North Edinburgh News – Page 543 – The NEN

Safety hazards to avoid for pets this New Year’s Eve

Expert shares top dangers that could ruin your pet’s perfect new year

New Year’s Eve is a time of celebration with friends and family, the last thing you want to stop the festivities is an unnecessary trip to the vets.

It is up to us to do right by our pets and limit any stressful or hazardous situations by taking the necessary precautions to make this New Year’s Eve memorable for all the right reasons.

To ensure the new year starts off on the right foot, the UK’s leading raw pet food and wellness company, Bella & Duke has shared easy to follow tips to keep your pet safe from any stress or potentially toxic foods.

Plan ahead – Knowing that fireworks will be going off, it’s important to adjust your pet’s schedule around this. If you’re used to a night-time walk, gradually take your dog out for their daily exercise earlier in the day so you don’t get caught in the middle of a firework show or display. Take extra time to plan out your decorations for the house, long streaming banners, tinsel and balloons can all be choking hazards, so it’s best to err on the side of caution and keep decorations out of reach.

Fireworks – Over the festive period we know there will be an increase in fireworks being set off. While there may be some dogs that aren’t too bothered by them, each year fireworks traumatise pets across the country. The best way to limit the stress caused by the loud bangs and flashes is playing calming sounds, reggae or classical music have proven to be most effective.

Toxic treats – Your dog doesn’t know what it can and can’t eat, if they see food lying in reach, they’ll take it. Chocolates, sweets, alcohol and some cheeses can lead to digestion problems and in more severe cases with alcohol it can cause poisoning. Be cautious of what foods are lying around, we know it’s hard to keep track of this during the commotion of a party so play it on the safe side and keep your pets entertained with a variety of species-appropriate treats they can have all for themselves.

Create a safe haven – The hustle and bustle of a New Year’s Eve party can be a lot for our furry friends to take in. What was once their relaxing home is now loud and filled with strangers. Even if your dog loves being the centre of attention and socialising with new people, set up a quiet corner of the house with some of their favourite toys, chews, treats and comforts.

Cool, calm and collected – After building your safe haven for your furry friend, take the extra step to make it a true place of relaxation. Consider adding an old jumper that smells of you, and additionally add a few sprays of Bella & Duke’s calm and balmy spray. The comforting scents of lavender, valerian and passionflower will help soothe your dog when fireworks and the parties are kicking off. Another great way to keep your pet preoccupied is to give them a large chew to focus on instead of the fireworks. But the best way to keep your canine companion calm is to be calm yourself! Your pets feed off your energy, be the pillar they need, reinforcing that everything is going to be okay.

Mark Scott, CEO at Bella & Duke, added: “Take the time as a pet owner to make up a safe haven for your furry friend, a quiet corner of the house to have some time to themselves. Don’t feel the need to ditch decorations completely but make sure there aren’t any choking hazards in reach.

“Finally, be there for your dog, if they start showing signs of stress take them away from the stressor and sit with each other. Remain calm and your pet will reflect your energy.”

Choudhury: ‘Scandalous food poverty levels must be addressed urgently’

NEW analysis by Scottish Labour has revealed that the parcels delivered by foodbanks in the City of Edinburgh has soared by 89% since 2018, with a shocking 94% rise in the number of parcels issued for children in the City of Edinburgh.

For West Lothian, there has been an increase in parcels of 81% since 2018, and a rise of 77% for parcels issued for children.

In the six months from 1 April to 30 September 2023 alone, there was a shocking 16,038 parcels distributed in the City of Edinburgh Council and 4,250 in West Lothian.

Foysol Choudhury, a Labour list MSP for Lothian, has raised concerns about the level of foodbank use and says that more urgency is needed to tackle food poverty in Edinburgh, Lothian and the rest of Scotland.

Mr Choudhury, alongside Scottish Labour, has raised concerns that the Scottish Government recently delayed the implementation of the Good Food Nations Act by half a year.

Scottish Labour also says the Scottish Government has repeatedly failed to set out a timeline for enshrining a legal Right to Food in Scots law – something Scottish Labour MSP Rhoda Grant is pursuing in a Member’s Bill.

Mr Choudhury said: “The levels of food poverty in Scotland are scandalous and the Scottish Government must act urgently.

“We should not have people in Scotland going hungry, cutting back, choosing between heating and eating or relying on foodbanks.

“I have met with so many brilliant organisations who work tirelessly to support those in food poverty-organisations like Empty Kitchens, Full Hearts and The Larder. However, they shouldn’t have to fill the gap where legislation and political leadership should be.

“We need real leadership from both of our governments – but the Tories and the SNP are both missing in action.

“The Lothian region deserves better than these two failing and out-of-touch governments – we need action at every level to tackle this shameful food poverty crisis and enshrine in law a legal Right to Food.”

New legal restrictions on XL Bully dog now in force in England and Wales

It is now illegal to breed, sell, advertise, gift, exchange, and abandon these dogs or let them stray

New restrictions on the XL Bully dogs are now in force (31 December) making it a legal requirement for all XL Bully dogs to be kept on a lead and muzzled when in public. It is also illegal to breed, sell, advertise, gift, exchange, abandon or let XL Bully dogs stray from today.

The decision to ban XL Bully dogs was made following a concerning rise in attacks from these dangerous dogs, with 23 people sadly losing their lives after vicious dog attacks in the last three years. XL Bullies have been involved in many of these tragic deaths.

Owners are also being urged to apply to register their current XL Bully dogs, as the Government takes action to safely manage the existing population of the breed. There is only a month left to meet the deadline when the ban comes into force on 1 February.

Owning an unregistered dog after this date will be a criminal offence, with owners who don’t facing a criminal record and an unlimited fine. Owners who do not want to keep their dogs after this date should take them to a vet to have them put down.

If owners are unsure whether their dog could be classed as an XL Bully, they should check their dog carefully against our guidance and photo examples of XL Bully dogs to help them decide.

Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said: “The Prime Minister pledged to take quick and decisive action to protect the public from devastating dog attacks with measures in place by the end of 2023.

“We have met that pledge – it is now a legal requirement for XL Bully dogs to be muzzled and on a lead in public. It is also now illegal to breed, sell, advertise, gift, exchange, abandon or let XL Bully dogs stray.

“All XL Bully owners are expected to comply with the law and we will continue to work closely with the police, canine and veterinary experts, and animal welfare groups, with further restrictions on XL Bully dogs coming into force on 1 February.”

The UK Government has taken a staggered approach to safely manage the existing population of XL Bully dogs, while ultimately banning the breed.

On the 31 October, XL Bully dogs were added to the Dangerous Dogs Act, with owners given two months to prepare for the first stage of the ban.

Since the 31 December [today], it is illegal to breed, sell, advertise, gift, exchange, abandon or let XL Bully dogs stray. All XL Bully dogs must also be kept on a lead and muzzled when in public.

From 1st February all XL Bully dogs which must be registered.

From 30 June, XL Bully dogs over 1 year old must be neutered, this is extended until the 31 December for younger dogs.

NOTE: THIS LEGISLATION DOES NOT APPLY IN SCOTLAND

94% of Capital residents ‘satisfied with Edinburgh as a place to live’

Ninety-four percent of Capital residents are satisfied with Edinburgh as a place to live, according to a large-scale city survey.

Around 3,700 residents were interviewed face-to-face between July and September 2023 for the 2023 Edinburgh Partnership Survey.

The survey was commissioned by The Edinburgh Partnership to inform best practice, strategy development and outcome monitoring across the Partnership including informing the Local Outcome Improvement Plan.

Most residents report feeling very satisfied with Edinburgh as a place to live, with 74% of respondents said they were satisfied with services provided by The City of Edinburgh Council.

The survey found that satisfaction was high with public transport, ease of getting around, parks and green and blue spaces, sport and leisure services, and health services.

Results also demonstrated that deprivation is the most significant factor impacting the experience of life, living in Edinburgh, and receiving services.

It shows that those in the 20% most deprived areas have an experience that is substantially worse than people who live in other areas of Edinburgh. Of those who took part in the survey, more than a quarter of residents had not paid a household bill, paid a bill using credit, or used a food bank in the past twelve months.

Most participants reported feeling very safe in general, but much less safe in their neighbourhood after dark. When asked what would make them feel safer, over half suggested additional police presence.

The majority of people who took part said their satisfaction was lowest with the management of antisocial behaviour, road safety, and cleanliness of neighbourhoods.

Councillor Cammy Day, Council Leader, said: “I’m delighted that our residents are so satisfied with Edinburgh as a place to live.

“It is also heartening to see that people have recognised the hard work Council staff put in to supporting and delivering our services.

“Research like the Edinburgh Partnership Survey is incredibly insightful for our own future planning and the feedback will help us to keep improving the way we serve Edinburgh’s residents.

“The rise in inflation and the continuing cost-of-living crisis mean that many residents are facing the most difficult financial circumstances ever, but we are working extremely hard to lessen the impacts.

“The reality is that we are Scotland’s lowest funded council and ending poverty is not something we can do alone.

“I remain committed to doing my utmost as Council Leader along with colleagues and our city’s partners to improving the situation here in Edinburgh as there’s still a lot more work to do.”

The results of the survey, which were jointly funded by members of The Edinburgh Partnership, were designed to provide a proportionate sample of Edinburgh residents.

Read the full summary of results from the 2023 Edinburgh Partnership Survey.

Edinburgh_Partnership_Survey_2023 Download

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack looks back on 2023 and ahead to 2024

As another New Year dawns, I’d like to pass on my best wishes for 2024 to my fellow Scots at home and abroad.

As we get ready to make our resolutions for the year to come, it is also time to take stock of the departing 12 months.

Looking back, we have worked hard on our mission to level up communities across Scotland.

Creating equality of opportunity for all – regardless of background – has been our ambition. Our levelling up initiatives are doing this by helping people and their neighbourhoods flourish.

Listening to local communities – and working closely with the Scottish Government and councils – is bearing fruit on our investments.

In 2023 we broke through the £2.9 billion barrier when it comes to UK Government levelling-up investment in Scotland.

Among the highlights of the last 12 months have been the creation of two Freeports with a UK Government investment of £26 million each, one on the Firth of Forth and the other on the Cromarty Firth.

These were followed by the establishment of two Investment Zones in Glasgow and the North East, both of which are benefitting from up to £160 million each from the UK Treasury.

Businesses in these areas will get special tax breaks and other support to help them flourish and create jobs.

Seven Scottish towns are receiving £20 million each as part of our Towns Fund. Levelling Up Partnerships have also been set up which will result in Dundee, the Western Isles, Argyll and Bute and Dumfries and Galloway receiving £20 million each. This funding will help transform these communities, boosting investment and jobs.

And 2023 saw the announcement of two further rounds of the Levelling Up Fund, which will pay for multi-million-pound community investment right across Scotland.

Along with my ministerial colleagues in the Scotland Office, Malcolm Offord and John Lamont, it has been great to visit many of these projects and see for ourselves the difference they are making.

Reflecting on 2023, it would be remiss of me not to mention the Scottish Government’s Gender Recognition Reform legislation.

The decision to issue a Section 35 Order for the first time in the history of devolution was not one which I took lightly. But when faced with proposals that would have an adverse impact on reserved equalities legislation I felt there was little option other than to act. I strongly believe the comprehensive judgement issued by Lady Haldane in the UK Government’s favour entirely justifies this stance.

Scotland is famous across the world for our culture and sport. We were delighted to contribute to the arts scene by contributing almost £9 million to the world-famous Edinburgh festivals.

I was thrilled that Scotland’s men’s team qualified for next year’s European Championships. It was a pleasure to welcome Steve Clarke to Dover House when we hosted a reception marking the 150th anniversary of the Scottish Football Association. Like all Scotland fans I’m tremendously excited by the thought of our team going to Germany in 2024.

A highlight of 2023 for so many was the Coronation of King Charles III. As Scottish Secretary I was greatly honoured to play a small part in an uplifting and moving ceremony which marked the beginning of a new era in the history of the United Kingdom.

I know that for many people the last few years have been extremely difficult. We are still feeling the impact of the Covid pandemic and Vladimir Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine has put pressure on our economy. Under the leadership of Rishi Sunak, the UK Government has made great strides in bringing inflation down.

And just as the broad shoulders of the UK Treasury provided unprecedented support during Covid, we have provided unprecedented financial help to tackle the cost of living crisis. Our £105 billion funding package is providing each household with an average of £3,700 in support.

By working together as one United Kingdom we can withstand the challenges the coming months and years throw at us.

And, looking ahead to 2024, my resolution is to keep working to bring more prosperity and jobs to Scotland. With that in mind, I’m looking forward to the opening of the Perth Museum, backed by £10 million from the UK Government and which will be a splendid new home for the Stone of Scone.

We will also see the signing of the full growth deals for Falkirk and Argyll and Bute, partnerships in which we will invest £40 million and £25 million respectively. And yet more money for community projects as we continue our levelling up mission.

Happy New Year.

Alister Jack, Secretary of State for Scotland

Donate unwanted Christmas gifts to the BHF this January

DO GOOD, FEEL GOOD!

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is calling for the nation to kick start their 2024 by having a declutter and donating any unwanted Christmas gifts.

Decluttering can make the home feel much calmer post-Christmas, so whether it’s a jumper that doesn’t fit, a game you won’t play, or a book you already have, the BHF will welcome any generous donations which can be resold to fund lifesaving research.

Rather than let your unwanted items gather dust, simply pop them in the post by downloading a freepost label or take them down to your local BHF shop. The BHF gladly receives any quality items including clothing, jewellery, books, and games, and saves over 56,000 tonnes of goods from going to landfill every year.

Dr Helen Nuttall is a BHF retail ambassador, doctor of neuroscience and charity shop influencer. She says: “This new year, I’ll be decluttering and donating any unwanted items to the BHF. Donating to charity and having a clear out can increase dopamine in your brain and help you escape the January blues.

“With prices continuing to rise, it’s important to keep our charity shop shelves stocked for those who might need them. So, if there are any Christmas gifts lying around that you won’t use, consider donating them to your local BHF!”

Allison Swaine-Hughes, Retail Director at the British Heart Foundation says, “At the BHF, we depend on the generous donations from the public to continue to fund our lifesaving research.

“If you find yourself with one or two unused gifts lying around, why not make use of them and start the new year off by givingback?

“If you have any items that you want to donate, simply drop them off at any of our 680 BHF shops or post them for free. Every item sold will help keep families together for Christmases to come!”

Decluttering tips from the BHF:

Ask for help. Get your family and friends involved and ask them to help find items they might not use after Christmas. Children and teenagers can search their rooms for quality gadgets, games, and toys to give to charity.
Start small. Declutter in small chunks. Set small goals, like clearing a certain drawer or wardrobe. Any quality items you won’t use can be donated, including phones and tablets. There are simple steps on our website on how to get devices ready to donate, and all data will be erased by the BHF using software before being resold.
Set a routine. Rather than tackling it all at once, set decluttering as a daily activity. Once you have finished one large declutter, you can spend 30 minutes each day topping it up and keeping your spaces clear.

To donate unwanted Christmas gifts to the BHF, visit bhf.org.uk/shop/donating-goods

Expert reveals 7 tips to avoid online dating scams

Navigating the world of online dating can be tricky and it’s important not to lose sight of the potential dangers and scams that you may encounter whilst engaging with other potential matches.

That’s why security expert Nathan Daniels from VPNOverview.com has outlined 7 steps you can take to protect yourself when dating online to ensure you don’t have a negative experience.

Turn off location tracking

Many dating apps require that you turn on location tracking. This means you have to allow these apps to view your location. Dating apps use this information to get you into contact with people who are close to you geographically.

Of course, this is a very useful feature. Nevertheless, it’s understandable you might not want to share your exact location with a dating app, or with any service for that matter.

It is strongly recommended to turn off geo-tracking once you’re no longer actively using your dating app. That way, at the very least, you prevent the app from tracking you constantly.

Request a video chat (before your first date)

Another great safe online dating tip is to filter out fake dating profiles by requesting a video call. In fact, it can be a regular call as well, although video chatting is definitely better. Most people with fake profiles will be very reluctant to have a call, especially if a video is involved.

Obviously, it’s much easier for scammers to deceive their victims through text messages and sending someone else’s pictures. If they were to agree to a call, they would most likely just be discovered as fraudsters. As such, if someone refuses to have a (video) call, you might just be dealing with a fake profile.

Of course, you might be dealing with someone who is serious about meeting up at some point. In that case, a video call or a regular call is very useful as well. It will help you to gauge the other user’s intentions and character a little bit. This could help you avoid some dangerous scenarios.

Don’t connect your dating profiles to other social media or platforms

It might be tempting, for convenience reasons, to just log in on a dating app with your Facebook account or your main Google account. However, it is strongly recommend to not do this, as it’s a potential privacy hazard. Just think about it – you’re connecting a profile that’s intended for friends and family to a platform where you’ll be contacting tons of people you don’t know. Instead try using another way to log in, that can’t be traced back to you. One method, for instance, would be to create a Google account with random information that doesn’t contain any of your personal data.

Choose pictures you don’t use elsewhere

By using a reverse image search, someone can easily use your dating profile pictures against you. They can simply use this Google tool to find other pages where the images appear. This way, they’ll easily find out your personal information, even if you didn’t include it on your dating profile.

As such, it is recommended to only use pictures on your dating profile that you’re not using anywhere else. This also means it’s a bad idea to allow Tinder or other dating apps to simply pull pictures from Facebook or other social media accounts.

Report suspicious activity and inappropriate behaviour

Many dating apps have ways to report profiles and/or inappropriate behaviour. This comes in handy when you come across a (potentially) fake profile or behaviour that makes you uncomfortable. By reporting the profile involved, you will make your own and others’ dating experiences safer.

After you report an account, the respective dating app will generally launch an investigation. If someone’s profile is found to be fake or they are found guilty of inappropriate behaviour, their account will be deleted.

Types of suspicious or inappropriate activity you might encounter on dating apps include the following:

Fake profiles. Always be wary if you see a profile that’s unverified, offers little information, or seems too good to be true.
Money demands. If someone asks you for money, there’s a good chance they’re a catfish.
Requests for explicit pictures. The person requesting these pictures might plan on sextorting you.
Inappropriate messages, such as messages containing threats or sexual intimidation.
Unacceptable behaviour during a physical meeting exhibited by the people you meet.
Messages where people try to sell you something or get you to do something unrelated to dating (spam).
Rejection of video calls, even after chatting with someone for a long time. This might indicate you’re dealing with a fake account.

Many dating platforms also offer the possibility of blocking a specific user. This is a great option if someone is bothering you and you don’t want to have them contact you while you’re awaiting the results of the dating app’s investigation after reporting them.

Be wary of malicious files and pages

Some catfish operate by infecting their victims’ devices with malware. Rather than asking you for money, they might attempt to infect your system with a keylogger, in the hope. of getting their hands on your financial data.

That’s why it’s recommended to not download or click on any files that a new chat partner might send you. It’s best to wait until you know them a bit better and trust the,. The same goes for visiting links they send you – both can contain dangerous malware.

Apart from always being vigilant, we recommend getting a solid antivirus solution to protect yourself from malware.

Delete your account when you’re done dating

Have you finally met your soul mater? Or have you had your fill of casual dating fun? Either way, consider another valuable safe online dating tip, and make sure to delete your online dating account once you’re done dating.

Deleting your dating profile will erase (most of) your personal information on the dating platform in question. As a result, it will be much more difficult for others to abuse your personal information.

Police Scotland officers and staff recognised in New Year Honours list

Three serving and former Police Scotland officers have been recognised in the King’s New Year Honours for their significant contribution to policing.

Chief Superintendent Faroque Hussain (previously Temporary Assistant Chief Constable), Chief Superintendent Carol McGuire (retired) and Constable Stephanie Rose all receive the King’s Police Medal (KPM).

A further three serving and retired Police Scotland officers and staff members have also been recognised.

DC Jodie McFarlane receives the British Empire Medal for services to children and families in Ayrshire for her work with the charity Night Before Christmas Campaign, while retired Child Protection Manager, James Duffy, is named a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to children.

Also honoured with the award of an MBE is Investigation and Information Manager, Stuart Cossar, for services to the investigation and to the bereaved families of the Lockerbie Air Disaster.

Chief Constable Jo Farrell said: “These awards are testament to the dedication to public service and professionalism our officers show right across the country, day in, day out.

“I offer my warmest congratulations to Carol, Faroque and Stephanie for this deserved recognition of their significant contribution to policing.

“I would also like to recognise the honours awarded to Jodie, James and Stuart for their commitment and compassion serving policing and our communities in Scotland and beyond.”

Chief Superintendent Faroque Hussain joined Strathclyde Police in 1999.

He was promoted to Chief Superintendent in 2019 and appointed as Divisional Commander for Ayrshire in 2020 where he championed partnership working and engagement.

As a Strategic Firearms Commander, Faroque has overseen and coordinated firearms assets for major events including COP26 and the Queen’s death.

After a secondment to the National Crime Agency, he was appointed as Divisional Commander for Ayrshire in 2020, and was recently temporary Assistant Chief Constable for Partnership, Preventions and Community Wellbeing.

Chief Superintendent Hussain said: “I am deeply honoured by this recognition from His Majesty the King.

“I am profoundly grateful to have worked with countless selfless colleagues and partners from across Scotland, and beyond, who work tirelessly to keep our fellow citizens safe.

“Most of all, I thank my wife and our family for their unwavering support.”

Chief Supt Carol McGuire standing at Drumlanrig Castle. She is wearing full black police uniform and hat with a hi-vis vest holding police equipment.

Chief Superintendent Carol McGuire joined Strathclyde Police in 1995, serving in roles across local policing, emergency planning and community safety where she wrote the first Gender Equality Scheme for Strathclyde Police.

Carol later undertook a secondment to the Football Coordination Unit Scotland where she developed the first National Strategy for the Policing of Football in Scotland.

In 2017, Carol joined the Operational Support Division (Specialist Services) where she was responsible for specialist resources including Public Order and oversaw the introduction of drones to enhance air support capability.

During her time at OSD, Carole also drove the work to identify and procure new, lighter and more flexible body armour for officers. Latterly, Carol served as Divisional Commander for Dumfries and Galloway, where she is originally from, and retired in October 2023.

Chief Superintendent McGuire said: “It is fair to say I am genuinely overwhelmed and more than a little surprised to be receiving such a prestigious accolade, however, I am extremely proud as well.

“I am also enormously grateful to those who have guided and mentored me throughout my career in policing, and the many others whose support has been invaluable.

“It was a true privilege to have been a police officer, and to have led and been part of so many tremendous teams, and my thanks go to everyone who has been a part of my story.”

Constable Stephanie Rose joined Strathclyde Police in 1997 and has been a strong advocate for equality, diversion and inclusion throughout her service.

Her passion and commitment in this area is further demonstrated by Stephanie’s personal learning journey with British Sign Language (BSL). She is now fully conversant in BSL and regularly interprets for Police Scotland to deaf communities.

Stephanie developed the Keep Safe initiative in partnership with I Am Me Scotland which was piloted in Renfrewshire in 2014 before becoming a national programme in 2015. The initiative creates a network of local businesses to establish Keep Safe places for disabled, vulnerable and elderly people to go if they feel lost, confused, scared or intimidated or have been the victim of a crime.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Stephanie adopted a number of new initiatives to support and reassure disabled communities about the restrictions in place. She also developed guidance for police officers on interacting with people with autism or learning disabilities during the pandemic.

Constable Rose said: “I am hugely honoured to have been awarded the King’s Police Medal.

“I am very proud to be a police officer and have been extremely fortunate to work with some brilliant staff, officers and partners who share the vision of a fair, inclusive and accessible police service. Most importantly I have had the privilege of working with communities who have led so much positive change for policing.

“I have a particular passion for tackling hate crime and improving services for disabled people and British Sign Language communities and I hope this recognition enables us to continue making progress, as there is still more work to be done.”

Bike owners encouraged to register bikes on national database

POLICE are urging bike owners to ensure their cycles are registered on a national database to help ensure they can be reunited with them if they are lost or stolen.

The Bike Register database contains the details of tens of thousands bicycles from across the UK and for the last year Police Scotland officers have had access to the database via a downloadable app on their mobile devices.

Recently, four successful bike recoveries have been made as a result of the app and bike marking.

In the first instance, a member of the public in Edinburgh found a bicycle and used the app they had on their phone to establish it had been registered as lost. The owner was found to have moved from the Capital to Woking and was reunited with the bike.

Local officers in Lancashire also came across a stolen bike being sold on Facebook Marketplace in the course of their inquiries and by utilising the app on their mobile devices, they confirmed it was registered to an address in the Currie area of Edinburgh. The bike was again, returned to its rightful owner.

In the last two weeks, police in the Wester Hailes area of Edinburgh have returned two bikes to their owners after both were found and handed into the police station. Utilising the app, the cycles were both confirmed as stolen and then handed back to those they belong to.

Any officer who locates a bike they believe may be lost or stolen can access the database via the app, and scan a visible bar code or enter property details to check to see if it has been registered. If so, they can then find out whether the status is set to lost or stolen, and who the registered owner is.

It is anticipated that hundreds of new bikes will have been purchased or received over Christmas, many worth large sums of money. Owners of bikes, both new and old, are urged to ensure their cycle’s details are logged on the database.

Inspector Jordan Low from Police Scotland’s Rural and Acquisitive Crime Team, said: “We know that for many in Scotland, bikes are not just an important recreational item, they are a vital mode of transportation or exercise and to have them lost or stolen can be devastating.

“I would ask that all bike owners ensure their bicycles’ details are logged on the Bike Register database, as this will aid us during our inquiries whenever we locate any bikes that we believe to be stolen, or that are brought into police stations as lost property.

“The recent successful recoveries highlight just how important the database is in order to reunite bikes with their rightful owners and the app available to officers on their mobile device is another useful tool in helping us tackle bike theft across the country.”

One symptom of FAST is enough to act on stroke, warns charity

Act FAST on the first sign of stroke, the Stroke Association says. The charity is concerned people are waiting for all three of the ‘FAST’ stroke symptoms to appear before raising the alarm.

In fact, the public should be treating stroke as a medical emergency when any one stroke symptom appears. – most commonly these are Face (F) or Arm (A), or Speech (S). The moment a stroke is suspected, is Time (T) to dial 999.

Face weakness: Can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?

Arm weakness: Can the person raise both arms?

Speech problems: Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?

Adam Henderson, 24 from Broxburn had a stroke at the age of 23, which initially only presented as one symptom. At the time his stroke began, he was in the hairdresser’s and noticed that as people were talking to him, he had started to grunt, and couldn’t speak properly.

Even though he only had one of the ‘FAST’ symptoms at the time, the customers realised something was seriously wrong with Adam. At this point, Adam’s arms and face were unaffected. They called his partner’s mum – a nurse, who immediately knew it was a stroke. Everyone acted quickly to get Adam the treatment he needed.

Adam said: “When I got to hospital, I couldn’t walk. My head was shaking and the need to fall asleep was overwhelming.”

John Watson, Associate Director Scotland of the Stroke Association, said: “There are amazing treatments for stroke which can prevent death and disability. However, there is a short time period to receive treatment.

“That is why immediate action is needed for any one symptom of stroke. Time lost is brain lost. A typical patient loses 1.9 million neurons each minute in which stroke is untreated, which can lead to death or disability.

“As soon as you notice any one symptom of stroke, it is time to take action. Very few people get all three of the FAST symptoms. Dial 999.”

Although Adam initially only had one FAST symptom (Speech), the inability to walk that he later developed can also be a sign of stroke:

The FAST test helps spot the three most common symptoms of stroke. But there are other signs that you should always take seriously. These include:

Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, including legs, hands or feet.
Difficulty finding words or speaking in clear sentences.
Sudden blurred vision or loss of sight in one or both eyes.
Sudden memory loss or confusion, and dizziness or a sudden fall.
A sudden, severe headache.

When Adam got to hospital, he was quickly wheeled in for a brain scan. The doctors decided that given the seriousness of the stroke, the type of stroke and where it was in the brain that he would be a suitable candidate for clot removal surgery, mechanical thrombectomy.

Adam was a fortunate candidate for thrombectomy, because of the speed people had in spotting his stroke, getting to hospital and receiving a diagnosis quickly. At first, Adam was displaying only one sign of stroke using the FAST test, but thankfully that was enough for those who were with him to raise the alarm.

He was put to sleep and the procedure took 20 minutes. Within ten minutes of coming round, Adam was able to walk again. Having been completely unable to do anything physically before the procedure was performed, the first thing Adam wanted and was able to do, was go and have a shower by himself.

Around one in every three people who receive a thrombectomy following their stroke will be less disabled than they otherwise would have been as a result. Around one in five will be able to function completely independently afterwards.

Thrombectomy is a suitable treatment to save lives and reduce disability for around one in every ten people who have a stroke.

John Watson, Associate Director Scotland of the Stroke Association, said: “Strokes and TIAs [aka mini-strokes] are medical emergencies even if the symptoms appear to get better or go away.

“Treatments for stroke become less suitable over time, so calling 999 as soon as possible leads to the best chance of survival and the best recovery. Look out for any one sign of stroke using the FAST test and take immediate action.

“No matter what festivities are happening around you, at this time of the year, or at any other time, do not delay.”

Any symptom of FAST – take action

Do not wait for all three signs to appear. Any of these signs – even one sign – means you need to take immediate action. Time to call 999.

Adam feels very fortunate that his stroke was recognised and treated as a medical emergency. He is now back at work, driving and has returned to his hobbies.

Now he is urging the public to learn how to recognise the signs of a stroke and take immediate action on should they suspect stroke.

“I was very lucky. I got to hospital fast and received this incredible treatment. Not everyone receives that treatment – one reason being the speed of a person able to identify any of the signs of stroke and taking immediate action.

“I know the people with me at the time are glad they recognised my stroke; they would have felt dreadful should it have been missed. “

John concluded: “Knowing the signs and symptoms of stroke needs to be reinforced on a regular basis to the public.

“That is why we are pleased to see a commitment from The Scottish Government in their Stroke Action Plan, to invest in the Act FAST campaign, and continue to raise awareness of the symptoms of stroke. We look forward to seeing this carried out in Scotland as soon as possible.”