discussing the new Edinburgh shop, founder of Up & Running, Gillian Macfarlane said, “Scotland holds a very special place in my heart as its where I was born and grew up. It’s long been an ambition to open a store here so I’m pleased to finally be realising this ambition in what is such a milestone year for Up & Running.”

Gillian continued, “Edinburgh is a beautiful city with a thriving running community and is well known for its longstanding Edinburgh Marathon. For these reasons it felt like a good fit for Up & Running and we can’t wait to meet local runners and play a part in their running journey”

For more information about Up & Running visit upandrunning.co.uk and to submit your CV to apply for one of our roles please email careers@upandrunning.co.uk

European Movement calls on Scottish Government to give young people a chance with Erasmus replacement

The European Movement in Scotland, Scotland’s leading pro-EU organisation, calls on the Scottish Government to give young people a chance and put in place a replacement for Erasmus+, the world’s biggest and most successful student exchange programme.

The Scottish Government’s decision to shelve plans to replace Erasmus+ is depriving young people of life-changing opportunities. We are calling on them to restore the opportunities afforded by Erasmus+ and implement a comprehensive Scottish Exchange Programme that enables young people from all walks of life to live, learn and work overseas.

Following the UK government’s decision to quit Erasmus+ and the EU’s block on Scotland rejoining the scheme on its own, the Scottish Government pledged to develop and implement an equivalent programme alongside their counterparts in Wales.

The Welsh Government have put their £65m scheme in place but the Scottish Government have delayed their own indefinitely.

This delay is damaging for the thousands of young people who wish to enhance their education and training by studying in Europe. Those from disadvantaged backgrounds and/or in FE colleges are feeling the biggest impact with targeted funding taken away since the UK left Erasmus+.

Chair of the European Movement in Scotland Mark Lazarowicz says: “The loss of Erasmus+ is an act of cultural vandalism and we must do everything to restore the huge opportunities it gives to students, apprentices and others.”

Learn more about The European Movement’s Campaign by visiting:

Red Bull Formula One car to feature at Scotland’s biggest new motoring event

Hot off the heels of Sergio Pérez’s win in Monaco on Sunday, Scotland’s biggest new motoring event, the Sir Jackie Stewart Classic, has revealed Red Bull will appear at its Thirlestane Castle event next month (18-19th June).

Red Bull has been at the sharp end of the Formula 1 world for many years, helping Max Verstappen to the world title last year.

Visitors to the Sir Jackie Stewart Classic will be treated to the sight and sounds of a modern Formula 1 car running up the Thirlestane Castle sprint course.

Red Bull has agreed to show the Adrian Newey-designed RB8 car, that Australian star Mark Webber drove to victory on the streets of Monaco in 2012, at the two-day festival. 

Mark Webber had qualified the Red Bull on car pole and led from start to finish once the lights went out. At the time he said: “The start was key, the pitstop was key, both of them went well. I did a little bit of work in between and we got an incredible victory that I’m very, very happy with.” 

Most fans have to settle for seeing the car from the stands or on TV, although, gamers will be able to ‘drive’ it when the new F1 2022 game is released next month.

Now, they’ll be able to see it live and put through its paces, twice each day during the Thirlestane event, by Patrick Friesacher. The Austrian driver drove for the Minardi Formula 1 team during the first half of the 2005 season.

The car will be on show alongside three stunning title-winning cars driven by Sir Jackie Stewart – the 1969 Matra that powered him to his first championship and the Tyrrell 003 and Tyrrell 006.

The Sir Jackie Stewart Classic, a family-friendly festival – held in aid of Race Against Dementia – will feature live motorsport action, extensive retail, food and drink displays and will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Borders Vintage Automobile Club and its award-winning classic car show with more than 1,200 vintage and classic vehicles on display. Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, the Flying Scot will also make appearances throughout the weekend.

Race Against Dementia is the global charity founded by Sir Jackie to raise money for research into prevention and treatment for dementia, a disease that affects 50 million people worldwide including his beloved wife, Helen. 

Visitors wishing to see motorsport history: www.sirjackiestewartclassic.com/tickets

Next Steps Awards: Young Innovators in Scotland given critical boost

  • Young Innovators Next Steps Awards recognises trailblazing young entrepreneurs, accelerating their business growth to deliver an even bigger impact
  • Almost £1m awarded – with each winner given £50,000 to grow and scale their business over the 12-month programme
  • Innovate UK calls for next generation of innovators to come forward and apply for the next Young Innovators Awards

Two Young Innovators from Scotland have been given a further boost to their early-stage businesses by Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, through the Young Innovators Next Steps Awards.

These entrepreneurs were previous recipients of the Young Innovators Award and have now been awarded a second time, based on their progress and their future growth plans.

Looking for young people with innovative ideas

The announcement comes as Innovate UK calls for aspiring entrepreneurs across Scotland to come forward and apply to be part of the Young Innovators Award 2022/23 cohort.

The programme nurtures the talents of tomorrow to tackle some of society’s most pressing challenges. Up to 100 winning young entrepreneurs will be supported for 12 months, with individuals benefiting from a £5,000 grant, one-on-one business support, and an allowance to cover living costs.

Young Innovators Next Steps award winners

With a focus on helping young people really scale up their ground-breaking ideas, the Young Innovators Next Steps Awards will see all 19 winners receive an additional £50,000. From the first prosthetic limb for children which grows as they do, to wallets made of seaweed, and technology to help monitor and protect our bees, the 19 innovators are already making a big impact in their sectors.

In just over 12 months, since winning their first Innovate UK award, the pioneers have attracted further investment, secured offices and production facilities, expanded their teams (creating over 50 new jobs), filed patents and landed important deals with the likes of John Lewis, M&S, and Microsoft.

The two winners from Scotland are:

  • Lucy Fisher (26 years old), from Aberdeen, took a childhood passion for knitting and turned it into a business. Knit It® aims to inspire the younger generations to pick up their needles and start knitting via an interactive online platform that makes knitting fun and simple, whilst teaching knitters and newbies skills and techniques. Knit It® has gone from a girl and her grandma to a thriving team. Since winning her first award Lucy has pitched at London Tech Week, launched www.knit-it.co.uk and is now on the lookout for knitting pattern designers to join her story.
  • Elena Höge (29 years old), from Edinburgh, is creating Games for Good like Wholesome, a relaxing life simulator about living in harmony with nature. It teaches children and adults about nature, including how to forage and cook wild food.
  • Since winning the Young Innovators Award, Elena has grown her team from 1 to 6, won prestigious industry awards, and raised around £90,000 in grants and small investments.

These Young Innovators Next Step winners’ ideas are improving lives and creating a more sustainable, productive and prosperous future.

New advances in technology are also at the heart of many of the innovators’ business – from an AI personal trainer, to an interactive online platform to inspire the digital generation to pick up their knitting needles, and a mobile app designed to help families monitor and improve their wellbeing.

Young Innovators 22/23 Competition

Both winners from Scotland originally scooped Young Innovator Awards in 2021. The Young Innovators Awards recognise young people, aged 18 to 30, from every region and nation of the UK with great business ideas who have the potential to become successful entrepreneurs and future leaders in innovation.

Award winners will each receive a £5,000 grant, living allowance, a package of business coaching, and mentoring from a personal Innovation Champion from Innovate UK Edge.

Aspiring entrepreneurs can learn more and register their interest in the forthcoming Young Innovators awards, which open on 13th June: https://ktn-uk.org/programme/young-innovators-22-23-registration

Commenting on her award and project, Lucy said, “I started Knit It® because I wanted to revolutionise the knitting industry and inspire a new generation to take up the craft.

“At the beginning, I could not have imagined that, right now, I would have secured funding to take my business forwards, have support from household names and avid knitters like Tom Daley and be on the lookout for collaborators and partners to make this happen big time!

“I’m so proud to have been selected for Innovate UK’s Young Innovators Next Steps Award and excited for the future!”

EDINBURGH, UK – 16th January 2022: Elena H??ge, founder of Yaldi Games, a start-up game developer. The company’s first title, Wholesome ??? Out and About, blends digital learning and traditional outdoor skills, together to create an inspirational range of activities including foraging, nature awareness, sustainability practices, healthy cooking and fun crafting. (Photograph: MAVERICK PHOTO AGENCY)

Commenting on her award and project, Elena said: “When I first applied for Innovate UK’s the Young Innovators Award, I had a vision to create games that go beyond digital with environmental, social, and cultural impact, while inspiring young people to get outdoors and benefit from the natural world.

“In a relatively short space of time, it’s gone from a dream to a reality, with support from external backers and my own excellent team.

“My advice to any innovators on the fence about their ideas is to go for it – your passion will drive the business forwards.”

The Young Innovator Awards enable entrepreneurship and innovation among more young people to help them bring more diverse ideas and businesses into the economy, champion innovations for the underrepresented, and provide a platform for gamechangers looking to make a societal, economic and environmental impact.

Emily Nott, Head of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion at Innovate UK said: “It’s one thing to have a business idea and – as so many aspiring entrepreneurs would attest – quite another to make it a reality.

“These innovative young people have worked relentlessly to realise their ambitions and we are proud of the role we are able to play in helping them on this journey. Their disruptive ideas stand to make a big impact, but their stories are important in other ways too – if they can inspire other young people to come forward and innovate, we will all benefit”.

Innovate UK’s Chief Executive Officer, Indro Mukerjee, said: “Innovate UK is committed to inspiring and supporting the next generation of innovators. We will work to inspire, involve, and invest in their talent to create a strong future economy and society.

“Congratulations to the Young Innovators Next Steps award winners and I look forward to seeing their businesses develop even further”.

Aspiring entrepreneurs can learn more about the forthcoming Young Innovators awards, which open for applications on the 13th June: https://ktn-uk.org/programme/young-innovators-22-23-registration

New Coffee and Cocktail Speakeasy to launch in Native Edinburgh 

An exciting new speakeasy is being launched in the capital next month. 

As part of a major refurbishment for boutique aparthotel group, Native, the imaginative concept called Counter will serve coffee by day and cocktails by night in a new hidden destination bar in the heart of the city centre. 

The Counter at Native Edinburgh will be home to a curation of eclectic food and events, highlighting local produce in the daytime and spotlighting homegrown talent at night. 

Late summer programming will see Native hosting everything from neo-soul jazz nights, record listening to spoken word poetry, and the venue will shine a light on up and coming creatives from around the city, including artists, writers, musicians and more. Native Edinburgh will soon become the capital’s best-kept secret with speak-easy vibes and cocktails galore. 

Their drinks menu has local collaborations with Edinburgh drink specialists Mothership HQ and Base Spirits Collective, which will see innovative cocktails like Pocket Negroni and Hippy Fizz available alongside craft sodas from Bon Accord and locally-sourced coffee from Red Squirrel. 

Counter will also serve a range of bespoke bagels, sandwiches, treats and moreish snacks as part of their offering. 

Opening later in the month in Native, when all the new hotel refurbishments are complete, Counter will welcome all guests including non residents from 11am until 1am. 

With 82 apartments comprising studios, one bedrooms, and ground floor leisure and co-working spaces, Native Edinburgh provides the flexibility and amenities of a design-led boutique hotel, coupled with the space, comfort and privacy of a home from home. The 1790s constructed building is the perfect example of the Neoclassical and Georgian architecture in the area.

The Counter at Native Edinburgh will open later in June. 

For more information on Native aparthotels, head to:

https://www.nativeplaces.com/property/native-edinburgh/ 

Pupils’ letters from the trenches win national competition

Scottish pupils have stunned judges in a nationwide competition with their moving depictions of life in the First World War trenches.

Esha Ahmed, 15, from Fife, and Ciara, 11, from Midlothian, and have been announced as winners of Poppyscotland’s Letters to my Teacher competition. Young people were challenged to imagine themselves serving on the front line during the war and writing home to their former teachers.

Esha, an S3 pupil at Levenmouth Academy, won the secondary school category with her “honest and imaginative” letter.  Ciara, who is in P7 at Rosewell Primary, took the primary school award for her “genuinely touching” entry.

Esha reflected on the fragility of life as she described marching through wrecked French villages and towns, with the air thick with smoke and bodies lying on the ground.  Ciara wrote of trying to keep up morale in rat-infested trenches, amid the constant sound of gunshots and cries of severely wounded soldiers.

The competition was inspired by letters written by Scottish soldier Douglas Constable to John Hamilton, his former headteacher at St Mary’s Melrose School. Douglas left a promising publishing career to serve with the Grenadier Guards in Belgium and France. He was killed during the Battle of the Somme in 1916, aged 26.

This year’s contest received a record-breaking entry, with almost 500 letters from schools across Scotland. Eight judges from Poppyscotland, Legion Scotland, and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission shortlisted 12 entries to go through to the second round, with the public choosing the final winners.

Gordon Michie, Poppyscotland’s Head of Fundraising and Learning and one of the judges, said: “Our warmest congratulations to Ciara and Esha on their wins. This year saw an exceptionally high standard of entries, and choosing a shortlist was extremely difficult.

“Esha’s and Ciara’s beautifully written accounts stood out as full of imagination, honesty, and humanity. They managed to put themselves in the boots of First World War soldiers, painting a full picture of trench life and its brutalities.

“We’re very pleased that this competition captured the imaginations of primary and secondary school pupils across Scotland. Inspired by the letters of Douglas Constable, it was a chance for children to learn about the daily experiences of Scottish men and women who lived through the First World War.

“Poppyscotland’s learning programme aims to bring history to life, encouraging pupils to reflect on remembrance and the relevance of these events to the present day.”

Ronnie Ross, headteacher at Levenmouth Academy, said: “I was genuinely moved when I read Esha’s work. She has shown genuine compassion and empathy with those who fought on the frontline and protected the free world at the beginning of the twentieth century and for this she must be truly congratulated.”

Hope Wilson, Ciara’s teacher at Rosewell Primary, said: “We are extremely proud of Ciara. The Letters to my Teacher competition inspired many of our older pupils and it has been great to be a part of it.”

The winners will each receive £500 in Amazon vouchers for their school, a visit from Poppyscotland’s mobile museum, Bud, and a special class tour of Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory in Edinburgh, when it reopens this autumn.

Ciara said: “I was really happy to find out that I had won. I had asked all my family and friends to vote for me so I am glad that they supported me!”

Help a Child to Thrive: Quarriers launches summer appeal

Quarriers, has launched its summer fundraising appeal to allow more than 1,000 children to enjoy the gift of new experiences and positive memories. 

Now in its 9th year, the summer appeal allows Quarriers to organise carefree days out and activity sessions for the vulnerable children and young people it supports across Scotland. With donations starting at as little as £5, Quarriers is encouraging the nation to donate and help fund opportunities for children to escape the daily pressures they face.

The children and youngsters helped by the appeal face a range of challenging circumstances and include young carers, children with additional needs, children living in poverty, young people who require residential support, individuals dealing with mental health and children living with disabilities.

Many of the challenges faced by those supported are heavy for young shoulders to carry and the summer appeal puts youngsters at its heart, giving them a chance to put their problems aside and truly be a child for the day.

Over the last two years, the Covid-19 pandemic has put more pressure on the children Quarriers supports, as the challenges of lockdown continued, and some youngsters faced the impact of long-Covid. This has underlined the importance of the summer campaign and the positive impact it brings to the lives of hundreds.

Support worker Mary Nadar provides Quarriers Let’s Talk service at Tinto Primary School, delivering vital mental health support for children who may be struggling with the social, emotional or educational elements of school life, and knows just how valuable the summer appeal is.

She said: “Having worked with Tinto Primary School and many other schools across Glasgow for a number of years now, I’ve seen the truly positive impact the summer appeal can have on the children involved.

“For many of the children we support, the summer holidays can be quite daunting, and they often don’t have the same opportunities as their classmates to relax and enjoy fun-filled days out.

“Thanks to the support and generosity of those who donate to Quarriers’ summer appeal, the children have positive experiences which directly impacts on their wellbeing, enhances their independence and helps them get further involved in their local communities.”

The activities are tailored to suit the children and families supported by Quarriers, taking into account their various support needs as well as what they enjoy doing. With donations from the summer appeal, the charity hopes to set up trips to the seaside, art galleries, parks, and the cinema as well as giving the children the chance to try everything from paddleboarding to archery to trampolining.

Ruth Park, Fundraising and Digital Content Manager at Quarriers, said: “Over the past two years, our teams have worked with nearly 3,000 young people and children across Scotland and the long-term impact of the pandemic is clear.

“We’re seeing a significant increase in mental health issues, an increase in young carers who haven’t had a break from their caring responsibilities due to family members shielding and also children with long Covid.

“The lasting impact these fun-filled outings and activities can have on vulnerable children should not be underestimated. For as little as £5, you will allow even just one child the chance to escape their worries for a day and create happy memories that will last long after the summer holidays.

“Our Quarriers Children Fund relies entirely on kind donations from local communities which is why we’re asking the public to back our appeal and show their support for vulnerable young people and children across Scotland, to ensure they don’t just survive the summer holidays, but thrive.” 

A gift of £5 will provide one child with a day out and gifts of any amount are welcome.

Supporters can make a contribution by visiting:

 https://quarriers.org.uk/fund

CCTV appeal following serious assault in Atik Nightclub

Police Scotland has released the image of a man they believe may hold information which might assist investigations into a serious assault in the VIP area of Atik Nightclub in West Tollcross at around 1.50am on 12 February 2022.


The male is described as being white, aged between 18 and 24, around 5ft 11in tall with dark-coloured brushed forward hair. He was wearing a red jumper, jeans and dark-coloured trainers.


Detective Sergeant Gary Smyth of Gayfield CID said: “I would urge the male, or anyone who has information relating to this male, depicted in this image to make contact with the Police.

“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Police at Gayfield CID, Edinburgh via 101 quoting reference number 2134 of 18 February 2022.  Alternatively, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be passed on anonymously.”