More than £22 million worth of drugs have been removed from Scotland’s streets so far this year.
This follows a number of significant seizures across the country.
In January, officers recovered cannabis valued at £3,600,000 in Greenock and £2,250,000 in Dundee.
Cannabis worth £1,700,000 was recovered in Falkirk in February, and £2,300,000 worth was located in Galashiels in March.
In Glasgow, cocaine worth £1,800,000 was seized in June.
There were also large recoveries in Ayrshire, Aberdeen, Dumfries and Galloway, Lothian and Borders, Fife and Lanarkshire.
Arrests have been made in connection with the majority and enquiries remain ongoing into the other cases.
Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Ferry said: “These seizures highlight our dedication to tackling drug crime in Scotland.
“Controlled substances are dangerous and cause real harm to individuals, families and communities. They are illegal for that very reason.
“Working closely with our partners, we remain focused on targeting individuals and organised crime groups, who selfishly exploit vulnerable people solely for their own financial gain.
“This shows our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country’s Serious Organised Crime Strategy.
“Results like these rely on the public and anyone with information or concerns about drugs should contact Police Scotland on 101 or make a call anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Business plan to improve productivity at the shipyard
Ministers have agreed to support new proposals aimed at enabling Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow (FMPG) to improve productivity and build a sustainable future.
As Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa approach completion, the Scottish Government has been working with the company on a long term business plan which positions the shipyard to bid for and secure new work.
Up to £14.2 million will be invested over two years subject to the plan passing detailed legal analysis and independent financial and commercial assessments, which should be complete by the Autumn.
Separately, talks are at final stages with BAE Systems about FMPG securing further work on the Type 26 Frigate programme.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes stressed that delivering productivity improvements and securing commercial contracts were vital components in ensuring the shipyard’s long term future.
Ms Forbes said: “Now that Glen Sannox is approaching handover, our focus is on the next phase for FMPG’s future. That requires change and investment to target new opportunities.
“The Board has developed a business plan that it believes has the potential to secure a competitive future. Subject to independent legal and commercial analysis, the Scottish Government will provide significant new funding to support the yard’s modernisation and improve productivity.
“Additional funding goes hand in hand with winning new commercial contracts, and it is extremely good news that talks with BAE Systems to secure further work have reached this advanced stage.
“Extensive analysis and legal advice confirm that a direct award of the small vessels phase one contract to FMPG introduces substantial risks and uncertainties for the shipyard and the communities which rely on the lifeline vessels, due to the strict conditions imposed by the UK Subsidy Control Act.
“Instead, we will do everything which is legally possible to support the yard and the workforce to secure a long-term future, which is why we have come to an agreement on initiatives and funding to improve productivity.
“When the Scottish Government stepped in to save FMPG in 2019 we did so to preserve jobs and develop the next generation of shipbuilders on the River Clyde. That commitment remains unwavering. The company will of course be able to consider a bid, either individually or in partnership with other yards, but its long term future depends on winning work on a competitive basis.”
A spokesperson for BAE Systems said: “BAE Systems has a good working relationship with Ferguson Marine, which is a key local supplier of structural steelwork and has built two units for the Type 26 programme.
“We are in advanced negotiations with the company regarding further strengthening our partnership, the placement of additional work subject to agreement of terms and its continued involvement in the programme.”
Eighty green spaces across Scotland have been presented with a Green Flag Award – and 36 of them are in Edinburgh.
Recognising the very best of our country’s outdoor areas, the International Green Flag Award acts as a benchmark for clean, safe and well-maintained parks and green spaces.
The Green Flag Award supports the opportunities that our green spaces provide to enable exercise, improve mental wellbeing and provide safe spaces for play.
Winners of the 2024 awards include parks managed by local authorities, community groups, universities and other organisations.
Edinburgh leads the way this year with 36 winners while there are nine in Aberdeen, eight winners in Dundee and plenty more across the country.
This year’s winners list also includes an impressive number of historically consecutive winners including Barnhill Rock Garden, Harrison Park and Braidburn Valley Park (18 years) and Duthie Park (12 years).
Jamie Ormiston, Keep Scotland Beautiful’s Training and Accreditation Coordinator, said: “Congratulations to all of our winners across Scotland. Receiving this prestigious award recognises all the hard work that has gone into maintaining and managing these precious green open spaces.
“What is most pleasing is the number of consecutive winners we have once again, showcasing the parks’ longevity and desire to continually be a welcoming and environmentally friendly place for all.
“Scotland is facing a biodiversity crisis, but these green spaces provide a space for everyone to reconnect with nature and I encourage everyone to do just that this summer.
“Green spaces are so important for our physical and mental wellbeing and it’s fantastic to see such a wide range of parks and green spaces across the entire length of the country.”
A total of 80 green spaces in Scotland have won a Green Flag Award for 2024. Across the UK there were 2,228 winners, a record number and up 11 from 2023’s total of 2,216.
Everyone is welcome to visit the Granton Gasholder Park public art design exhibition opening this Thursday 18th July 9am at Granton Station.
Running until Saturday 20th July 3pm.
On view will be proposal from the six shortlisted artists and artist teams who have been developing ideas alongside the local community in Granton for this permanent art installation opportunity.
Only one artist proposal will go forward. Come along to see all the options available. To be decided by selection panel only.
Improving living standards for working people through economic growth will be the central focus of new laws set to be unveiled by His Majesty The King today
King’s Speech set to unveil a raft of bills to unlock growth and improve living standards for working people
Ambitious legislative agenda will drive forward delivery of the government’s first steps and missions to rebuild Britain
New laws deliver manifesto commitments to provide better transport, more jobs and turbocharge building of houses and infrastructure
Improving living standards for working people through economic growth will be the central focus of new laws set to be unveiled by His Majesty The King today [Wednesday 17 July].
In the first State Opening of Parliament under this government, The King’s Speech is expected to unveil over 35 bills and draft bills which will support delivery of the government’s first steps and missions to rebuild Britain.
The package of bills will focus on growing the economy through better transport, more jobs and turbocharging building of houses and infrastructure – helping to make every part of the country better off.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Now is the time to take the brakes off Britain. For too long people have been held back, their paths determined by where they came from – not their talents and hard work.
“I am determined to create wealth for people up and down the country. It is the only way our country can progress, and my government is focussed on supporting that aspiration.
“Today’s new laws will take back control and lay the foundations of real change that this country is crying out for, creating wealth in every community and making people better off – supporting their ambitions, hopes and dreams.”
Transport
New legislation will be introduced to create a simplified rail system by bringing rail services into public ownership once their contracts expire or if operators fail to deliver on their commitments. This approach will avoid the burden falling on taxpayers to cough up for compensation to operators for taking services into public ownership.
Transferring operations to the public sector will save the taxpayer millions of pounds currently paid out in fees to private operators each year. It will end the fragmentation of our railways, establishing a more efficient and reliable rail service for passengers – helping to get people to work on time and boosting productivity.
The government will also introduce legislation to establish a new public body, Great British Railways (GBR) which will be focused on improving services and creating better value for money for passengers.
With Great British Railways, the fares and ticketing system will see simplified fares, discounts, and ticket types. Once established, the new body will also ensure that ticketing innovations like automatic compensation, digital pay-as-you-go and digital season ticketing are rolled out across the whole network.
The King’s Speech is also expected to feature a Better Buses Bill to deliver the government’s manifesto commitment to reform the bus system by delivering new powers for local leaders to franchise local bus services and to lift the restriction on new publicly owned bus operators.
This will help bring an end to the postcode lottery of bus services and will give local communities throughout England the power to take back control of their bus services. It will mean local leaders can decide to introduce better bus networks, at pace, which reflect the needs of the local communities that rely on them.
Building
Getting Britain to build more housing and infrastructure, including through planning reform, will also be central to the Government’s plans to strengthen economic growth.
The Bill will speed up and streamline the planning process to build more homes of all tenures and accelerate the delivery of major infrastructure projects.
By enabling democratic engagement with how, not if, homes and infrastructure are built – the major brakes on the planning system will be addressed to support sustainable growth.
Empowering local communities
As part of the government’s plans to empower local leaders to deliver change for their communities, the King’s Speech is also expected to unveil the English Devolution Bill. This will deliver the Government’s manifesto commitment to transfer power into local communities and recognising the vital role local leaders play in supporting growth by establishing local growth plans that bring economic benefit to communities and households across the country.
The speech will build on the first fortnight of the government’s mission of national renewal.
From the launch of a National Wealth Fund to strengthen UK investment, to a new Mission Control tasked with turbocharging the UK to clean power by 2030, to opening the recruitment of a new Border Security Command, and the Deputy Prime Minister’s pledge to kickstart a new devolution revolution to transfer more powers out of Westminster and into the hands of local people – the Government is hitting the ground running and wasting no time in its work to change the country.
What is the King’s Speech and what does it mean for me?
All you need to know about the State Opening of Parliament
The King’s Speech is a speech written by the government and delivered by the Monarch at the State Opening of Parliament.
It marks the beginning of a new parliamentary year, or session, and is an opportunity for the government to set out its legislative agenda for the coming months.
In the speech, the government will typically set out bills which it intends to introduce to Parliament in the session ahead, as well as other policy priorities which do not require legislation.
When is the State Opening of Parliament?
The State Opening of Parliament takes place on the first day of a new parliamentary session.
Each parliamentary session begins with the State Opening of Parliament and runs for around 12 months.
Sessions are not a specified length, but there are normally five sessions in each Parliament. This means there are typically five sessions between each general election. A new parliamentary session will begin after every general election.
When a parliamentary session comes to an end the House is prorogued, which means the parliamentary year has formally ended until the next State Opening of Parliament.
What happens during the State Opening of Parliament?
The State Opening of Parliament begins with the Monarch’s procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster.
The Monarch arrives at the Sovereign’s Entrance to Parliament and subsequently leads the Royal Procession to the chamber of the House of Lords.
A senior officer in the House of Lords known as Black Rod will then summon members of the House of Commons into the Lord’s Chamber to listen to the speech.
Before entering the Commons chamber, the door is shut in Black Rod’s face and the official will strike the door three times before it is opened. This practice dates back to the Civil War and symbolises the Commons’ independence from the monarchy.
When the Monarch leaves the chamber, a new parliamentary session begins.
Members of both the House of Commons and House of Lords will then debate the content of the speech for a number of days before the speech is voted on.
Did you know?
Traditions around the Monarch’s speech and the State Opening of Parliament can be traced back to the 16th century.
Before the Monarch arrives, the Yeomen of the Guard search the cellars of the Palace of Westminster for explosives to commemorate Guy Fawkes’s gunpowder plot of 1605.
The custom of Black Rod banging on the door of the Commons dates back to 1642, when Charles I tried to arrest five MPs, and symbolises the right of the Commons to exclude royal messengers.
The Imperial State Crown has 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, 269 pearls, and 4 rubies.
Community groups across Edinburgh are celebrating the news of their National Lottery funding today (WEDNESDAY 17 July).
Over 500 community projects share in this latest round of funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, totalling £17,341,549. The funds will be directed towards bringing local people together and providing essential services across Scotland.
A full list of successful applicants can be found below.
North Edinburgh Drug and Alcohol Centre receives £133,334. NEDAC, (formerly SHADA) who have been based in Muirhouse since 1983, will continue to deliver their service helping people who struggle to engage with mainstream services.
People who are at the highest risk of drug-related death who have long-term substance misuse/mental health issues will be assisted to gain control over their lives.
Drylaw Telford Community Association receives £20,000. The Neighbourhood Centre will use the funding over one year, for their 50 years+ Link Worker.
This project will benefit the over 50s community in North Edinburgh; and in particular those at high risk of being socially isolated.
An award of £19,513 means the Out of the Blue Arts and Education Trust will run a sustainable food project which will recycle food to produce jars of preserves which they will sell to the community and to farmers’ markets.
Rob Hoon, Chief Executive, Out of the Blue, said; “The ‘Preserves’ project is a new and exciting adventure for us, and this funding will allow us to process at least 4,000kg of ingredients per annum to make quality products that extend the shelf life of that food for up to 12 months.
“We will achieve this by producing small batch jams, pickles and preserves embracing traditional methods of preservation. We will work with people and community groups to support them to make their traditional preserves and gain new cooking skills.
The Grassmarket Community Projectwill run a programme of weekly digital skills workshops for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness after an award of £19,763.
Helene Van des Ploeg, Chief Executive Officer, Grassmarket Community Project, said: “Digital skills are so vitally important for all of us, whether it just be for connecting with friends or family through social media, writing a CV and applying for jobs or developing skills to open opportunities for employment through accredited learning.
“We will offer a high-quality service in which members can access new IT skills at any level and tailor the learning to match the needs of the individual and support them to work at their own pace, achieving their goals. We really appreciate the support that this funding will give us to go ahead with this vital project that will enable our members to flourish in the future.”
Thanks to an award of £63,189, Space at the Broomhouse will be able to extend their opening hours on Saturdays and provide more activities on offer.
Neil, Hay, CEO, Space at the Broomhouse, said: “We know that costs have risen significantly for all charities and community groups in the past few years and wanted to find a way to assist.
“Room hire, especially for smaller groups who do not have their own premises, is a big part of their costs, so we approached The National Lottery Community Fund to see if they could help.
“Thanks to their support we are in a position to offer a whole raft of help to the community, including free use of the halls at Space well into 2025.”
An award of £173,409, will enable Networking Key Services to run an innovative project which will use storytelling to build confidence in talking about challenging topic and issues.
Over the course of the next three years the project will work with hundreds of people from South Asian communities across the city.
Naina Minhas, Director, Networking Key Services, said: “The ‘Breaking Silence and Improving Lives’ aims to empower communities by giving them a collective voice to address issues affecting them.
“Through storytelling, the project will identify complex challenges and raise these with relevant services to improve quality of live for communities.”
The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland Chair, Kate Still, said: “As The National Lottery approaches its 30th birthday it’s wonderful to see how the funding continues to help change lives for the better and just what can be accomplished when people join forces for a shared purpose or to support one another.
“National Lottery players should be proud to know the money they raise is supporting people across Edinburgh to lead happier and healthier lives.”
The National Lottery Community Fund distributes funding on behalf of National Lottery players who raise more than £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK.
As the Prime Minister and his family take up residence in Downing Street, the nation’s celebrated chief mouse-catcher, Larry, will no longer be the only kit-on-the-block, as JoJo, Sir Keir Starmer’s cat, moves in.
Welcoming new furry family members can be an exciting moment for any pet owner, but it’s important that they are introduced to everyone in the household – especially existing pets – in an appropriate and calm manner.
To help pet owners, national pet charity, PDSA, has shared its top tips on welcoming new and existing pets to one another to ensure a friendly first impression.
PDSA Vet Nurse, Gemma Renwick, says: “Cats are naturally solitary animals and, like Larry appears to feel at Downing Street, they are usually quite happy being the only pet in the household.
“However, there are some steps you can take should you be looking to introduce a second pet into the family to help create a peaceful and orderly transition.”
Create separate constituencies
“According to PDSA’s 2024 PAW Report, almost a fifth (17%) of cats that co-habit together don’t always get along, so it’s important to make sure you have prepared the purr-fect environment to create the best opportunity for both furry family members to stay happy and healthy. Setting up separate safe spaces (ideally in a quiet room) for each pet will provide each of them with a private place they can call their own and hide, should there be any disruptions in household politics.
“As well as each furry family member having their own safe place, make sure there are options for both of them to relax around the house without getting in each other’s way. Cats like to be up high so tiered cat trees or wall-mounted cat shelves provide an ideal escape route for your newly introduced puss and will help them feel safer settling into their home as they’ll be able to survey what’s going on in their party.
“In general, cats prefer to eat on their own and well away from their toileting area, so consider setting up separate food and water stations, well away from litter trays. Make sure they’re out of the reach of other pets to help stop them from becoming stressed. Consider a microchip feeder to prevent them from stealing each other’s food! Each cat will need a litter tray each plus one extra, again in separate areas of the house. If you are introducing a dog to an existing cat household, make sure you clean up your cat’s litter tray as soon as possible and that it’s out of your pup’s way.
Scent swapping
“In an ideal world, new and existing pets should be given a few days to get used to each other’s scent before they meet. If you’re bringing your pet home from a rescue centre or breeder, you may be able to take blankets with your current pet’s scent on. This can be introduced to your new pet so that they can familiarise themselves with your current pet’s smell before they arrive at their new home.
“Another way of ‘scent swapping’ is to collect your pet’s scent on a new cloth and place this in your new furry family member’s bed. To do this, take a clean, soft cloth and gently rub it around your cat’s cheeks via their scent glands, or under your dog’s armpits. This simple trick will help each pet get used to each other before they meet – a bit like having a phone call with someone before you greet them face-to-face.
Building a coalition
“When they first come home, if possible, keep both pets in separate safe spaces by using a baby gate, where each furry member of the household can have their own space to explore freely and start to familiarise themselves with their surroundings.
“Once your new furry family member is well-adjusted, allow your pets to become aware of each other from their individual safe spots. Use food to reward them for calm behaviour, along with plenty of fuss and praise. If you are using food as a reward, make sure that both pets receive equal amounts and that they’re not close together when eating – that way they won’t be worried about the other stealing their treats! Give them both time to adjust and settle – the time this takes can vary and will be based on the individual pets. You should notice them gradually getting used to each other in a calm and comfortable manner.
“Once your pets seem happy in each other’s company, you could remove the barrier while continuing to maintain safe spaces they can retreat to if needed. If you are introducing a dog and cat, it’s best to put your dog on a lead at first and ensure your cat has escape routes. Keep the area calm, avoiding unnecessary noise such as the TV/radio.
“Although your pets may seem comfortable with one another, remember to always keep an eye on their body language to make sure they are continuing to get along.”
For more information on introducing cats into households with existing pets, visit: www.pdsa.org.uk/StressInCats
Family Action announces the expansion of its FamilyConnect service, managed by the country’s largest adoption support agency PAC-UK, to support people affected by adoption and to help reunite families before it is too late.
FamilyConnect was launched by national charity Family Action in 2020 and is delivered by its adoption support agency, PAC-UK. The online resource was developed to support people looking to find out about their history, their family members and to gain understanding about why they were separated from their birth family.
With funding from Adoption England, FamilyConnect will now provide a funded intermediary service for adult adoptees, and birth parents/relatives who were affected by adoption pre-1976, and who wish to reconnect with each other. The service has also been expanded to offer a specialist telephone advice line and additional online resources for birth parents/relatives and professionals.
Sir David Holmes CBE, CEO of Family Action said “I am proud to be able to announce the launch of this enhanced support from FamilyConnect and I am grateful to Adoption England for the additional funding that has made this possible.
“We know from the number of enquiries we receive that there is a huge need for good quality and accessible adoption support services, and we have seen huge demand for the support provided by FamilyConnect since we launched the service four years ago.
“I am delighted that we are now able to offer even more support and practical help before it is too late for many families. I hope that this positive investment in FamilyConnect will pave the way for further investment in vital adoption support services, like this, in the future.”
Birth mother Jill Killington was reunited with her son following a forced adoption in 1967. Jill said: “The services available through FamilyConnect are extremely important to support families disconnected by the adoptions of the past to navigate the often-emotional journey of reconnection and reunion.
“Adoption for so many birth parents and adoptees inevitably leave scars – some we can hope to heal, sadly others might take a lifetime to bear. It is still painful.
“Time is not on our side. Many birth mothers are now in their late 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond. And very sadly many will end their lives still being affected by their terrible loss, unless they and their children receive the support they deserve and need to make that first step to recover from the trauma of the past.”
FamilyConnect is an 18-month pilot that includes, intermediary services for adoptions that took place between 1949 and 1976*1, (subject to eligibility criteria being met), a specialist telephone advice line on services and funding available, and new online resources for birth parents/relatives and professionals.
Emma Crowther-Duncan, North Adult Services Regional Manager at Family Action/PAC-UK, said: “For people to have access to funded intermediary services, through FamilyConnect, will help those people who were not able to access this service previously, due to cost.
“FamilyConnect helps remove a barrier that shouldn’t exist and allows people the freedom of choice, it sends the message that “we are invested in you, your story and your future”.
Jill Killington concludes: “We can never change the past, but hopefully with FamilyConnect, there is much-needed support for those affected by adoption both now and in the future.”
FamilyConnect was originally developed with the insight and leadership of experts Sir David Holmes CBE, Julia Feast OBE, University College London’s MIRRA project and the Care Leavers’ Association.
For more information, including current advice line opening times:
