Police Scotland: Operation Soteria

Secure your Motorcycle

#OpSoteria is our divisional response to significant community concerns linked to the theft & antisocial use of motorcycles across the city:

– Ensure your bike is fitted with a combined alarm and immobiliser which will deter thieves when the alarm sounds.

Attach both a disc lock and U-lock. Do not rely on one device, The more security placed on your bike, the less attractive it is to a thief.

– Try to park under street lights

– When applying your locks, ensure they are secured to a solid anchor point or a permanent piece of street furniture. Keep the lock off the ground where possible as this makes it difficult for the thief to remove.

– Cover your motorcycle and ensure the cover is attached to the security device.

– Where possible use ‘Thatcham’ or ‘Secure by Design’ approved devices. These have been tested by the industry and are generally agreed to be Some of the most robust security devices available.

– Ensure you always activate the steering lock.

– Avoid leaving your helmet or other possessions on the motorcycle, in luggage space or panniers.

– Be vigilant, ensure that you are not being followed home and check for suspicious items attached to your motorcycle.

Social Media

Think about what you share on any app. and regularly review your security settings – Make sure your posts do not identify your home and make it a target.

Tracking Devices

Tracking devices are an effective covert security measure. Although they may not prevent your motorcycle from being stolen, it will assist Police in tracing and recovering the vehicle quickly.

Marking and Identification Systems

Datatag ID – Datatag is a piece of technology which can be attached to various parts of your motorcycle. It comes in different forms, dependent on what is most appropriate and is unique to each individual.

For more information on this product, please visit www.datatag.co.uk.

Leith Academy: Kit for All

SPORTS CLOTHES WANTED

KitForAll – Leith PE are requesting donations of pre-loved sports kit for our KitForAll campaign.

KitforAll is about offering sports kit to individuals and families who need it the most, for FREE.

With your donations, we hope to make sport and physical activity more accessible.

#PassItOn

Investing in school libraries

School libraries across Scotland have been awarded funding totalling £200,000 for projects focused on anti-racism, diversity, and racial equality.  

In 2022-23 18 initiatives across 10 local authorities will benefit from the School Library Improvement Fund grants.

These include Strathaven Academy in South Lanarkshire, which will receive £5,000 to develop a diversity and racial equality education initiative to promote and develop anti-racist education.

Ross High School in East Lothian will be supported with £50,000 for its community programme that will encourage pupils and staff to have the confidence to challenge and appropriately respond to discrimination and prejudice.

Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “School libraries play a key role for young people by providing access to educational resources, supporting learning and helping to close the poverty-related attainment gap.

“The School Library Improvement Fund continues to support creative and innovative projects in school libraries.

“The anti-racism focus of the projects will allow school libraries to engage with pupils on the importance of belonging, inclusion and social justice.”

Pamela Tulloch, Chief Executive of the Scottish Library and Information Council, said: “School libraries play a valuable role in education and learning, and ensuring every young person has the chance to fulfil their full potential. 

“Projects funded through programmes like SLIF help to improve and expand the services school libraries can provide, so it’s great to see such strong applications coming in from schools eager to further develop these resources.

“We’re particularly proud to award support to those advocating for anti-racism and anti-discrimination through this year’s Fund and we can’t wait to see these initiatives come to fruition.”

School Library Improvement Fund awards

Aberdeenshire

Fraserburgh Academy /Fraserburgh Football Club and Aberdeen Football Club
Project: Widening the Pitch
Award: £2,700

Clackmannanshire

Alloa and Lornshill Academy/Empathy Lab
Project: Building Empathy Through Books: Empathy Champions
Award: £8,942

East Ayrshire

Kilmarnock Academy
Project: Building Racial Literacy
Award: £3,000

 East Dunbartonshire

Turnbull High School
Project: Exploring the Holocaust
Award: £3,705
St Ninian’s High School
Project: Human Rights, Story Writes
Award: £4,500

 East Lothian

Ross High School
Project: Stand Up and Be Counted – Global Community; Engage, Equip, Inspire
Award: £50,000
Preston Lodge High School
Project: East Lothian Black History
Award: £3,300

 Edinburgh

Edinburgh School Libraries
Project: The Library is Anti-Racist: A toolkit for school libraries
Award: £29,000

Glasgow

Holy Cross Primary
Project: Diverse Stories
Award: £10,000
Oakgrove Primary /WOSDEC
Project: Home is Here
Award: £17,400
Shawlands Primary School / Rumpus Room
Project: Inclusive Creative Arts and Literacy Lounge
Award: £10,500
St Mungo’s Primary School
Project: Developing the Young Workforce and celebrating the diverse community of St Mungo’s
Award: £14,255
Glasgow Schools – All Saints Secondary School, Lochend Community High School /  School of Education- University of Glasgow
Project: White Water Writers
Award: £18,730

Inverclyde

Port Glasgow Campus Library/Larkfield Early Learning
Project: Reading Around the World
Award: £4,000

Perth and Kinross

Inchview Primary & Nursery/ Nil by Mouth
Project: 383 Neeps and Tatties and Counting
Award: £4,650
Crieff High School
Project: Protest Prejudice
Award: £10,000
Lochleven Community Library/Kinross High School
Project: I read for…. Change, understanding , empowerment
Award: £3,700

South Lanarkshire

Strathaven Academy
Project: Diversity and Racial Equality Education
Award: £5,000

Three more UK cities introduce clean air zones


More UK cities are set to introduce clean air zones this year, making motorists pay a charge if they wish to enter city centres.

Road safety experts at Road Angel are urging drivers to check for changes in their local areas and to get any necessary permits to prevent facing fines for driving through these zones.

Drivers in London already face charges if they wish to enter the capital’s low and ultra low emission zones (ULEZ). Five other UK cities have already introduced clean air zones with three more due to start in the coming weeks and months.

Currently, drivers in Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol and Portsmouth all face potential charges based on the level of their emissions.

Tyneside is set to introduce its own Clean Air Zone on 30 January and Sheffield will follow suit on 27 February.

Greater Manchester is the third local authority set to introduce a clean air zone in 2023 although they have yet to agree on a date.

Cities are able to choose one of four possible clean air zones from Class A through to Class D which each class targeting different types of road vehicles. Failure to comply can result in a fine of up to £120.

Currently, only Birmingham and Bristol have introduced Class D Clean Air Zones – these are the most far reaching and require private car drivers to register and potentially pay charges depending on the level of their emissions.

Both Bath and Bradford have introduced Class C Clean Air Zones, these target vans, minibuses, coaches, taxis, HGVs, buses and private hire vehicles but not privately owned cars.

Portsmouth is currently the only city to have brought in Class B restrictions where charges apply to coaches, taxis, HGVs, buses and private hire vehicles but not cars, vans or minibuses.

It’s believed that Sheffield is planning on a Class C zone while Tyneside is planning to introduce Class B restrictions. Details for Manchester’s upcoming zone have not yet been finalised.

A spokesperson for Road Angel said: “We welcome changes to improve air quality in our cities but we don’t want these changes to take any drivers by surprise.

“Therefore we are urging drivers who may be visiting any of these cities to check the government’s website to find out if they are required to obtain a permit for a clean air zone.

“It’s also worth checking the vehicle’s logbook where information on the vehicle’s emission rate can be found to determine if charges can be applicable in clean air zones.

“If drivers don’t pay the fee applied to their area within six days of entering the clean air zone, they can face a standard penalty charge of £120.

“Going forward, we predict this will encourage drivers to turn to electric vehicles so they don’t have to face further charges for their vehicle’s emission rates.

“While Sheffield and Tyneside are currently the only areas planned to introduce charges in 2023, along with the possibility of Greater Manchester, it doesn’t stop the case for more cities across the UK to add their names to the list.”

Drivers venturing into these cities will soon have access to this information in-car via the Road Angel Pure

Edinburgh’s city centre Low Emission Zone (LEZ) was approved by Scottish Ministers on 19 May 2022 and was introduced on 31 May 2022. Enforcement will start on 1 June 2024, following a two-year grace period for all.

Board Games at ELREC

TUESDAY AFTERNOONS from 10th JANUARY

Did you make your New Year resolutions? How about dedicating more time to resting, relaxing and slowing down in our busy lives this year?

We are organising a free space to play board games in ELREC every Tuesday at 3:30-5:30pm from 10th January! Come alone or with friends to have fun and meet new people!

The board games afternoons will be a part of the Conscious Living Project that aims to promote wellbeing, mental health and raise environmental awareness ❤

We are gathering and buying board games to play but you are very welcome to come with your group and own board games to play as well! Feel free to share the post or let your friends or family know 🙂

If you know anyone who feels lonely and want to spend some time with other people, it would be a great opportunity!

There are limited spaces so you would need to register to take part:

https://www.eventbrite.com/…/board-games-afternoons…

Hope to see you!