Three people have been arrested in connection with pyrotechnics offences following incidents in Edinburgh yesterday (Boxing Day).
A 17-year-old and a 28-year-old man have been arrested and charged in connection with being in possession of pyrotechnics in the Haymarket area prior to the Hearts vs Hibernian match on Thursday, 26 December, 2024.
They are due to appear in court at a later date.
A 39-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with setting off pyrotechnics in Russell Road. He too is due to appear in court at a later date.
Enquiries are ongoing in relation to four pyrotechnic smoke devices discharged within Tynecastle stadium during the Hearts vs Hibernian match on Thursday, 26 December, 2024.
Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie said: “Setting off pyrotechnics in the street or within a sporting stadium is a criminal offence. I would ask people to think of the impact it could have on those around you, particularly people with medical conditions, young children and elderly.
“We will continue to work in partnership with football clubs to prevent fans from taking pyrotechnics into grounds and to pursue those who put other fans’ safety at risk.
“Anyone with information regarding persons using or being in possession of pyrotechnics is urged to contact Police Scotland on 101.”
Hibs came out on top in the Boxing Day derby match, beating their old rivals 2-1.
Tradespeople have been warned to take extra security measures when it comes to their tools this Christmas.
Van insurance experts from Quotezone.co.uk have warned the risk of tool theft may increase over the festive period given valuable equipment will spend more time sitting idle and thieves are more likely to be in action before the expensive holiday season.
Whilst Christmas should be a time for tradespeople to down tools for a couple of weeks and enjoy some well-earned time off, it could also be a time for opportunistic criminals to take advantage.
With work vans being parked up for longer periods of time, there is the risk of tool theft throughout the festive season. Plus the darker evenings provide cover, and colder mornings – where vans may be left running to warm up – create ideal scenarios for thieves.
Where possible, tools should always be removed from a work van but taking extra security measures, such as fitting an alarm, a tracking device and making sure that insurance cover includes tools, can all help to keep equipment and finances secure.
Research analysed by experts at Quotezone last year found that over the course of the previous year, there had been an increase of 57% in cases of tool theft from vehicles.
When analysing a sample of 100,000 van insurance policies, Quotezone research showed only 10% of vans are locked in a garage overnight – raising concerns over van safety and the need for some additional measures to improve van security.
Earlier this year in June, hundreds of tradespeople from across the UK took to London’s Parliament Square to protest the alarming rise in tool theft.
With Christmas now approaching, Quotezone CEO and van insurance expert Greg Wilson has issued a fresh warning to tradespeople, saying: “Last year our analysis showed a huge increase in tool theft from the previous year and as we approach Christmas it’s important tradespeople are protected – making sure their tools and vehicles are well-secured.
“Simple things like not attracting attention to the tools through business related branding or signage can help – it may also help reduce the insurance premium for this very reason.
“It’s best to remove any tools from vehicles for the holidays and store them inside the home, garage or a secure facility.
“But if this isn’t an option, and the tools need to be left in the van, always try to park it carefully in a well-lit area, ideally where the space itself restricts access to the doors and somewhere that has CCTV in operation.
“Van drivers can even get cameras that can be placed discreetly inside the van, and investment in a good quality and reliable security alarm system can help to deter any potential thieves.
“If abroad on holiday, tradespeople should make sure not to post on social media that they’re away or tag in their location – keep the settings private and post any holiday snaps when safely back home, one in five thieves use social media to look for victims.
“Many standard van insurance policies may not cover tool theft by default, so getting additional cover for any potential incidents helps protect the van and the business.”
Tips to improve van security
Remove your tools
The easiest option to lower your chances of being targeted by thieves is to remove any tools or valuables from your vehicle to begin with, if possible.
Use a lockable toolbox or vault
Not everyone will have the space to store tools in their homes or garage. Investing in a lockable toolbox or vault inside your van offers a secure storage option that could deter thieves.
Plan your parking
If parking in a locked garage or a private driveway is not an option, then make sure you try to park in a busy, well-lit area where CCTV is in operation.
Invest in a high-quality alarm system
There are different variations of alarm systems that can add another layer of security to your vehicle, including alarms with immobilisers or motion sensors. These act as a great deterrent for potential thieves who are likely to be aware of the increased risks.
Use a tracking device
In the event your van does get stolen, having a GPS tracker fitted can help the police try to recover your vehicle.
Mark your tools
Marking your tools can be a deterrent to thieves if your name or company is displayed. It will make them easily identifiable to police and may aid their recovery when thieves attempt to sell them on.
Check your insurance covers the contents of your van
Not all van insurance policies will cover tool theft as standard, so make sure you have insurance that protects everything you need it to – safeguarding your finances and helping you get back on your feet
Quotezone helps van drivers compare and find savings on all sorts of van products, such as van insurance, van breakdown cover and van tool insurance.
Legislation which will enhance Scotland’s democratic processes has been backed unanimously by the Scottish Parliament.
The Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill has passed its final stage, maintaining and improving Scotland’s robust electoral system.
The Bill contains a mix of technical and other improvements such as improving candidate and campaigner safety and advancing candidacy rights.
The new law introduces a ban on people from being MSPs if they are convicted of a sexual offence or subject to a sexual offence order.
In addition, MSPs will be barred from also being an MP or Peer through regulations to be brought forward in 2025 so they can be in place in time for the 2026 Scottish elections. The details of the regulations will be informed through a consultation beginning next month.
Parliamentary Business Minister Jamie Hepburn said: “Since 1999 the Scottish Parliament has improved participation, extended voting rights, and enabled more people to stand for election and this legislation seeks to continue the evolution of our democracy.
“It will modernise Scottish elections and take important steps to safeguard our democracy for voters, candidates and administrators.
“Through positive cross-party working, we have agreed a robust set of improvements to the law, which will deliver real benefits to voters and prospective candidates.”
The financial situation of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (EIJB) is very challenging. In 2025/26, the IJB seek to realise around £51m of savings. Future years will see further savings required, currently estimated to be £76m in 2026/27 and £105m in 2027/28.
These savings will be difficult and their impact will be substantial. So, managing change, and ensuring key services are delivered to communities will require collaboration by the IJB and city partners, including the Third Sector.
Reference Group
On November 1 2024, Third Sector representatives presented deputations to the EIJB challenging proposals around the Third Sector Grants Programme and an in-year cut (2024/2025). The IJB did not approve the proposal for the in-year cut with an alternative proposal being approved.
Following that meeting, the IJB invited Third Sector representatives to talk through concerns and identify areas to work together. To inform those meetings, EVOC and their TSI partners collaborated with the Edinburgh Community Health Forum and representatives of other Third Sector interests across the city to create a Reference Group.
The purpose of the Reference Group is to:
inform governance and city partnerships
assert the value of the Sector
shape investment
support change
distil the voices of the Third Sector to effectively represent the sector on the IJB
EIJB Engagement and Proposals
The Reference Group has rapidly considered the short-term issues around funding, and the longer-term issues of future partnership models, sharing a briefing note with the IJB on issues and options in early December. The engagement with EIJB has been positive given the difficult circumstances, and this positive engagement has resulted in an EIJB paper to the December Board which recommends:
That the Health Inequalities grants programme, due to end on 31 March 2025 should be extended for three months into 2025/26 which will help provide time for the organisations affected to adapt.
The Board support work currently underway to undertake a series of collaborative workshops which will inform some of the savings proposals and invest-to-save opportunities that will be submitted for consideration by the EIJB in March 2025.
In the current landscape this is a positive outcome for the Third Sector, informed directly by the voice, needs and priorities of the Sector.
City of Edinburgh Council Engagement and Proposals
Given the challenges to funding for the Third Sector and the impact cuts will have to the viability of Third Sector Organisations, the Reference Group have also argued the need for a cross city partnership approach to investment.
Following the November 1 EIJB meeting, the TSI wrote to the Chair of the EIJB, the Chief Executive of City of Edinburgh Council and NHS Lothian asserting the need to [a] reset investment [b] reform ways of working [c] repair relationships. In the immediate term, a key priority is to secure a commitment from City of Edinburgh to invest to mitigate the risks to critical and anchor organisations.
On December 10 the Council Policy and Sustainability Committee considered and approved a proposal that recognised that the Council may need to provide core or foundational funding to stabilise vital third sector organisations. The TSI with ECHF collaborated to present a joint deputation, welcoming the Council proposal, and offering support.
Council officers were instructed to:
Work on a briefing paper for the Council’s political groups on what the Third sector needs now, specifically transitional funding, medium term, ahead of the Council setting its budget in February;
Undertake a review of all grant funding, exploring the provision of longer term, sustainable funding;
Work with the Edinburgh Partnership and Third Sector to co-design solutions, and agree terms of reference for a short life group and report back to Policy and Sustainability Committee in March.
Priorities: December EIJB meeting and Future Planning
The Reference Group will continue to meet and shape the next steps. An immediate priority is to agree on Terms of Reference and confirm representatives in the Group. We will be sharing a set of proposals before Christmas for your consideration.
A strong voice is essential to shape the long-term relationship with the EIJB and in particular the workshop series in spring 2025.
The Edinburgh TSI with EVOC and others from the Reference Group will support the paper to the EIJB on December 17 on progress on the Third Sector Grants Programme and the next steps in working collaboratively with the Sector, and also with the City of Edinburgh Council.
If you need any further information in advance of the IJB meeting tomorrow (Tuesday 17 December), please get in touch with us or reach out to any member of the Reference Group.
We will also provide regular briefings on progress, through the fortnightly EVOC E-news and targeted updates on key information as necessary.
“Elected and unelected members have shown themselves to be incapable of following the rule of law“
Charity says it has “lost confidence” that the City of Edinburgh Council will uphold the rule of law and calls on Scottish Ministers and the Scottish Housing Regulator to intervene immediately – the first time the charity has called for special measures to be taken against a local authority
City Council acting unlawfully in use of unlicensed HMO accommodation to house some homeless households
City’s elected and unelected members voted in favour of suspending lifeline housing rights until March 2028, breaching housing laws they are charged with upholding
If the Scottish Government and SHR decide to intervene, it will be the first time that they have exercised the powers afforded to them to protect the housing rights of people experiencing homelessness
Scotland’s leading housing and homelessness charity has today (12 December) called on Scottish Ministers and the Scottish Housing Regulator to intervene against City of Edinburgh Council after the local authority voted in favour of stripping homeless households of their basic rights.
At a meeting of the city’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee, councillors voted six to five in favour of proposals to strip people experiencing homelessness of their right to adequate housing through the provision of suitable temporary and permanent housing.
The vote follows confirmed cases of homeless households being placed in unlicensed HMO (Houses in Multiple Occupancy) properties as temporary accommodation – a criminal offence. (2)
In a letter to Scottish Ministers and the Scottish Housing Regulator (3), the charity’s director Alison Watson warned that the Council’s plans are a concerted effort to undermine Scotland’s housing and homelessness rights system and that sanctions must be taken.
She states that: “We cannot stand by and watch efforts to strip people of their housing rights without putting up a fight on behalf of the most disenfranchised people in our communities. Law breaking on this scale cannot be normalised.”
The call comes following the Scottish Government’s reversal of cuts to the affordable homes budget last week after pressure from housing campaigners.
Alison Watson, director of Shelter Scotland said:“It should outrage everyone in Scotland that officers and elected members within a local authority have unilaterally decided to strip people in the capital of a fundamental human right.
“Edinburgh’s homelessness crisis is partly of the Council’s own making, but instead of showing compassion and seeking to help some of the most disenfranchised people in our society, they have chosen instead to punish them in this inhumane way by taking away hard-won rights.
“Shelter Scotland has lost confidence in the leadership of the City of Edinburgh Council to do the right thing and uphold the rule of law. The leadership has systematically failed homeless people for years and is now stripping them of their rights to cover up their own failures.
“I have written to the First Minister John Swinney MSP, urging him to use his powers to call in the council’s homelessness strategy for scrutiny. It is our belief that this will highlight that the current strategy is not only unfit for purpose and cannot guarantee the rights of people at risk of homelessness but is in fact in breach of the law.
“The Scottish Government must do more to fully fund local services through the upcoming budget. However, more money won’t work if the wrong decisions are being taken locally on how to spend it.
“I have also written to the Scottish Housing Regulator as recent assurances provided by the council leadership in their annual statement clearly do not hold up to scrutiny.
“Elected and unelected members have shown themselves to be incapable of following the rule of law. They must reverse the committee’s decision or else immediately step aside.”
Shelter Scotland is calling for the Regulator to consider its powers to use sanctions up to an including the appointment of new management in the housing department within the City of Edinburgh Council, under its powers contained in the Housing (Scotland) 2010 Act.
Under Scottish housing legislation, Scottish Ministers have the powers to call the City of Edinburgh Council’s homelessness strategy in for review, including its provision of temporary accommodation.
Alison Watson added:“Shelter Scotland has never called on the Regulator or Ministers to intervene in this way. We do not do so lightly. However, we will not stand by – and nor should the people of Scotland – and watch people’s rights be eroded without a fight.
“We cannot normalise law breaking on this scale. There must be consequences otherwise there can be no prospect that other rights will be protected, nor of the situation improving for the thousands of people in desperate need of a safe and secure home.”
There are currently around 5,250 households in temporary accommodation in Edinburgh. It is estimated that over a quarter (1,488) of these households are living in properties under an Unsuitable Accommodation Order.
The site of the former Corstorphine Public Hall has finally been sold.
CCC is happy to announce that the sale of 14 Kirk Loan was completed on 21 November 2024 to Stone Acre Corstorphine Ltd.
Details of the proposed development, which will retain the existing façade of the original public hall building, are available on the Council’s planning portal.
The community has been responsive and resilient in it’s support to set up a new Hub since the fire in October 2013 and CCC would like to thank everyone for all their efforts.
The net proceeds from the sale will now be utilised in the refurbishment of the new CCC Hub at 5 Kirk Loan, which will commence as soon as possible.
Keep up to date with the progress of the new CCC Hub at 5 Kirk Loan on:
A further three youths have been arrested and charged in connection with the serious assault of a teenager in Edinburgh on Monday, 2 December, 2024.
Around 8pm, a 14-year-old boy sustained serious injuries when he was assaulted by a group of youths at Slateford Green.
Following enquiries, three male youths aged 16, 17 and 17 were due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday – Monday, 9 December.
A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.
Detective Inspector Gordon Couper said: “Our enquiries are continuing to trace everyone who was involved in this unprovoked attack.
“Officers remain in the area carrying out high visibility patrols and I encourage anyone with information or concerns to speak to them.
“I would also ask anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident and may have dashcam or private CCTV footage to contact us as soon as possible.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident 2315 of 2 December, 2024.
Eligible carers will receive a payment of £288.60 today (Friday 6 December).
Carer’s Allowance Supplement is unique to Scotland and recognises the important contribution of unpaid carers in Scotland.
The next payment of £288.60 will be made on Friday 6 December to eligible carers who were getting Carer Support Payment from Social Security Scotland or Carer’s Allowance from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on 7 October 2024.
One mum, and carer, who received the payment, said: “As a carer to two disabled kids it comes in handy, even just to treat myself to some new clothes. Thank you for thinking of the hard-working carers who do a tremendous amount for whomever they care for.”
Carer’s Allowance Supplement is paid into the same bank account as the recipient’s Carer Support Payment or Carer’s Allowance. If someone thinks they are eligible, but does not receive the payment by Monday 16 December, they should get in touch by calling Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222.
