davepickering

Knife robberies down by more than a fifth, says Labour government

‘Knife robberies have fallen by 21% as government action takes effect’

Knife robberies have fallen sharply in major cities in England thanks to joint government and police action to tackle one of the most harmful forms of violence and make communities safe.

New Home Office data shows that robberies involving a knife in the 7 highest volume areas are now more than a fifth lower (21%) than they were in June 2024. Offences fell from 15,918 in summer 2024 to 12,633 by March 2026, meaning thousands fewer people experiencing the fear and financial impact of this violent crime.

The continuing fall follows a period when knife robberies were rising. Since 2024, the new focused national leadership and close partnership with policing have turned the tide. The results, published at the start of Knife Crime Awareness Week, demonstrate the impact of innovation, collaboration and focusing on proven-to work tactics, that has come out of the Home Office‑led Knife‑Enabled Robbery Group.

The group, set up in October 2024, brings together the Metropolitan, Greater Manchester, West Midlands, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Avon and Somerset and British Transport police forces to work together on tackling the issue.

It has helped forces make better use of intelligence and analysis to spot crime patterns early, strengthen investigations by improving how technology such as CCTV is used to identify suspects and build stronger cases. It has also tightened offender management by targeting repeat and high‑harm offenders in hotspot areas and keeping closer grip on performance and outcomes.

Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones said: “These results show what can be achieved when we bring a clear focus and relentless grip to tackling knife crime, working hand in hand with the police and our frontline and grassroots partners.

“I know knife robbery has a devastating impact on victims and communities, so sustained reductions like this matter because they mean fewer people at risk of harm.

“I am determined to build on this progress as part of this government’s mission to halve knife crime, combining tough enforcement with early intervention and prevention to protect young people and keep communities safe.”

Every police force involved has recorded sustained reductions. The largest percentage falls were seen in West Midlands Police and British Transport Police, both down by 39%, alongside a 17% reduction in the Metropolitan Police. Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, Avon and Somerset and South Yorkshire have also seen decreases, ranging from 10% to 21%.

As part of their ongoing efforts, Greater Manchester Police this month launched its new City of Manchester robbery team with dedicated officers targeting knife robberies and offenders in the heart of the city. Part of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, officers will provide a visible deterrent, proactively targeting offenders and offences when they occur.

Force lead for robbery at Greater Manchester Police, Chief Superintendent Helen Critchley said: “Knife-enabled robbery is a crime that causes untold and lasting harm to its victims. In addition to the impact on the victims themselves these offences often happen in open and public spaces, and so affect feelings of safety in the local community.

“Within GMP, we are committed to the role of effective neighbourhood policing in providing public reassurance, preventing these offences and responding efficiently when they do.

“As part of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee the force has invested in the creation of a new City of Manchester robbery team who will be tackling all aspects of robbery, including knife-enabled robbery. These frontline officers will provide a visible deterrent, proactively target offenders and when offences do occur, they will provide a best standard of initial investigation to maximise opportunities to bring offenders to justice.

“We are proud to support the government’s ambition to reduce knife-enabled robbery and to be part to the Home Office taskforce set up to achieve this goal. Through the taskforce we are able to increase knowledge, share best practice and test new ideas to keep our communities safe.”

The reductions are part of a wider and sustained downward trend in knife crime. Recent figures show a 27% fall in knife‑related homicides, alongside an overall reduction in knife crime in England and Wales. 63,611 knives have also been removed from the streets through police seizures, surrender schemes and border interventions. Together, these indicators show real progress in reducing the most serious harm and keeping communities safer.

This targeted action is one example of the government’s broader response to knife crime. The latest results and the week of intensified police activity follow the publication of ‘protecting lives, building hope: a plan to halve knife crime’, which brings together action across government, policing and local partners to drive progress and end the cycle of knife crime. The plan sets out a long‑term approach combining tough enforcement with prevention, early intervention and community‑led solutions, as part of the government’s mission to halve knife crime over the next decade.

Knife Crime Awareness Week is a national week of action and engagement led by organisations including the Ben Kinsella Trust. The week shines a spotlight on the devastating impact of knife crime, while highlighting the action being taken across government, policing and communities to prevent violence, protect young people and save lives.

Patrick Green, CEO of the Ben Kinsella Trust and member of the government’s Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime said: “These figures show that coordinated national leadership from the government, and targeted policing, are making a tangible difference, with thousands fewer knife robberies than just 2 years ago. It’s important to recognise that behind every reduction is a life spared the fear, harm or long-lasting impact of violence.

“However, Knife Crime Awareness Week highlights that real, lasting change depends on all of us. We cannot rely on enforcement alone; we must continue to prioritise prevention, work closely with young people, and ensure they feel supported, informed and empowered to make safe decisions long before they ever feel pressure to carry a knife.”

The week also sees a wave of activity across England and Wales for Operation Sceptre, with intensified action from forces up and down the country to tackle knife crime by taking dangerous weapons off the streets and preventing violence before it happens. Led by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), the week will see forces carry out targeted enforcement alongside community engagement, including weapons sweeps, test-purchase operations to stop illegal knife sales, knife surrender activity and work in schools and neighbourhoods.

Commander Stephen Clayman, NPCC lead for knife crime and Head of the National Knife Crime Centre, said: “The impact of knife crime on individuals, families and communities is truly devastating and long lasting.

“While the causes and drivers of knife crime are complex, early intervention and putting in place measures to tackle the root causes are essential and this is a key focus of our work in the newly launched National Knife Crime Centre.

“Reducing knife crime remains a priority and policing plays a pivotal role in enforcement activity, but we can’t do it alone. By working together with our partners and supporting communities we know that we can be more effective, responsive and take steps to prevent young people carrying knives.

“Officers and staff work tirelessly every day to tackle knife crime and this week, Sceptre highlights the many activities policing undertakes to keep our communities safe.”

Delivering on its plan, and building on these results, the Home Office will continue to work closely with policing partners to build on this progress, expand what works and keep the pressure on knife crime – driving down violence now, while building a safer future for the next generation.

Pooja Kanda, founder of Justice for Ronan Kanda, and member of the UK government’s Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime said: “It is encouraging to see knife-enabled robberies down by 21% across key hotspot areas, and over 63,000 knives removed from our streets since July 2024.

“We must remember that behind every statistic is a real child, a real family and a community affected by violence. These reductions show that working in partnership together, targeted policing and stronger prevention measures can make a real difference when action is sustained and coordinated.”

Knife Crime Awareness Week is not only about recognising progress, but about maintaining momentum. Through stronger laws such as Ronan’s Law, better education, earlier intervention and continued accountability around how weapons are sold, we can help protect future generations.

The recent reduction in knife-related homicides is positive, but one young life lost is still one too many, and we must continue working together to build safer communities and lasting change.

Getting Along With Gran at North Edinburgh Arts

ROYSTON WARDIEBURN FOLK TELL THEIR STORIES

Getting Along with Gran is Citadel Arts Group’s forthcoming dark comedy developed from stories and memories of older people living in Royston Wardieburn.

The Social History Group who meet at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre asked Citadel’s Playwrights Workshop to work with them. They wanted to create a play inspired by their stories of life in the area from the 1960s to the times of Margaret Thatcher. The Iron Lady makes a brief appearance in the play but definitely not as the heroine! The stories have been collected in a book ‘Windows to Our Past’, edited by tutor Jim Aitken.

The Citadel Playwrights, Elaine Campbell, San Cassimally, Pamela Hanlon, Rhona McAdam, and Richard Peoples held a series of creative meetings with Jim Aitken’s group at Royston Wardieburn CC.

The script emerged from the life stories of Winifred Burke, Pat Gilhooly, Anna Hutchison, Bill and Greta McPhail, Helen McRae, David Norcliffe, Karen Soso, and Cathie Umobi. They were keen for the play to bring their stories to an all-Edinburgh audience.

They told Citadel ‘We want to see our stories travel . . . reach the wider community, especially as this kind of history isn’t taught in schools.’ Jim Aitken assured Citadel, ‘having a play performed that came out of our social history project would be wonderful.’

A performed reading of the play in the community centre back in March showed how much the play appealed to a local audience. Their feedback was music to Citadel’s ears: ‘enjoyable to share these stories from the community – especially of Thatcher . . .interesting period of history, sadly being repeated by the so-called socialist government . . . it brought back lots of memories . . . interesting social history told through a personal story . . . stirred deep emotions. . . . loved the collaboration with school, community actors and everyone.’

This is an am-pro production, and the audience especially enjoyed the involvement of local actors from the Social History Group, and a P4 class from nearby Granton Primary School who held their own beside Citadel’s professional cast.

Davie Norcliffe, a retired janitor, takes the part of the school janitor back in the 1960s when pupils still got the belt for playing up.

The play focuses on Gran (Laverne Edmonds) who can no longer live alone. She has moved in with her daughter’s family, and it is granddaughter Em (Mairi Jayne Weir) who bears the brunt of the reminiscences Gran and her friends (Deborah Whyte and Chelsea Grace) inflict on her. Some memories disturb her and cause nightmares: she gets the belt from a sadistic teacher (Jim Bryce) and is chased by a giant fish and even menaced by Thatcher in a nightmare.

She learns about the highs and lows of Gran’s fascinating life: her romance on Silverknowes Beach and travelling to China with her employees. Her Gran becomes a person she doesn’t mind spending time with. The play tackles serious themes: privatisation, education, disability, political activism and family, with humour which doesn’t belittle anyone’s memories.

With a class from Granton Primary School playing a key role in the performance, this is a truly intergenerational show. The oldest playwright is over 90 years old.

Creative Producer Liz Hare writes, ‘Once again Citadel Arts Group is working with the community to develop a powerful piece of drama involving performers from the area. The play is a celebration of the cultural richness of Royston Wardieburn and will hopefully take people back to the book that inspired the script.’

‘Windows to Our Past’ is available online.

PERFORMANCE DATES: 16^TH and 17^TH June 1.30pm

VENUE: North Edinburgh Arts, 12C Macmillan Square, EH4 4AB

DIRECTOR: Mark Kydd

Cast: Jim Bryce, Laverne Edmonds, Chelsea Grace, Mairi Jayne Weir and Deborah Whtye,

Community cast: David Norcliffe and Anna Hutchison, and P4 Granton Primary School pupils, Drama Teacher: Fergus McNicoll

Stage Manager: Maggie Brown

Light and Sound Design: Roddy Simpson

Creative Producer: Liz Hare

Playwrights: Elaine Campbell, San Cassimally, Pamela Hanlon, and Rhona McAdam, with additional material from Richard Peoples.

TICKETS: FREE. Contact Box office: jamesellison@blueyonder.co.uk/ 07954 295 568 or from the venue or Event Brite.

Citadel Arts Group is a charity (SC 034687) dedicated to giving a voice to older people by preserving their stories and producing their plays in a variety of community venues including schools, care homes, Leith Custom House, churches, libraries and a moving barge.

This project is supported by Awards for All, City of Edinburgh Council Neighbourhood Grant (Forth area) and Gordon Fraser Community Trust.

Holyrood nominates John Swinney as First Minister

John Swinney: “I will be a First Minister for all of Scotland”

The Scottish Parliament has nominated John Swinney as First Minister of Scotland, following the 2026 election.

Addressing members of the Scottish Parliament, Mr Swinney outlined his ambitions for the parliamentary term, including action to tackle the cost of living, improve the NHS and grow the economy to create opportunity across Scotland. He also pledged to work together to deliver progress for Scotland and to meet the challenges facing the country.

Mr Swinney is expected to be formally appointed with a Royal Warrant from His Majesty King Charles III. He will be sworn in at the Court of Session today (Wednesday) , where he will take the Official Oath in front of the Lord President of the Court of Session and other senior judges.

First Minister John Swinney said: “I have ambitious goals for this Parliamentary session. I want to ease the cost of living crisis, ensure the NHS is protected and easy to access, ensure cohesion in our communities and protect the environment, and grow the economy and create opportunity across our country.

“I believe I can achieve a majority for every ambition I have for this Parliament and I look forward to working with many here to do so. That, of course, includes the question of Scotland’s constitutional future on which I recognise there are profound differences of opinion. Indeed the people have now elected the largest pro-independence majority in the history of devolution.

“I will be a First Minister for all of Scotland. A First Minister that works to bring people together with a strong sense of national purpose. The country I seek to build is a country where everyone feels accepted and able to contribute to our national story.

“I gratefully accept this opportunity to serve as First Minister. It is the greatest privilege and the greatest responsibility of my life. I promise to work every day to repay the trust that the people of Scotland have placed in me.”

First Minister Nomination: Acceptance Speech – gov.scot

Knife Crime Awareness Week

This week is #KnifeCrimeAwarenessWeek – an important moment to highlight knife crime prevention across the UK.

Fearless is here for young people who want to speak up about crime and make a positive change.

We want to make sure young people – and the parents, carers and teachers who support them – know about Fearless.org.

Find out more: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/fear…/professionals/resources

Letters: Edinburgh University’s ‘shameful’ failure to fund slave trade memorial sculpture

Dear Editor

It is shameful to note reports that Edinburgh University has pulled the plug on financial support for a proposed £750,000 sculpture in the heart of the city’s Old Town, marking the capital’s historic links with the slave trade in the Caribbean.

This comes less than a year after a review of its own historic links to slavery and racism revealed that the university had received the equivalent of at least £30m in “philanthropic gifts” that can be traced to the profits of colonial commodities like tobacco, sugar and cotton.

Based on present-day earnings, that is equivalent to £202m today, or as much as £845m based on the UK’s growth in overall wealth and productivity since then.

The Edinburgh report found 27 specific endowments from donors directly linked to the slave trade and colonial profiteering. These were responsible for funding professorial chairs in music, agriculture, and engineering, as well as student bursaries, prizes, and scholarships. Funding also contributed to the construction of university buildings, including Old College, New College and the Medical School.

To put matters in context, in its most recent financial year, the university reported a surplus of £43 million on a total income of £1,477 million.

It is quite disgraceful that a university that has benefited so extensively from the wealth created on the back of slavery is not willing to contribute what is a relatively paltry sum to deliver a memorial to mark this hideous trade.

Yours faithfully

Alex Orr

2/3 Marchmont Road

Edinburgh EH9 1HZ

Palestinian-Syrian actor Arwa Omaren fuses Greek tragedy and lived experience of displacement in searing Fringe debut

‘Hecuba: Why Am I In Your Country?’ – At Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026

5^th – 31^st August / 11.50am / Gilded Balloon – The Turret at Teviot

What happens when an ancient queen of war becomes a modern refugee at the UK border?

In “Hecuba: Why Am I In Your Country?”, Palestinian Syrian actor Arwa Omaren combines Euripides’ “The Trojan Women” with her own story of displacement in a raw, urgent solo performance that condenses 2,500 years of history into one voice.

Directed and co-written by award-winning filmmaker William Stirling, produced by Scottish founded Trojan Women Project, and recently nominated for an Offie (Off West End Award) – recognising the show’s powerful fusion of classical text and contemporary testimony, as well as Omaren’s extraordinary solo performance – this strikingly original production asks not only how we tell stories of exile, but who gets to tell them.

Performed at the renowned Gilded Balloon as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the show runs at The Turret at Teviot at 11:50am from 5-31 August 2026.

Arwa Omaren, a trained actor from Damascus, brings both classical know-how and lived experience to the role of Hecuba, the fallen Queen of Troy.

A Palestinian Syrian who fled the Syrian war, Omaren performs the myth alongside her own testimony as a “double refugee” seeking asylum in Britain – dealing with the horrors of homelessness, sleeping on the streets in the UK – and the battle to be re-united with her beloved golden retriever, Jacko, the dog she had to leave behind when she fled Syria.

The result is a really inventive, emotionally engaging piece that blurs the boundary between performer and subject, and myth and memory.

The production is led by the Trojan Women Project, an international initiative pairing and mentoring refugee performers with Greek tragedy as a means of processing displacement and reclaiming their narrative through their very own voices and expertise – they get to do what they know, including writing, acting and more. It has previously been presented at the Voila! Festival, where it drew attention for its intimate storytelling and political resonance.

Developed in community drama workshops supported by the National Lottery Community Fund, it is supported by the Mackintosh Foundation.

At its core, “Hecuba: Why Am I In Your Country?” asks important questions about the language and systems surrounding refuge: borders, bureaucracy, hospitality, and exclusion.

At a time when conversations around migration and identity are increasingly polarised, this production offers a work that is both deeply personal and unmistakably universal.

The Gilded Balloon, one of the Fringe’s longest-running and most respected venues, provides an ideal platform for bold, artist-driven work. Set within the historic Teviot complex, The Turret offers an intimate space that brings audiences into close proximity with Omaren’s performance.

Trojan Women Project is currently welcoming sponsorship and partnership support to help bring this urgent and timely work to its audience and continue its work with refugees, and welcomes conversations with organisations aligned with its themes of displacement, cultural dialogue, and social impact.

SHOW INFORMATION

Title: Hecuba: Why Am I In Your Country?

Dates: 5–31 August 2026
Time: 11:50am
Venue: Gilded Balloon – The Turret at Teviot

Tickets link: ‘Hecuba? Why Am I In Your Country?’ at Gilded Balloon

Language: English
Duration: 55 mins
Age Guidance: 14 plus guideline

Performer/Creator: Arwa Omaren

Directed and co-written by: Award-winning filmmaker William Stirling

Presented by: Gilded Balloon

Produced by: Trojan Women Project

Content Warnings: Themes of war, violence, death, and rape are discussed

Harbour Homes wins top award at national care awards

Harbour Homes is celebrating success after winning the Care Innovation Award at the Care at Home and Housing Support Awards 2026 ceremony in Glasgow on Friday.

The award recognises the outstanding work taking place across its sheltered housing developments, where the team is creating vibrant, connected communities for older people. Harbour Homes’ Sheltered Housing team was at the heart of this achievement, with its commitment to fostering inclusive and engaging environments for tenants.

One standout initiative, ‘March to the Match,’ has captured attention across Edinburgh. A group of tenants known as the ‘Leith Legends’ have been collectively walking the 3,070 miles from Edinburgh to Boston ahead of Scotland’s first World Cup appearance since 1998. As part of the challenge, participants aged 60-95 took part in a group walk at Easter Road Stadium, home of Hibernian Football Club, bringing many back into a local landmark for the first time in years.

The initiative is one of many designed to promote health, wellbeing and connection. Led by manager Maureen Combe, the team combines day-to-day support with a wide range of activities and events that help tenants feel valued and part of a strong community.

Maureen Combe, Older Person Manager at Harbour Homes, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won the Care Innovation Award. It is a fantastic achievement and reflects the passion and dedication of our colleagues, who go above and beyond to help tenants feel valued and connected.

“Creating new experiences is central to our approach. We are proud to support people to live well, stay active and enjoy life as part of a strong community.”

New high street unit set up in nationwide blitz on ‘dodgy’ shops

Organised crime gangs will be hit with raids, shop closures, and cash seizures in a £30 million crackdown on dodgy high street shops

Organised crime gangs operating across Britain’s high streets will be hit with a major police offensive in a new nationwide crackdown on dodgy shops.

Rogue barber shops, vape stores, mini-marts and sweet shops linked to organised crime will face raids, closures and cash seizures under a new £30 million crackdown targeting money laundering, tax evasion, and illegal working over 3 years.

£20 million of funding will go towards an enhanced law enforcement response, including establishing a new multi-agency co-ordination cell based out of the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Police officers will also be uplifted across forces in hotspot regions. Altogether, 75 new police officers will be recruited across the NCA, Greater Manchester Police, West Midlands Police and a joint Kent Police and Essex Police Unit, to build intelligence at a national level and increase the number of dedicated officers tackling organised crime on the ground.

Trading Standards will also be backed with £6 million in new funding to bolster the response to sham businesses in at-risk local authorities. New officer training will be rolled out to identify suspicious businesses, strengthen business compliance, and boost enforcement.

A new High Street Organised Crime Unit has also been established to bring together government departments, policing partners, and Trading Standards. Together, the additional funding and new unit builds on strong enforcement action such as Operation Machinize, to boost the national and local response to targeting criminal networks operating in plain sight on Britain’s high streets.

Overseen by the Security Minister, Dan Jarvis, the unit will be responsible for identifying what more is needed – from stronger powers to better co-ordination – to stop this criminal activity from happening in the first place.

A rapid review of local responders’ powers is underway to explore how these can be strengthened, starting with a consultation on extending the duration of closure orders, where appropriate, to shut criminal businesses down for longer.

Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said: “Criminal gangs have exploited our high streets to launder their dirty money and undercut honest businesses.

“We are hitting back with a nationwide crackdown to shut these fronts down, seize dirty cash and drive organised crime off our high streets and put bosses behind bars”

It comes as the NCA estimate at least £12 billion of criminal cash is generated in the UK each year, with £1 billion laundered through high street businesses like mini-marts, barber shops, vape stores and sweet shops. Some businesses are also connected to the sale of fake goods, tax evasion, illegal working, and illegal drug supply.

Thousands of businesses are expected to be raided, hundreds of arrests made and millions in cash seized as a national intensification campaign will be put on permanent footing annually to drive co-ordinated enforcement across the country.

Sal Melki, Deputy Director of Illicit Finance at the National Crime Agency, said: “For the past 18 months, the NCA, in conjunction with policing partners, has led Operation Machinize, the largest operation against economic crime on our high streets.

“By bringing together policing, HMRC, Immigration Enforcement, Trading Standards, and other partners in a co-ordinated approach, over 950 people have been arrested and over £10 million worth of criminal value seized.

“This criminal activity makes our communities less safe and less prosperous. It undermines legitimate business, deprives public services of tax revenues, and fuels a range of predicate offences such as the drugs trade, illicit goods, trafficking, and organised immigration crime.

“We will not stop and having the support of the High Street Organised Crime Unit to grow the Machinize partnership will enable us to target and disrupt more high harm offenders.

“The HSOCU will be key to a whole of government response, where enforcement action is backed up with the laws, policies and powers required at all levels to get this criminal element out of our high streets.”

Lord Bichard, Chair, National Trading Standards, said: “Organised high street crime, including the illegal sale of tobacco and counterfeit goods, is damaging communities across the country.

“These criminal networks undercut honest businesses, draw money away from local economies and expose consumers to unregulated and potentially unsafe products. They are also often linked to wider offending, including money laundering, exploitation, and violence.

“The creation of a new High Street Organised Crime Unit will help drive a co-ordinated national response while strengthening local enforcement capability through additional support and funding for Trading Standards, police and partner agencies on the ground, who will work together to disrupt organised offenders, protect the public and support honest businesses that play by the rules.”

The latest Operation Machinize in November saw 2,734 premises visited and raided, 924 individuals arrested, over £13 million of suspected criminal proceeds seized or restrained, and more than £2.7 million worth of illicit commodities destroyed. It builds on the £300 million in criminal assets recovered by law enforcement last year, with money invested back to the front lines to support agencies leading the fight against crime.

The new National Police Service will go further by bringing together the National Crime Agency, Counter Terrorism Policing, and regional organised crime units’ capabilities to strengthen the response to serious and organised crime.

Deputy Commissioner Nik Adams, City of London Police and National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Financial Investigation and Asset Recovery, said: “Our high streets should be places where legitimate businesses can grow, not places where organised criminals hide behind shopfronts.

“This task force will harness the efforts of the National Crime Agency, national economic crime leads, local community policing, specialist officers and partners to target the businesses being used to launder criminal money, recover criminal assets and protect legitimate traders.

“Operation Machinize has shown that the most effective response comes when neighbourhood officers, financial investigators and national agencies work as one team. Local officers understand their communities and can identify suspicious activity, while financial investigators, the City of London Police as national lead force, and the NCA help connect that activity to the organised crime groups and the money flows behind it.

“The message to organised criminals is clear. If criminal cash is being pushed through high street businesses, policing and our partners will act. Through the High Street Organised Crime Unit, we will use intelligence, asset recovery and financial investigation to turn local disruption into lasting national impact.”

Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “The new High Street Organised Crime Unit will be welcome news for people across the country.

“Illegitimate businesses and retail theft are major issues and too often linked to criminal gang activity. Stolen goods are commonly funnelled through illicit supply chains and resold through unscrupulous businesses, helping fund further criminality. This harms businesses, puts colleagues at risk, and pushes up prices for honest shoppers.

“Tackling it requires prioritisation from police and government, and co-or2dination and intelligence sharing between retailers, law enforcement, and local partners. We look forward to working together to deliver real progress.”

John Herriman, Chief Executive of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, (CTSI), said: “CTSI welcomes the introduction of the High Street Organised Crime Unit, which will bring together partner agencies – including Trading Standards – to tackle organised criminality on our high streets.

“The proliferation of so called “dodgy shops” puts consumers at significant risk and undermines the legitimate businesses who drive economic growth across the UK. The new unit will bring a much-needed focus to help clamp down on a blight on our high streets and communities.”

Association of Convenience Stores Chief Executive Ed Woodall said: “Local shops tell us that rogue traders on high streets are causing massive damage to their businesses and the wider community, so we strongly welcome this Government action to back responsible retailers and crack down on the organised crime gangs that are fuelling the illicit trade.“

Man jailed for murder of Ndata Bobb in Edinburgh

A 56-year-old man has been jailed following the murder of a woman in Restalrig. Momodou Bobb was given a life sentence, with a minimum of 16 years and eight months, at the High Court in Edinburgh today (Tuesday, 19 May, 2026), following the death of Ndata Bobb.

Around 1am on Thursday, 28 August, 2025, officers were called to a report of a disturbance at a property on Restalrig Avenue in the city.

Emergency services attended and a 43-year-old woman was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment, where she died a short time later.

Detective Inspector Kevin Tait said: “Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Ndata at this extremely difficult time.

“This was a heartbreaking and senseless crime that took the life of a much-loved woman and devoted mother.

“We remain committed to bringing those who commit such violent acts to justice.”

Chief Inspector Kieran Dougal said: “We understand that such a tragic incident has had a profound effect on Ndata’s family and friends, and it is important we continue to provide support at this difficult time.

“Our community advisors and community representatives helped shape our response during and after this incident, providing invaluable insight into Gambian culture and helping us to understand their needs.

“Crimes of this nature can also impact the wider public and we extensively engage and work directly with communities to address any concerns and provide reassurance.

“We are committed to continuing to strengthen our positive relationships with African communities in Edinburgh and ensuring that all the people we serve have trust and confidence in policing and feel able to speak to us, whether it is to report a crime or share information.”

Filmhouse celebrates 1st Birthday

ACROSS JUNE AND JULY, SCOTLAND’S FLAGSHIP CINEMA, FILMHOUSE IN EDINBURGH CELEBRATES ONE YEAR OF ITS DOORS BEING REOPENED

SPECIAL EVENTS INCLUDE IAN RANKIN AND JUSTIN JOHN DOHERTY IN CONVERSATION ON NIC ROEG’S ICONIC DON’T LOOK NOW

SPECIAL SCREENINGS OF BIG SCREEN CLASSICS 2001 A SPACE ODYSSEY IN 70MMAND CINEMA PARADISO AND NEW HOMEGROWN GEMS INCLUDING THE FALL OF SIR DOUGLAS WEATHERFORD

A FILM LOVERS PARADISE WITH PROJECTION BOX TOURS, LIVE MUSIC AND SPECIAL DISCOUNTS ACROSS THE CINEMA’S BIRTHDAY WEEKEND

Edinburgh’s landmark cinema Filmhouse is marking one year of its doors being reopened to the public with a special series of birthday events which celebrate the big screen experience.

Across June, the cinema’s 1^st birthday day weekend of 26^th – 28^th June and into July, Filmhouse will screen an extra special selection of films and events showcasing all that the cinema has to offer and is loved for.

Stanley Kubrick’s seminal 2001 A Space Odyssey (1968) will screen from 5 June in eye-popping 70mm alongside new cinematic visions screening in June including the darkly funny and eccentric new feature The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford from Edinburgh-born filmmaker Sean Robert Dunn starring Scottish screen legend Peter Mullan.

Other new films coming to the cinema soon include Steven Spielberg’s hotly anticipated Disclosure Day, Rohan Kanawade’s beautifully romantic Cactus Pears and back on the big screen, Paul Thomas Anderson’s cult hit Boogie Nights.

Audiences will also be treated to the first film that screened at the cinema when it reopened in June last year: an ode to the beauty of the cinemagoing experience, Giuseppe Tornatore’s Cinema Paradiso (1988).

On 3 July, Filmhouse is excited to present a special screening of Nic Roeg’s iconic film Don’t Look Now followed by novelist Ian Rankin in conversation with writer Justin John Doherty to discuss Justin’s new book described as a ‘literary love letter’ to the film, Don’t Look Now and Then.

The discussion will not only touch upon their mutual love and fascination for the film, but also the detective work behind putting this sort of book together, finding the people who were there 50 years ago and uncovering never before seen archive and images that were thought lost to time.

The cinema’s recently launched We’ve Got a Cinema and We’re Not Afraid to Use It strand will see members vote on classic films that they are most excited to see on the big screen alongside the Team Birthday Picks strand which showcases staff favourites as well as highlights from across the programme since the cinema’s doors reopened.

Across the birthday weekend, cineastes can also get a glimpse into the hallowed ground of the Filmhouse’s projection boxes and there will be evening birthday party celebrations with live music. There will be special discounts on food and drink over the birthday weekend to coincide with the launch of a brand-new menu in the Filmhouse Bar Café.

Exclusive rewards will also run up to and across the birthday weekend for Filmhouse members, including the chance to be entered into a draw to win a Filmhouse lifetime membership. Special themed children’s screenings, craft activities, family face painting and games will take place as well as lots of birthday cake!

Filmhouse reopened to the public on 27 June 2025 after a remarkable three-year campaign to save the historic cinema backed by film lovers in Scotland and around the world and by A-list film talent including patrons Jack Lowden and Charlotte Wells, as well as Dougray Scott, Brian Cox, and Emma Thompson.

Filmhouse continues to be celebrated as a cultural cornerstone, showcasing world cinema in all its brilliance and diversity, from crowd-pleasing favourites and to avant-garde arthouse works, restored classics, and curated retrospectives.

With, a total capacity of 350 seats, the four-screen cinema is a hub for film enthusiasts, offering a cutting-edge cinematic experience, a vibrant social space, and a platform for film lovers and filmmakers to engage with the very best in global cinema.

Filmhouse’s technical capabilities include 70mm, 35mm, 16mm, 8mm, and digital projection. The cinema also includes a Clipster Unit for creating Digital Cinema Packages (DCPs) required for festival and theatrical distribution.

Built in a repurposed church on Edinburgh’s Lothian Road, Filmhouse has been a cinematic landmark since 1978. Following a £2 million refurbishment, Scotland’s leading independent cinema has been thriving since its reopening under new leadership and a vision which builds on the venue’s legacy as a space for learning and discovery, and a commitment to building a sustainable future for this iconic cultural landmark.

The completely refurbished Filmhouse Bar seats 100 people for lunch and dinner, with drinks available throughout the day, catering for many different communities with a welcoming atmosphere, and an emphasis on produce from Edinburgh and Scotland, offering great food and drink alongside environmental sustainability.

The glorious story of Filmhouse continues.

Andrew Simpson, Executive Director of Filmhouse, said:”The first year of the new Filmhouse has been quite a ride. Since June 2025, 125,000 people have sat down to watch a film here, and more than 200,000 have walked through the doors of our building.

“Re-establishing Filmhouse as a place for people to meet, socialise, eat and drink, enjoy themselves, and most thrillingly of all, experience the magic of cinema in all its forms has been a very special experience for all of us here.

“We welcomed the public back to the new Filmhouse ten days after finishing the first part of a huge refurbishment project, with a lot of work, including the opening of the brand-new Screen 4, carrying on after we had opened the doors.

“That we’ve delivered an enormously varied programme of films, events, educational work, and hosted dozens of festivals – from EIFF and the BFI London Film Festival to the French and Spanish Film Festivals, the Jali African Film Weekender, Take One Action, and many more – is a massive testament to our team, all the people we work with, and our brilliant audience.

“We’ve got lots of things we want to improve and build upon, and we’ve got big ambitions for the future. The first birthday celebrations are an important marker for us on that journey, and we want to take the opportunity to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported us over the past year, and to extend an invitation to those who are yet to try out Filmhouse, by inviting you all to party with us in June.

“There’s something for everyone, and it’s going to be a lot of fun, and we hope to see you there (we’ll bring the cake). Cinema lives. ‘mon the hoose!”