Witness appeal following knifepoint robbery

Police are appealing for information after an armed robbery at a shop in Shandon. The incident happened at a premises on Ashley Terrace around 7pm on Tuesday (23 June).

An unidentified man entered the store approached staff at the till and made a muffled request whilst showing a knife in his waistband. He threatened staff to open the register and took a three figure sum of cash.

He left on foot and is believed to have headed towards Harrison Gardens.

The man is described as being black, aged in his late 20s to early 30s, of a medium build and around 5ft 10ins tall. He was wearing a dark grey suit jacket, a black hooded top with the hood up, black trousers and black leather shoes. His face was covered with a black scarf and dark coloured sunglasses.

Detective Constable Zaira Marker of Corstorphine CID said: “Nobody was injured but this was a frightening experience for staff and customers alike.

“Extensive enquiries are ongoing to identify the man responsible, including reviewing CCTV from the area.

“Anyone who believes they may have information which could help identify the man or who was in the area at the time of robbery is urged to contact police as soon as they can.”

Anyone with information can call 101, quoting incident 3084 of 23 June, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Police concern over Balerno report

Police in Edinburgh are carrying out enquiries following a report of a partially clothed man walking in the area in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Officers were advised the man, who’s thought to be in his seventies, with thinning grey or white hair, had been seen in the Balerno area around 4.20am. Continue reading Police concern over Balerno report

At last, the truth: Independent review of policing during Miners’ Strike announced

‘To investigate and report on the impact of policing on affected communities in Scotland during the period of the miners’ strike from March 1984 – March 1985’.

Scotland will lead the way in the UK in ensuring the experiences of those affected by the Miners’ Strike in the 1980s are properly understood, the Justice Secretary said yesterday. Michael Matheson has ordered an independent review into the impact of policing on communities during the Miners’ Strike, from March 1984 to March 1985. Continue reading At last, the truth: Independent review of policing during Miners’ Strike announced

“Another Tory betrayal of Scottish communities”: local MSP challenges Chancellor over unfair VAT charges

Northern and Leith MSP Ben Macpherson has written to the Chancellor Philip Hammond calling on him to take immediate action to cancel their unfair VAT charges on Scotland’s Police and Fire services which cost the forces £35 million a year. Continue reading “Another Tory betrayal of Scottish communities”: local MSP challenges Chancellor over unfair VAT charges

Police launch Operation Close Pass

Campaign highlights space needed to pass cyclists safely 

Plain clothed police are taking to Edinburgh’s streets to highlight the space cyclists need for everyone to use our roads safely. Operation Close Pass will see drivers who pass an unmarked police cyclist too closely pulled over and given advice using a specially designed mat which shows how much space a person on a bicycle needs when overtaking them. Continue reading Police launch Operation Close Pass