Four men have been convicted of serious organised crime offences linked to Operation Portaledge.
Kieran Abercrombie, 32, Kenzie Gardner (pictured, top), 19, Tyler Ramage (pictured, above), 19, and Robert Thomson (pictured, below), 18, pleaded guilty to wilful fireraising at the High Court in Edinburgh today, Thursday, 12 February, 2026.
They had been arrested and charged by police on 23 May, 2025, after two vehicles were deliberately set on fire in Pitcairn Grove in Edinburgh on Thursday, 8 May 2025.
Abercrombie, Gardner and Thomson, also pleaded guilty in relation to a fire at a premises on Cumbernauld Road in Stepps, which happened on Thursday, 8 May, 2025.
Thomson also pleaded guilty to a firearms offence, while Abercrombie pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit criminal activity.
They are all due to be sentenced at the same court on Tuesday, 10 March.
Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Ferry, Specialist Crime Division, said: “These were concerning incidents for the local community and now those responsible will face the consequences of their actions.
“I want to make it clear to those intent on being involved in serious and organised crime that we will not give up and you will be brought to justice.
“These convictions are further examples of Police Scotland’s commitment to the Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce and its national strategy”
Operation Portaledge is the ongoing investigation into violent incidents in the East and West of the country.
An Edinburgh children’s hospital has become the first in the world to introduce pioneering new personal navigation technology from Waymap, helping families to travel more easily from home to specific consulting rooms and wards.
The Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (RHCYP) at Little France is the first hospital globally to go live with Waymap – a ground-breaking app that guides visitors from their front door directly to the correct hospital department.
Made possible thanks to a partnership between Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC), NHS Lothian, and personal navigation specialist Waymap, the app gives families step-by-step directions both inside and outside the hospital, making visits more accessible and less stressful.
Families like Gilly Bain’s, whose daughters Finty (3) and Mackenzie (6) have been admitted to the RHCYP numerous times with recurrent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other ailments, have already described the app as a gamechanger for navigating hospital visits.
Gilly, Founder & CEO of YOURGB, Edinburgh, said: “Making your way to hospital with a very unwell child is one of the most high-stress moments in any parent’s life.In that moment, the absolute last thing you need is to panic about which building is the right one, or which of the many car parks it is that you’re meant to use.
“This app takes away that added pressure, and it is going to make a world of difference to so, so many families.”
Already in use at major transport hubs, shopping centres and sports stadiums in the UK and around the world, Waymap works indoors, outdoors and underground. It helps people move confidently through unfamiliar spaces, regardless of vision, mobility, or language skills.
Roslyn Neely, CEO of ECHC, said: “Hospital visits can already be a daunting experience, especially for children and families with additional needs. This ground-breaking technology removes one of the biggest sources of anxiety – finding your way.
“Not only will it make journeys to the hospital much simpler by guiding people directly to where they need to be, it will also help to ease anxiety, break down language barriers, and reduce missed appointments.”
The Waymap team carefully mapped the hospital’s indoor physical space using a LIDAR scanner, which uses lasers to map spaces in 3D. The app guides families along clear routes displayed on a smartphone screen or via audio instructions. It is available in multiple languages and integrates with bus and train timetables.
Celso Zuccollo, CEO of Waymap, said: “We are really excited to be making wayfinding easier for children and families visiting the hospital.
“Waymap’s precise personal navigation technology works indoors and outdoors, making it ideal for helping patients, staff and visitors find their way to and around a busy hospital.”
Aris Tyrothoulakis, Service Director, Women’s and Children’s, NHS Lothian, said: “We are proud to be the first hospital in the world to introduce this technology to support our young patients and their families.
“It is about making the journey to and from hospital easier, reducing stress, and helping families to feel more confident and independent from the moment they arrive.”
Dr Olivia Swann, Paediatric Infectious Diseases Consultant, NHS Lothian, said: “My colleagues and I realised we were spending a lot of time helping anxious families find their way around the hospital.
“I was sure we could do this better. My research led me to Waymap and their innovative way of helping people navigate complex indoor settings.
“Working with Waymap and ECHC, we managed to secure funding to bring this amazing app to the families at RHCYP and hope it helps make hospital visits simpler and less stressful for everyone.”
The RAF Benevolent Fund has launched a new campaign in Scotland, Valentine for a Veteran, highlighting the impact of loneliness and isolation among RAF veterans and the power of small acts of kindness in helping them feel connected.
Timed around Valentine’s Day – a period when family life, friendships and togetherness are particularly visible – the campaign focuses on delivering thoughtful Valentine messages from children and young people across Scotland to RAF veterans who may be experiencing isolation and ill health.
Alongside sharing messages of kindness, the campaign invites communities to fundraise in support of the RAF Benevolent Fund’s ongoing welfare work with veterans and their families.
This year, the Fund has worked in partnership with Sight Scotland, recognising that many older veterans are living with visual impairments. Textured Valentine cards, created using materials such as felt, ribbon, fabric or buttons, have been especially meaningful for veterans with sight loss, allowing them to experience the messages in a more tangible way.
One of the veterans who received a Valentine message was David Innes, 94, from Edinburgh, who joined the RAF as a boy entrant in 1949 and served for more than ten years as an Aircraft Fitter.
Reflecting on his service, David said:“I really enjoyed my time in the RAF. I joined when I was very young and it became a huge part of my life. I travelled a lot and learned skills that stayed with me long after I left.”
Now later in life, David lives with significant sight and hearing loss, which he says can contribute to a deep sense of isolation. He explained: “When you lose both your sight and your hearing, it can be very isolating. You rely on other people and it’s easy to feel cut off from the world and from social life.”
For David, receiving a Valentine message is about more than the card itself. “Something like this really lifts you. It makes you feel remembered and valued. Knowing that someone has taken the time to think about you makes a big difference.”
He also highlighted the importance of intergenerational connection within the veteran community. He said: “It’s important that younger people understand who veterans are and what we’ve done. That connection helps keep our experiences alive and reminds you that you’re still part of something.”
Gavin Davey, Area Director of Scotland, Northern Ireland & North-East England at the RAF Benevolent Fund, said the campaign helps to shine a light on an issue that often goes unseen.He explained:“Across the nation, many veterans face increased risk of loneliness and social isolation, particularly in later life.
“Factors such as living in rural or remote communities, declining health, sensory loss and reduced mobility can make it harder to stay connected. ‘Valentine for a Veteran’ has had a huge response from the public, schools and community groups across Scotland, and will help veterans feel included, valued and connected.
“We are extremely grateful for the public thoughtfulness and generosity to help the RAF Benevolent Fund to continue to provide the practical, emotional and financial support veterans rely on throughout the year.”
Families, schools, youth groups and community organisations were invited to fundraise alongside taking part. All funds raised will support members of the RAF Family including veterans, serving personnel and their families with practical, financial and emotional support.
The RAF Benevolent Fund continues to support RAF veterans and their families across Scotland through a wide range of welfare services, addressing issues such as isolation, health challenges and changing support needs later in life.
Ahead of the 20th anniversary of Scotland’s smoke-free legislation coming into force on 26 March 2026, people in Edinburgh who quit smoking at the time are being encouraged by a campaigning health charity to share their stories.
ASH Scotland is urging people who stopped using tobacco to share their experiences about why the ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces helped to motivate their quit smoking attempts and how becoming tobacco-free has benefited their life.
Local residents who have quit smoking more recently are also invited to tell the charity ahead of No Smoking Day on 11 March what influenced them to stop and if they succeeded through personal determination or with the free expert support available from NHS Scotland’s Quit Your Way services.
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “With two big celebrations coming up in March in the shape of No Smoking Day and then the 20th anniversary of Scotland’s leading smoke-free law, we would love to hear from people in Edinburgh about how living tobacco-free has boosted their health and personal finances.
“We are looking forward to hearing everyone’s success stories which could inspire others to try giving up smoking for the first time or to try again when they discover the methods and support that worked 20 years ago or in more recent years.”
Four writers from Edinburgh have been named as this year’s recipients of Scottish Book Trust’s 2024 New Writers Award.
Tutor Alice Rowena Wilson, writer and poet Shasta Hanif Ali, primary teacher Amie Robertson and journalist Sukhada Tatke were selected out of hundreds of entries to take part in this year’s mentorship programme.
Every year, Scottish Book Trust, the national charity changing lives with reading and writing, holds its prestigious year-long writer development programme to support burgeoning writers in Scotland. In addition to a £2,500 cash prize, awardees receive invaluable mentorship from established writers and industry professionals, a week-long retreat, and opportunities to showcase their work to key figures in the publishing world.
Since its launch in 2009, the New Writers Awards have had an extraordinary impact on publishing. Of the 212 awardees who have completed the programme, 96 have published their work, and 210 books have been published worldwide.
Previous awardees include Graeme Macrae Burnet whose 2015 novel His Bloody Project was shortlisted for the Man Book Prize.
Pakistani-Scottish writer Shasta Hanif Ali is a winner of the Edinburgh 900 Poetry Competition 2025 and the 2024 Candlestick Press Light Poems competition.
She’s also written and performed her poetry at Push The Boat Out Poetry Festival and Edinburgh’s International Book Festival amongst others.
She says: ‘I am delighted to receive the New Writers Award 2026 and grateful to the Scottish Book Trust for this opportunity. It’s come at just the right time for my writing and development. I’m looking forward to meeting the other awardees and being in community.’
Alice Rowena Wilson is originally from Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire and now lives in Edinburgh, where she works as a tutor. She was previously selected for the BBC New Creatives programme, in partnership with Arts Council England.
Her short drama was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra in 2021. She is particularly interested in the intersection of the historical, the fantastical, and the imaginary.
Alice says: ‘I’m absolutely thrilled to receive this award. I was totally shocked when I got the call – I’d just woken up from a nap and thought it was a bizarre dream!
“I’m now looking forward to throwing myself into my writing this year, and making the most of this opportunity.’
Amie Robertson is a primary school teacher from Edinburgh, who specialises in children’s stories. Her stories weave a passion for Scottish history and mythology with the lived reality of her working-class background.
She has completed two writing courses at Edinburgh University, where her children’s picture book, My Secret Dragon was chosen for their writing showcase. She is working on her second middle-grade novel, inspired by historical Hebridean clans with an added touch of magic.
Amie says: ‘I am shocked and overjoyed to have won the Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award and cannot emphasise enough how much it truly means.
“It has given me the confidence and determination to go after my writing dreams, with the invaluable support and insight from those within the business. I just can’t wait to get started!’
Sukhada Tatke is an independent journalist and communications officer at a think tank. She was the inaugural recipient of this year’s The Kavya Prize, to support an emerging writer of colour.
Originally from Mumbai, India, she currently lives in Edinburgh. Her features have been published in Al Jazeera, Wired, BBC and Atlas Obscura, and essays in literary magazines such as The Rumpus, Literary Hub, Commonwealth Writers’ and Verseville. She is the recipient of several journalism awards and fellowships.
Sukhada says: ‘I am incredibly thrilled and honoured to receive this award. In what is often a solitary journey riddled with challenges and self-doubt, it is wonderful to get the kind of recognition that tells you you’re on the right path.
“I look forward to meeting my cohort and the many opportunities this award will bring.’
Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said:‘Congratulations to this year’s New Writers, each of whom were selected for this opportunity for their exceptional writing. It’s always incredible to meet our awardees as they start their year-long journey of receiving invaluable support and mentorship.
“We look forward to seeing the next steps in their writing journeys.’
Here is the full list of awardees:
Shasta Hanif Ali, poetry
EmmaClaire Brightlyn, spoken word
Alice Rowena Wilson, fiction and narrative non-fiction
Amie Robertson, children’s and young adult
Sukhada Tatke, Kavya winner
Donna Louise Irvine, Scots
David Ross Linklater, poetry
Andy Grace Edwards, fiction and narrative non-fiction
A leading national charity is calling on politicians from all parties to take urgent action in providing better support to those in the Armed Forces community.
Poppyscotland has today (Tuesday, February 10th) launched the charity’s second manifesto ahead of May’s Scottish Parliamentary elections.
The manifesto identifies five key areas for improving the support available for serving and ex-serving military personnel in Scotland. These include the expansion of the Armed Forces Covenant, Education, Childcare, Health and Housing.
The first key area Poppyscotland is calling for action on is keeping the Armed Forces Covenant Promise. This sets out the obligation that the Armed Forces community must not face disadvantage because of their service and that those who have given the most, including the injured and bereaved, receive special consideration.
Poppyscotland is also calling on the Scottish Government to implement a clear, accessible programme to promote the Armed Forces Covenant, backed by appropriate resources, practical guidance, and robust evaluation.
Another key area is support for Armed Forces families. Poppyscotland is calling on the Scottish Government to ring-fence funding for service children with additional support needs, to help address the specific challenges of Armed Forces life.
The manifesto also calls for the Scottish Government to actively promote participation in the GP Armed Forces and Veterans Recognition Scheme, which aims to improve identification and support for veterans within primary care.
Poppyscotland chair, Helen Owen, explained: “The 2026 election is an important opportunity for the new Scottish Parliament to prioritise the needs of the Armed Forces community.
“This manifesto provides clarity and focus around the issues we believe to be of greatest importance, as well as setting out in detail how we feel these recommendations can be taken forward by the next Scottish Government. It has been informed by evidence and experience and it is our hope that by working with all parties, we can ensure that the unique contribution of the whole Armed Forces community is given the recognition it deserves.”
Other recommendations focus on improving the quality of mental health support available to veterans; ensuring the needs of the Armed Forces community’s childcare requirements are met at a local level; and that the Scottish Government must build on its commitment to tackling and preventing homelessness for those who have previously served in the Armed Forces.
Poppyscotland provides life-changing support to the Armed Forces community. Money raised from the annual Scottish Poppy Appeal and the charity’s year-round fundraising enables Poppyscotland to deliver support to members of the Armed Forces community in Scotland by providing tailored support and funding.
Poppyscotland also funds services in advice, employment, housing, mental health and mobility.
Reconviction rate after Community Payback lower than short term sentences
The success of community-based sentences in reducing reoffending and paying back to society has been highlighted by Justice Secretary Angela Constance following the recently announced extra funding for alternatives to custody.
The Justice Secretary visited Mayfield & Easthouses Development Trust in Dalkeith where people carrying out unpaid work while serving a Community Payback Order (CPO) transformed the garden from wasteland and refurbished the café, which now uses fresh produce grown on site.
In addition to local community benefit from unpaid work, latest statistics show the reconviction rate for people sentenced to undertake CPOs is 28.4%, compared to 52.6% for those completing short prison sentences of one year or less .
Scotland’s overall reconviction rate of 27.1% is the fourth lowest on record in 25 years, with the average number of reconvictions per offender falling 14% over the past decade.
The Scottish Government is investing around £169 million in community justice services in 2026-27, including an additional £10 million to support diversion from prosecution, alternatives to remand, community sentencing and throughcare services.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “It was great to see first-hand the fantastic work at Mayfield & Easthouses Development Trust, where the garden and café are brilliant examples of how community sentences create real, lasting benefits for local communities.
“The evidence is clear: community-based sentences are more effective than short prison sentences at reducing reoffending, contributing to fewer victims and safer communities. The recently-published Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission’s report echoed this view in some of its recommendations and the need to shift the balance to community justice.
“Community Payback Orders allow us to tailor support to individual circumstances, addressing the underlying causes of offending while ensuring people make amends to their communities. The Scottish Government’s continued investment in community justice reflects our commitment to shifting the balance from custody to community, giving people the best chance to turn their lives around while keeping people safe.”
Mayfield & Easthouses Development Trust manager, Sharon Hill, said: “Our work with the Community Payback Team helps us by giving us access to folks who can help us in a really practical way – whether that be by building, painting, moving or digging.
“The Community Payback Team benefit from seeing the positive impact of what they have done. It can give a sense of pride and purpose to everyone involved.”
As of 2nd February, there were 562 prisoners with overall sentences of 12 months or less 7% of the prison population. In 2023-24, 73% of short term sentences (under 4 years) imposed were for 12 months or less and 15% under 24 months.
SHARE YOUR VIEWS ON DRYLAW COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP PLANS
DNC are in the process of trying to buy the land that we sit on – we currently own the building, but not the land.
We would love to hear your views about this.
If you could spare ten minutes to complete our survey we would be most grateful.
This can be accessed at bit.ly/Drylaw
We are hosting two drop in events over the next week: one TONIGHT – Thursday 12th February from 6pm – 8pm and one on Monday lunchtime (16th February) between 10:30 – 1:00.
Please come along and view the space and give us your views.
We really would appreciate it.
Drinks and snack will be provided at both drop ins.
