A 41-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with road traffic offences following a crash in Edinburgh.
The incident occurred around 5.50pm on Wednesday, 10 April, 2024, in Trinity Crescent.
A 58-year-old man was injured in the collision and died on Monday, 29 April, 2024.
The man is due to appear at court at a later date.
Two male youths, aged 13 and 14, have been charged in connection with a fire in Edinburgh. The incident happened around 5.15pm on Monday, 23 September, 2024 on West Granton Road.
A report will be submitted to the relevant authority.
With statistics this year from Age Scotland showing that over 400,000 older people living in Scotland have been targeted by scammers, it has never been more important to protect yourself and others from falling victim to fraudsters. Crimes include crypto currency, scam text messages and fake phone calls or emails impersonating trusted organisations such as banks.
While a rapid rise in cases were seen across all age groups, older people are particularly more susceptible. Incidences of fraud crime against this age demographic in Scotland are rising, as scammers take advantage of their relative unfamiliarity with technology, and potentially more trusting nature.
To mark International Day of Older Persons on 1st October, Scottish charity the Cyber and Fraud Hub has relaunched its Older Person’s guide to encourage older residents to be vigilant when it comes to online scams.
Originally produced by the Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland, A Guide to Avoiding Fraud and Scams for Older People addresses some of the most common forms of cyber and fraud crime, and will be distributed through local community networks as well as being available online.
The guide aims to empower older adults to navigate the digital landscape safely and securely, and provides insights into common online scams, identifies red flags to watch out for, and outlines steps to take in case of suspected fraud.
The Cyber and Fraud Hub is the first charity of its kind in Scotland, offering comprehensive support tailored specifically to individuals affected by cyber and fraud crimes. The Hub is built on strong relationships with Police Scotland and the banking sector, and its mission is to ensure that members of the public across Scotland receive the support they need when they are most vulnerable.
Since the Cyber and Fraud Hub launched, the team has dealt with around £250k of crypto frauds across all age groups and stopped or prevented around £60k from being transferred to fraudsters. Victims of crypto currency scams usually engage with individuals who are unknown to them through unsolicited approaches on WhatsApp, Facebook or dating apps, for example, or click on links by AI generated celebrities supposedly promoting crypto scams.
Other common scam and fraud attempts affecting older people most commonly include telephone scams, banking scams, WhatsApp family and friends impersonation scams, parcel delivery scams and investment and pension scams.
Alex Dowall, Head of Fraud and Cyber at the Cyber and Fraud Hub, said: “Anyone of any age can fall victim to a scam and fraud attempts are on the increase for all age groups, however we have noticed a huge increase in scammers repeatedly targeting older people.
“The Hub was launched to offer Scotland’s only dedicated cyber support for all members of the public. We understand that our older residents are less likely to access online and social media platforms, so we are encouraging people to have a conversation about our guide with their older friends, family and neighbours to empower them to be as vigilant as possible against fraud and scam attempts.”
International Day of Older Persons raises awareness of opportunities and challenges faced by ageing populations, and to mobilise the wider community to address difficulties faced by older people.
While the day focuses on many issues, Cyber and Fraud Hub urges older people to:
To access the guide, visitthe Resources section on the Cyber and Fraud Hub at cyberfraudhub.org.
Anyone who finds themselves a victim of a cyber or fraud crime can call the incident response helpline on 0808 281 3580.
Hearts & Minds have welcomed to Edinburgh delegates to the General Assembly of the European Federation of Healthcare Clowning Organisations. The General Assembly was held at The Scottish Storytelling Centre in the heart of the historic city from 2 – 4 October.
The General Assembly is an annual meeting for Artistic Directors and Chief Executives and General Managers from the 20 healthcare clowning organisations across Europe.
The Assembly took place over three days and included presentations by member organisations, artistic workshops and discussion groups where efhco members shared what is happening within their own countries and discuss impacts and outcomes of healthcare clowning.
Healthcare clowning is not unique to Scotland. It is an internationally recognised performing arts in health practice. Healthcare clowns always bring great joy and laughter, and the health benefits they bring are significant too. Research shows that the person-centred emotional engagement they offer each person they visit lessens loneliness and isolation, relieves distress and worry, and supports healthcare staff and families too.
Sean Donnelly, CEO, of host organization Hearts & Minds commented: “I am thrilled to have welcomed our colleagues from healthcare clown organisations across Europe to Edinburgh for this annual assembly.
“It is a fantastic opportunity for us to discuss and compare our work and the challenges we face and support each other with new ideas and shared research.
“We are also delighted that while in Edinburgh we will introduce them to the history of Edinburgh’s Old Town and there will be a ceilidh where a few whiskies will be enjoyed”
The G7 Anti-Smuggling Action Plan will deliver a boost to UK law enforcement by fostering closer cooperation with G7 partners to bolster border security, combat transnational organised crime, and protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation by migrant smugglers.
New joint investigative actions will be carried out by law enforcement teams to target criminal smuggling routes, while intelligence sharing between G7 nations will ensure faster identification and disruption of these dangerous networks.
This approach will enhance the capabilities of the Border Security Command and its new Commander Martin Hewitt CBE QPM in coordinating investigations with international partners to reduce illegal migration to the UK.
Other measures announced in the plan include:
The agreement comes after discussions by the Home Secretary at the G7 Interior and Security Ministers’ meeting in Avellino, Italy, this week. It marks another step in the UK’s reset of relations with key allies and affirms a shared commitment to working together to tackle complex cross-border issues.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Criminal smuggling gangs who organise small boat crossings undermine our border security and put lives at risk. Our new government is rapidly accelerating cooperation with other countries to crack down on these dangerous gangs.
“Today’s newly agreed G7 action plan provides an important focus on international law enforcement and reflects our determination to work with global partners on these shared challenges. New international joint investigative teams will help coordinate cross-border action and supplement the measures we have already taken to set up the UK Border Security Command and back it with new funding.
“The plan will help to increase both voluntary and enforced returns of migrants to countries of origin. It aims to offer migrants more choices and improve the overall management of migration flows.”
Instrumental to delivery of this plan in the UK is the new Border Security Command, under the leadership of Martin Hewitt CBE QPM, which will be armed with enhanced powers and coordinate the work of law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
It will coordinate investigations with European counterparts and will benefit from a £75 million investment in cutting-edge technology, additional officers, and new covert capabilities.
In July, the government committed a further £84 million to addressing the root causes of irregular migration. This funding will go towards programmes aimed at tackling the drivers of migration at their source, reducing the need for dangerous and irregular journeys.
Since taking office, the Home Secretary has increased efforts to work with international partners to tackle the challenges posed by irregular migration.
This has included engagement with the United States Attorney General, Merrick Garland, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, and Executive Director of Europol, Catherine De Bolle.
The UK will continue to drive focus on tackling migrant smuggling with the G7 under Canada’s presidency next year, and at next month’s INTERPOL General Assembly in Glasgow.
Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans are urgently seeking answers from NHS Lothian regarding the temporary closure of the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion in Edinburgh due to emergency repair works.
The sight loss charities are questioning the six-month closure timeline and are warning that it will result in longer waiting times and declining patient care, putting the eye health and mental wellbeing of thousands at heightened risk.
During a recent round table discussion in the Scottish Parliament on Monday 30th September, Craig Spalding, Chief Executive of Sight Scotland, along with NHS Lothian’s Interim Chief Executive Jim Crombie, MSPs Sue Webber, Miles Briggs, and Sarah Boyack, and representatives from Visibility Scotland, RNIB Scotland, Sight Scotland’s Policy Group and the KEEP campaign, discussed the implications of the temporary closure.
Key concerns raised included:
Craig Spalding, Chief Executive of Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans, comments: “We are extremely concerned that the health and wellbeing of eye patients in Edinburgh and the Lothians is being overlooked once again.
“The temporary closure of the eye hospital raises serious questions about patient care, continuity of services, and access to essential treatments.
“This building has been deemed unfit for purpose for over a decade, yet NHS Lothian is set to pour millions into patching up a leaky roof, while the entire facility remains a disaster zone.
“This is a significant blow to patients in a region where ophthalmology services are already severely strained. With waiting times at an all-time high, they are now expected to worsen, causing further delays to vital treatments and placing the eye health and mental wellbeing of thousands at serious risk.
“Since the building was declared unfit for purpose in 2014, outpatient waiting times have quadrupled. Now, less than a third of patients are seen within 12 weeks, compared to 90% ten years ago. Patients cannot afford to wait this long for critical treatments, and it’s only going to get worse.
“There are so many urgent questions which need answered. What resilience plans are in place if some patient reallocations to alternative sites prove unviable?
“What contingency measures exist if the repairs extend beyond the planned six-month timeframe, will there be increased funding if the £1.8 million allocated for emergency repairs falls short? Where will those needing access to emergency eye care go?
“It is essential NHS Lothian works in partnership with third-sector organisations to support vulnerable patients during this difficult time, as many of them will be severely impacted.”
“The recent roundtable made it clear that concerns are widespread, and there’s still no comprehensive plan to improve eye care in the capital. We must keep pushing NHS Lothian and the Scottish Government for answers, both for immediate solutions and long-term improvements.
“How many more lives must be disrupted before funding for a new eye hospital is finally secured?”
For more information, visit sightscotland.org.uk
CREATIVE SCOTLAND STATEMENT:
Following discussions with the Scottish Government throughout the Multi-Year process, we have now received confirmation that Creative Scotland’s budget to enable Multi-Year decisions will not be clarified until the overall Scottish Government draft budget announcement, scheduled for 04 December 2024.
As a result, the outcome from the Multi-Year Funding programme is being postponed until the end of January 2025. This is a revision to the published guidance.
281 applications to the programme, with an annual ask of £87.5m, are currently being assessed as part of Stage 2 of the published process. Final decisions on the level of support we will be able to provide to successful organisations will be made once we have budget clarity.
The National Lottery reserves that we hold, currently £11m, remain allocated to support Transition Funding from April 2025 for organisations currently in receipt of ongoing funding from Creative Scotland but are unsuccessful in their application for Multi-Year Funding.
Robert Wilson, Chair of Creative Scotland, said: “While we would have preferred to announce the outcome from this application process in October as planned and have been working collaboratively with Scottish Government to endeavour to do so, we also understand the extreme budget pressures that exist.
“These pressures mean we are required to postpone the outcome until such time as we have budget clarity. This will enable us to make final decisions in a context of budget confidence and to support as many organisations on a multi-year basis as we possibly can.”
Angus Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, said: “The cultural sector is an integral part of our identity as a country. This is why we’re working hard to help the sector to fulfil its potential in Scotland by assuring at least £100 million more annually in funding by 2028-29.
“We await the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s budget announcement on 30 October which has a hugely significant bearing on the Scottish budget. Following that we will be able to set detailed budgets for the coming financial year including for the culture sector.
“I will continue to work in collaboration with Creative Scotland and the sector over the coming months to ensure stability until Creative Scotland have sufficient clarity to be able to announce the recipients of their multi-year funding awards.”
The UK has chartered a flight to leave Beirut tomorrow (Sunday 6 Oct) as tensions in the region escalate.
There are no more scheduled flights, due to a decrease in demand. However, the situation will be kept under constant review.
Any remaining British nationals who want to leave Lebanon are urged to register with the Government immediately.
The Government has been advising British nationals to leave Lebanon since October last year due to a deteriorating security situation. So far three chartered flights organised by the Government have left Beirut, with a fourth to leave on Sunday.
The Government added the extra capacity due to high demand for places on commercial flights and has enabled more than 250 additional people to leave in the last week.
The Government committed to charter flights as long as there was demand and the security situation allows. However, demand has now significantly reduced, and this Sunday’s flight is currently the only one scheduled.
Any British nationals who have not booked a place and still wish to secure a seat on the flight are advised to register immediately.
British nationals and their spouse or partner, and children under the age of 18 are eligible. All passengers must hold a valid travel document.
Dependants who are not British nationals will require a valid visa that has been granted for a period of stay in the UK of more than 6 months.
UK government officials have been working round the clock in London, Beirut and the wider region to provide support to British nationals. A FCDO Rapid Deployment Team has also arrived in Lebanon to bolster the support offered by British Embassy officials.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “The situation in Lebanon remains volatile, so I am glad that we have helped the many people who have heeded our advice to leave the country immediately.
“With demand falling, and the security situation deteriorating, there is no guarantee other options to leave quickly will become available. I urge anyone who wants to leave to register now.”
Sunday’s flight will depart from Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport and British nationals who have registered their presence with the Government will be sent details on how to request a seat.
British nationals and their dependants should not travel to the airport unless they have a seat booked on a plane.
The FCDO urges everyone to continue to follow the relevant travel advice, exercise caution, and monitor media in Lebanon for developments.
The safety of British nationals is the top priority and around 700 troops and Foreign Office and Home Office staff, including Border Force officers, have been deployed to Cyprus for contingency planning.
The UK continues to call for a ceasefire between Lebanese Hizballah and Israel – although the UK continues to supply arms to Israel.
The UK Government says a ceasefire would provide the space necessary to find a political solution that enables civilians on both sides to return to their homes in safety. Given Israel leader Benjamin Netanyahu’s defiant comments, however, the chances of a ceasefire are slim. If he won’t listen to the United States or the United Nations, will he really pay the slightest heed to Britain?
