#OperationSoteria, Edinburgh Policing Division’s city wide Operation continues to put the brakes on criminals involved in motorcycle thefts and associated anti-social behaviour.
Over the past week, enquiries have led to the arrest of 5 individuals with significant links to motorcycle crime across Edinburgh. This equates to a weekly total of 42 charges and the recovery of 11 bikes, all as a direct result of our targeted activities.
Since the commencement of #OpSoteria on 20 June 2022, we have made 17 arrests, with a further individual reported for warrant.
This translates to 104 charges all relating to motorcycle theft and antisocial behaviour offences and the recovery of 51 motorcycles, bringing the total value of bikes recovered since June to more than £360,000.
Anyone with information about motorcycle crime or the dangerous use of motorcycles in the capital can speak to officers confidentially and anonymously on 101, or through the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
One woman’s quest for tortured beefcake, 80s action and raw sexual power
Pre-pandemic Rosy became the world’s first female time-travelling doctor in her multi-award-winning theatre debut ‘Passionate Machine’. Now this feminist powerhouse is Musclebound to examine our most shameful sexual secrets.
When bodybuilders and 80s action films unite, you can always count on one thing: a good hard flogging! And for a five-year-old Rosy, witnessing live action film characters like He-Man and Conan the Barbarian being stripped, beaten and humiliated by their male antagonists sparked an odyssey of secret obsession that would shape her erotic life forever.
Now forty, with a string of disappointing relationships behind her and her own grown-up daughter about to leave home, a chance re-watching of He-Man reignites the spark of Rosy’s lust, setting her off on a mission to replenish her sexual power. But can tortured beefcake really be the key to her salvation? Or does a more uncomfortable sexual truth lurk, waiting to be reckoned with?
Join Rosy in this intelligent, provocative and terrifically funny real-life story, as she goes to any lengths to find out – even if that means asking Dolph Lundgren and Arnold Schwarzenegger themselves …
‘It’s about me getting to grips with my childhood passion for watching these incredible scenes of hyper-muscular men being abused’, says Rosy.
‘About why that dynamic felt so powerful. Musclebound takes a playful, candid and highly singular look at sexual power, female pleasure and the politics and principles of orgasm-faking.’
Rosy is forced to ask herself: what are the sexual lessons we want to pass on to our daughters – and what do we still need to learn for ourselves? Is it ever OK to objectify people?
Rosy Carrick is a writer, actor and translator. Her critically acclaimed play Passionate Machine won theawards for Best Design and Best New Playat Brighton Fringe in 2018, and The Infallibles Award for Theatrical Excellence at Edinburgh Fringe. She has co-hosted the poetry stages at Glastonbury, Latitude and Port Eliot Festivals for the last decade.
Her debut poetry collection Chokey was published in 2018 and its follow-up, 26 Letters, is due for release in 2023. Rosy has a PhD on the Russian revolutionary poet Vladimir Mayakovsky. She has released two books of his work in translation, and is currently working on a third, which will be published in 2024 by The 87 Press. www.rosycarrick.com
Musclebound is directed by Fringe First winner Katie Bonna. Katie won the Most Promising New Playwright award at the 2018 Off West End Awards (for All The Things I Lied About).
In 2021, her queer comedy The Entertainment was nominated for OFF Fest’s Best Online Theatre production, and her short film IRL was nominated for Best Comedy at the Cannes Shorts Festival.
Part of the prestigious BBC Comedy Writers Room course 2019/2020, Katie is currently under commission from BBC Radio 4 and RADA.
‘Intelligent, articulate, funny’ Scotsman (on Passionate Machine)
Listings information:
Musclebound
Venue: Assembly Roxy (Venue 139)
Dates: 3-29 Aug (not 10, 16, 23) First review date 3 Aug
Serving personnel across the UK will be entitled to free wraparound childcare from September as part of new measures announced today by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.
Service families with children aged 4 to 11 years to benefit from wraparound childcare2
More than 20,000 service children will be eligible for 20 hours free childcare per week
Defence Secretary outlines further family support for UK Armed Forces personnel
The Wraparound Childcare (WAC) scheme will provide up to 20 hours per week of free childcare before and after school during term time for eligible military parents with children aged 4 to 11 years.
Its roll-out follows successful trials at pilot sites around the country over the last two years and from the Autumn school term will be open to more than 20,000 children across the UK.
While childcare costs vary across the UK, serving personnel are expected to save around £3,000 per child per year based on typical costs.
The wraparound childcare scheme provides practical support to some of the unique challenges faced by service families, such as frequent relocations that require military families to move home, find new schools and childcare provision, and adjust their lives. This is part of the Armed Forces’ commitment to being an inclusive, modern and flexible employer.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “Our Armed Forces personnel sacrifice a great deal in the service of their country and whether it is providing flexible working or accommodation options, I am determined they feel supported in their family life.
“Providing free wraparound childcare is another clear way of supporting the unique challenges they face as parents and will go a long way to helping them to enjoy a thriving family life as well as a thriving career.”
Corporal Vicki Taylor, Royal Air Force said: “Everyone I have spoken to who also benefits from wraparound childcare agrees that it’s a fantastic scheme. For my family it saved us financially, reduced our stress levels, and has given us more quality time with our children.
The wraparound childcare pilot scheme began in September 2020 and an expansion in September 2021 meant six sites – Woolwich Barracks, RAF High Wycombe and RAF Halton, Catterick Garrison, and in Lincolnshire and the Plymouth area – took part. Over 1,900 children benefited from support at these sites during the pilot.
This scheme is part of the wider package of support to service personnel and their families, as laid out in the Armed Forces Families Strategy, and has already had a positive impact on service families involved. Recent feedback shows an improvement in family wellbeing, increased contentment with service life for non-serving partners as well as the huge financial savings.
The Ministry of Defence is committed to supporting service families and has also introduced flexible working arrangements, expanded offerings to co-habiting couples and extended Help to Buy, giving our armed forces the chance to get a foot on the housing ladder.
Flavour Alchemists Guide to Making the Perfect Summer Tipple
Get summer ready with Buck & Birch’s deliciously fresh, thirst-quenching drink, The Amarosa Spritz, perfect for those looking to spice up their favourite summer classic cocktails.
Sourcing ingredients just a stone’s throw from their East Lothian distillery, the alchemists have put a Scottish twist on the likes of the Italians Aperol and English Pimms, giving you the very best taste of the wilds of Scotland.
With flavour notes of juicy green apples, honey and herbs with spiced vanilla and molasses to finish, simply add 50ml of Amarosa, 25ml fresh apple juice, topped with chilled champagne, prosecco or sparkling wine and garnish with fresh summer fruits for the perfect taste of a Scottish Summer.
The Amarosa Spritz is perfect for sipping at a garden party or barbeque in the summer sun, and to really get your tastebuds tingling, enjoy alongside grilled halloumi or a mezze platter.
Creative Director and co-founder, Tom Chisholm on why this is the perfect summer tipple: “This is the first lockdown free summer we have had in three years and whilst we all want to be outside the Scottish summer weather doesn’t always allow us to get out.
“But with The Amarosa Spritz, we’ve got the taste of summer with an unmistakable Scottish twist. So, whilst we may not get outside with the unreliable Scottish weather, we have got the next best thing: having a drink from the beautiful landscape that is right on our doorstep.”
To view the full selection of drinks available for purchase, visit:
An app to help the owners of shared properties repair their buildings in the Capital has been so successful in its first year it is already being rolled out by two other local authorities in Scotland.
Developed by the City of Edinburgh Council with tech company Novoville, a new app launched in April last year has been helping more than 500 tenements with nearly 5,000 properties across Edinburgh in carrying out £700,000 worth of much needed repairs to improve their buildings.
The app has been so popular that Perth and Kinross and East Ayrshire Councils have announced today they are launching it as well.
Born out of the Scottish Government’s CivTech Accelerator programme, the app was designed to make it easier for residents living in shared properties to keep their buildings in good condition. It’s attracted twice as many privately owned tenements in a year as the Council usually deals with in that time frame.
The repairs carried out range from £50,000 for extensive roof repairs down to £200 for new door locks, through to £20,000 improving stonework, £5,000 repainting stairwells to £2,000 on new gutters. Around 150 trusted traders are listed on the app but you can use it with your own trader as well.
Councillor Mandy Watt Finance and Resources Convener said: “Edinburgh is leading the way in this work in Scotland and it is great news that two other councils are now about to launch it in their area as well. Our Shared Repairs Team is doing a fantastic job helping people who live in shared buildings through the steps they need to take to carry out repairs to their properties.
“The app helps people take greater control of the process. It’s very accessible and easy to use.
“Edinburgh has around 170,000 tenement flats and other shared buildings with multiple owners. It’s great to see so many property owners already engaging with the app, as many of these buildings are in need of urgent repair.
“The feedback I’m getting is that without the app, some people say they wouldn’t have had the confidence to approach neighbours and get the repairs done, or the process would have taken a lot longer due to communication breakdowns and uncertainties about the correct course of action.”
Louis Daillencourt from Novoville said: “It’s been a pleasure to work with Edinburgh proprietors in the last year to help them fix often longstanding issues, keep their buildings safe, and make them more comfortable. Thanks to their feedback, we’ve learnt a lot and invested towards making the app ever simpler to use.
“This year, we’re progressing on multiple fronts. First, we’re deploying in more local authorities, collaborating with their private sector housing teams to make the app available to more and more owners around the country.
“We’re also continuing to work with consultants, architects and surveyors to ensure proprietors get the programme of work and maintenance plan their building needs. But in the wake of COP26, we’re also working on an absolutely critical development: making energy-efficiency upgrades accessible through the app.”
App user Julia Morrison said: “Truth be told, our stair is quite analogue – particularly older landlords! Despite my best efforts, I was only able to get a few folks signed up directly to the Novoville app. However, the app is designed so that you can use it with owners who don’t want to sign up to the app directly.
“This means you can still use it to download a suite of template letters, organise your processes, and – most importantly – your payment collections. And for those that did sign up, it was a really smooth process and easy to use. Very few glitches/fixes for a new product. I work in digital communications and I know how rare this is, Novoville have done excellently!
“The best thing about the app was feeling really supported in doing something that felt quite difficult and that didn’t come naturally to me. The team at Novoville had my back the whole time.”
App user Lizzie Crawford said: “I started using the app for one property in a tenement block where I am the landlord, and now I’ve got all three of mine in there! It’s much, much easier to look after the tenements where I own and let out a flat.
“The app is helping me create a bit more of a community feel in those blocks as well. I really recommend it to any proprietor. Apps can be daunting, but this is actually easy to use.”
Police are appealing for the assistance of the public to help trace 41-year-old Michael Meehan who has been reported missing from Edinburgh.
Michael was last seen around 3.30 pm on Thursday, 21 July, 2022 on Rose Street, Edinburgh.
He is described as white, of slim build, around 6ft tall, with short grey hair, few teeth and has bad sunburn and blisters to his face. He speaks with an Irish accent and was wearing a dark coloured jacket, tracksuit bottoms and trainers although it is thought he may actually be barefoot.
Sergeant Jonathan Wilson, Gayfield Police Station, said: “Since Mr Meehan was reported missing, officers have been checking CCTV and making local enquiries in Edinburgh City Centre and Portobello where he is known to frequent, however, there have been no further sightings of him.
“We are concerned for his health and well-being and would appeal to anyone who has seen him recently or who may have information as to where he is to get in touch with police.”
Information can be passed to officers via 101. Please quote reference number 2159 of Thursday, 21 July, 2022
Over 7.2 million payments of £326 have been made to help households through the UK government’s Cost of Living support.
7.2 million payments of £326 – worth a total of £2.4bn – made in first week of Cost of Living support rollout
Payments mark the first half of the £650 Cost of Living payment for low-income families, with the second half coming in the autumn
Additional support for disabled people and pensioners will follow later this year
This means £2.4bn has been paid out to low-income families in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with the second instalment of £324 arriving later this year.
The first payments were made on 14 July 2022, meaning the government has paid on average over a million families every working day since then.
This is all part of the government’s £37 billion support package for households. Millions will get £1,200 this year to help them with rising costs, including this £650 payment, a £400 grant to help with energy bills, and a £150 Council Tax rebate for the 80% of households in bands A-D.
And in addition to this, nearly one in 10 people will get a £150 disability payment this autumn, while over eight million pensioner households could receive an extra £300 through their Winter Fuel Payments in November and December.
Work and Pensions Secretary, Thérèse Coffey said: “This government said that we would protect those on the lowest incomes, and we have delivered what we said with over 7 million households receiving £326 in the last week.
“There is more help to come for households, with the second half of the £650 payment arriving later this year and further payments for pensioners and disabled people also on the way.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Nadhim Zahawi said: “I know that people are finding things difficult with rising prices and increasing pressure on household budgets.
“That’s why we’re taking action to control inflation and providing immediate help for households. It’s so important that over 7 million vulnerable households have received £326 direct payments so far and there is also more help to come, with 8 million of the most vulnerable households receiving £1,200 of direct support to help with bills over the winter.”
In total, over eight million families will be eligible for this payment, with around one million eligible because they receive tax credits and no other eligible benefits. These families will receive their first instalment from HMRC in the autumn, and the second instalment in the winter.
DWP will administer payments for customers on all other eligible means-tested benefits, and no one needs to contact the government or apply for the payment at any stage.
Those who are eligible should look out in their bank accounts for a payment of £326 with the reference “DWP Cost of Living” in their bank accounts. This payment is made automatically, meaning no one has to apply or do anything to receive it.
Eligible claimants who have not received their payment yet should not be concerned, as the DWP expects some payments may take until 31 July 2022 to come through.
Police have released CCTV images of a man they believe may be able to assist with enquiries into a serious assault in Edinburgh.
The incident happened on High Street near the junction with South Bridge at around 3.45am on Thursday, 19 May, 2022. As a result of the incident, a 22-year-old man was taken to hospital for treatment of serious injuries.
The man shown in the CCTV images is described as being white, of slim build, around 5ft 10in in height, aged 18 – 25 with shaved short brown hair.
At the time of the incident he was wearing a dark grey jacket, a grey Adidas hoody, grey jogging bottoms and black trainers.
Detective Constable Paul Henderson, of Edinburgh CID, said: “I would urge the man depicted in the images, or anyone who has information relating to him or to the incident, to contact police as soon as possible.
“Members of the public can contact Police Scotland via the 101 quoting reference number 0551 of Thursday, 19 May, 2022, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
At the start of Bees’ Needs Week, new research today (Monday 18 July) revealed that improving pollinator populations could help stabilise the production of important crops like oilseeds and fruit.
The new research, published by the University of Reading, found that crops visited by pollinators had more stable yields, with 32% less variation than those crops grown in the absence of pollinators.
Thousands of pollinators – bumblebees, butterflies, moths, flies and honeybees – are essential for food production and biodiversity. But they are under threat, facing growing challenges from climate change, pests and diseases, invasive species and habitat loss.
This year Bees’ Needs Week (18 – 24 July) makes a call on the public to take Five Simple Actions to help pollinators.
These actions are easy to do, and it doesn’t matter how much space is available – every action, big or small, counts. To sustain bee populations, everyone can:
Grow more flowers, shrubs and trees
Let your garden grow wild
Cut your grass less often
Don’t disturb insect nest and hibernation spots
Think carefully about whether to use pesticides
Monitoring for insects in your local area is also a great way to help scientists understand what pollinator populations look like.
The Pollinator Monitoring Scheme is the first scheme in the world to generate data on the abundance of bees, hoverflies and other flower-visiting insects at a national scale. It will provide information that will help us measure trends in pollinator populations and target conservation efforts.
This summer, thousands of people will be taking part in a Flower-Insect-Timed Count (FIT Count) and as part of Bees’ Needs Week, the public are being encouraged to take part. Anyone can get involved by taking ten minutes to observe flowers and insects in good weather before sharing the information on the app.
FIT Counts can be completed anywhere, wherever there is an abundance of flowers, and every observation helps improve survey records and knowledge of pollinator activity.
https://youtu.be/FHIK5x8eMXo
Biodiversity Minister Lord Benyon said: “From bumblebees to moths and butterflies, pollinators are a critical part of our natural ecosystem, playing an essential role in upholding biodiversity and food production.
“Creating wildflower meadows, insect hotels or even a humble window box will boost nature. We can all play our part to support our vital pollinators.”
Marian Spain, chief executive of Natural England, said: “Pollinators are a crucial part of a healthy environment which we all depend on.
“There are many things we can do to help them thrive, from getting involved in monitoring their numbers to leaving any outdoor space we have to flourish. Collectively, even small actions all help pollinators do the job we need them to”.
Bees’ Needs Week, coincides with the ‘Superbloom’, a thriving natural landscape planted in the iconic moat at the Tower of London.
The University of Reading’s Bee Team will be on site today (Monday 18 July), showcasing their projects which display buzzing bumblebee colonies, the world of pollinators through the microscope, and activities to help the public to understand how everyday shopping relies on pollination.
Dr Jake Bishop, from the University of Reading’s Bee Team, who led the new study, said: “This research reminds us just how much we need to look after our pollinating heroes.
“Our study shows how important bees and pollinating insects are for our food security. Every gardener, farmer and landowner in the UK can make a big difference to bees by making small changes to how they mow, grow or spray.”
This Bees’ Needs Week, Defra will also be launching the 2022 Bees’ Needs Champions Awards which celebrate the outstanding action taken by community groups, businesses and farmers to protect pollinators.
Tee-ing off Scottish summertime in style, Fore Play Crazy Golf Edinburgh has revealed a brand new cocktail garden, the Tee-Aff Terrace, set to offer complimentary cocktails to customers every time Edinburgh’s weather reaches 20 degrees.
When things heat up in the city, guests can cool down with a complimentary cocktail at the Tee-Aff Terrace, complete with garden games including giant Connect 4, live DJs and a special outdoor bar.
The Tee-Aff Terrace will offer the free cocktail to every customer, every single time it reaches 20 degrees in Edinburgh until Sunday 31st July … so let’s hope that summer sunshine makes an appearance!
Available to walk-ins and bookings, customers playing at least one round of crazy golf can redeem their free cocktail as soon as Edinburgh heats up by visiting Fore Play’s front desk. Venue staff will verify the temperature each morning via Google forecast, and if Edinburgh is scheduled to reach 20 degrees Celsius at ANY point in the day, fans are in for a treat. Full Ts&Cs below.
Fore Play Crazy Golf are ushering in Edinburgh’s long summer nights with their new cocktail garden, complete with deckchairs, an outdoor bar and summer decor galore, popping up at the venue until 28th August. Located in the heart of Edinburgh at Picardy Place, the Tee-Aff Terrace is sure to bring the summer vibes to the city, no matter the weather.
The crazy golf venue is the city’s ultimate night out, offering Edinburgh-inspired crazy golf on ‘The Wee Bobby Course’, delicious food and refreshing Pickering’s Gin cocktails at the Tee-Aff Terrace, with summer serves of the city’s best gin.
Serves will include Pickering’s Lime and Ginger Gin and Mexican Lime Soda, or a refreshing Pickering’s Raspberry and Mint Gin with Raspberry and Orange Blossom Soda. The Tee-Aff Terrace will also serve up Edinburgh Lager and Thistly Cross Cider as post-game refreshments.
The Tee-Aff Terrace will host garden games including Corn Hole and Giant Connect 4, in case guests are still feeling competitive after a game of crazy golf or take a break and chill out on comfortable deckchairs. Amping up your weekend plans, the cocktail garden will also welcome the very best Edinburgh DJs each Saturday night to soundtrack the ultimate night out.
Fans can tackle an Edinburgh themed crazy golf course, practising their swing at holes including Greyfriar’s Bobby or The Scott Monument. Fore Play Crazy Golf are also giving fans the chance to double the fun, with BOGOLF – two rounds of golf for the price of one each Wednesday – the perfect mid-week pick me up, with 50% off selected cocktails to match.
Offer valid from Friday 15th July – Sunday 31st July (inclusive) at Fore Play Crazy Golf Edinburgh. Fore Play Crazy Golf venue teams will verify the Google forecast prior to opening and if it is scheduled to reach 20 degrees Celsius at any point that day it will constitute a “Free Cocktail Day”.
Customers must play a round of golf to qualify for free cocktail. Free cocktail is not exchangeable and subject to change. Standard terms apply, please drink responsibly.
