All frontline police officers and custody staff in Edinburgh, and Lothians and Scottish Borders are being issued with body worn video.
The devices are worn attached to the officers’ uniform, usually on their chest.
As Halloween and Bonfire Night approaches the devices will help as a deterrent to those considering engaging in criminal activity, and to aid any investigations and bring to justice those responsible for attacks and other offences.
When you come into contact with an officer and when they attend an incident they will set the camera to record what happens.
Body worn video (BWV) cameras are the small devices our officers wear, usually on their chest, to capture both audio and visual evidence when they attend all types of incidents or are executing any police powers.
Police staff in custody suites also wear the cameras and switch them on when interacting with persons in custody.
You can find out more about how Police Scotland will use body worn video by watching this short video:
The body worn video Standard Operating Procedure and the Equality and Human Rights Impact Assessment summary of results documents are available in our SOPs and Policies section.
Multrees Walk Edinburgh, Scotland’s leading luxury shopping destination, has announced an exciting new collaboration with Edinburgh College of Art (ECA), supporting the next generation of fashion talent.
As part of this partnership, Multrees Walk will provide mentorship and sponsorship to second-year fashion students as they embark on their annual commercial project.
This initiative will give students invaluable insight into the world of fashion, from design development to market positioning, supporting the gap between education and commercial practice.
Students will explore and consider sustainability, responsible material choices, understanding customer profiles, and developing strong brand narratives.
Working closely with its retailers, Multrees Walk is uniquely positioned to offer students a wealth of real-world expertise and a rare opportunity to hear first-hand about the creative processes, the commercial routes and the commerce opportunities, all at an international level. Retailers from Multrees Walk including Harvey Nichols and Johnstons of Elgin will be offering student mentorship.
Leigh Aitchison, Centre Manager at Multrees Walk said; “We are delighted to be able to support and mentor the students of Edinburgh College of Art this year. By partnering with our retailers, we are able to share industry insight and tangible experiences that bring the education of fashion to life.
“Together, we will aim to inspire and equip the next generation of fashion designers, buyers and marketeers with the tools they need to navigate in today’s ever-changing fashion landscape.”
Adam Stone, Head of Retail Asset Management UK at Nuveen (landlord of Multrees Walk)said: “Multrees Walk is committed to supporting the fashion industry of the future and our collaboration with Edinburgh College of Art will give students the unique and valuable opportunity to work alongside our wide range of leading global brands and retailers.
“We are proud to be able to help provide this wonderful opportunity and offer this exceptional mentor and sponsor partnership to the students.”
Professor Mal James, Programme Director BA fashion programme Edinburgh College of Art,added: “Partnering with Multrees Walk connects our students to a global network of leading international brands and retailers.
“This collaboration allows us to bring real life industry insight directly into the classroom. It’s a fundamental opportunity for our students to understand not only the creative demands of fashion, but the business side of the industry, too.”
Taking place in Genesis Studio Edinburgh, Multrees Walk, this event will offer the public, industry professionals and the wider creative community the chance to engage with the students and their work.
Councils are spending less on culture and leisure services, reviewing the services they offer and increasing or introducing charges. Yet gaps in the data collected at a local and national level means we don’t have a full understanding of the impact of these decisions on health, wellbeing and prevention.
Scotland’s councils play a vital role in supporting communities by delivering a wide range of cultural and leisure services. These services aim to keep communities healthy and connected, improving residents’ quality of life. The level of services offered, and how they are provided, is a decision for individual councils.
Whilst councils are spending more on services overall, spending on culture and leisure services reduced by three per cent in real terms in the five years from 2018/19. At the same time income from charges increased by 27 per cent, whilst overall satisfaction and attendance rates for some services remain below pre-pandemic levels.
Removing these important services risks increasing inequalities and exclusion, with rural and more deprived communities having a greater reliance on these facilities. Failure to adequately consult with communities and assess the equalities impacts of service changes has led to some councils reversing decisions and communities taking legal action.
Jo Armstrong, Chair of the Accounts Commission, said: “Culture and leisure services are vital to our health and wellbeing, supporting national and local priorities and supporting people to be better connected. Gaps in national data need to be addressed to better understand how these reductions in spending on culture and leisure are impacting communities.
“As councils manage continued pressures due to increasing demands and costs, culture and leisure services have experienced a disproportionate share of council savings measures.
“Communities must be fully consulted on decisions to close, centralise facilities or changes to charging. Failing to do this risks deepening inequalities and legal action by communities.”
Nearly a quarter of a million children are experiencing poverty in Scotland, while too many people face a day-to-day struggle to balance low-paid, insecure work with an ever-higher cost of living. This is according to the latest Joseph Rowntree Foundation report, published earlier this month.
Here in Edinburgh, meanwhile, over 80,000 of our residents are still struggling to make ends meet, with one in five children living in relative poverty. It’s simply unacceptable that so many people are being forced to go without or choose between heating and eating.
Earlier this month, I attended the End Poverty Edinburgh conference, where I heard from people with lived experience of poverty and homelessness.
It’s clear that the complexity of the benefits system remains a massive barrier for people trying to access support. From becoming homeless after fleeing domestic abuse to having to stop work to care for loved ones, the stories I heard bring to life the people behind these desperate numbers.
In setting up five new Neighbourhood Prevention Partnerships, we can bring key services together under one roof and make support easier to access for local people.
I also welcome the Pride in Place funding announced by the Secretary of State for Scotland in Granton last month and look forward to the positive difference this will make.
Key to all of this is the ongoing work of the Edinburgh Poverty Commission. In 2020 they published their landmark report ‘A Just Capital’ setting a ten-year mission, alongside clear calls to action for the steps needed to eradicate poverty in Edinburgh. Five years on, they’re due to publish their mid-term report (on 31 October), which we should all read with great interest.
Creating a cleaner, greener city
The impacts of climate change are sadly already being felt across the globe – as they are here in Edinburgh. As our economy and population continue to grow, we need to make sure that this growth is sustainable and does not worsen the crisis, while also adapting our city to reduce the impact of future weather extremes.
Six years ago, we declared a climate emergency and made a commitment to become a net zero city by 2030 – recognising both the importance of the challenge and the role we must play as Scotland’s capital.
While this has always been an ambitious target, it’s helped us to bring together services across the Council and the city to help reduce emissions – providing the sense of urgency we need to make a real and lasting difference.
Having been recognised nationally and internationally for our action on climate, we’re continuing to lead by example with the £1.3bn transformation of Granton Waterfront into Europe’s first net-zero coastal town, while the completion of the tramline from the Airport to Newhaven has seen passenger numbers grow to over one million a month.
This is exactly the sort of shift we need to become a cleaner, greener city – but there’s clearly a lot of work still to do. In our updated 2030 Climate Strategy, agreed this week, we highlight the areas of work we need to focus on. The City Mobility Plan and the Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy, in particular, will be key to decarbonising Edinburgh’s transport and buildings – our two highest carbon emitters.
This is a goal we cannot reach on our own and every resident, community and organisation has a role to play. Every action and every gram of emissions that we avoid matters now more than ever, which is why we must remain ambitious and stick by our target. Doing nothing is simply not an option.
Expanding the network has the potential to transform our city and wider city region. You need only look at the success of the existing line to see the huge social, economic, and environmental benefits it could bring to our residents, businesses and communities.
We’ve already received over 5,700 responses to the consultation and spoken to hundreds of residents, community groups and other key stakeholders at our public drop-in events and engagement sessions. There are still a few weeks to go until the consultation closes and I’d urge everyone to make their voice heard.
We’re also seeing great numbers with our trial cycle hire scheme. Since going live at the beginning of September, we’ve seen over 21,700 individual trips by more than 5,800 riders, covering almost 60,000 kilometres in total.
Given this demand, we’re working with Voi to move to the second phase, which will see around 340 e-bikes on our streets from next week and the boundary of the scheme extended west to include Holyrood Park and Meadowbank and further north, taking in Bonnington, Leith and Newhaven. We’re keeping a close eye on the management of the scheme and remain on track for full coverage of the city by the end of the year.
Staying safe this Bonfire Night
As we count down to Halloween and Bonfire Night, I want to recognise the huge amount of work being done by colleagues across the Council, Police and blue-light services, Lothian Buses and other partners to prepare for this year’s events.
Sadly, we know the impact the disorder we’ve endured in recent years can have on our communities and I’m desperate to avoid a repeat of these horrific scenes.
Our new Firework Control Zones are a direct response to community concerns and, alongside police dispersal zones, they will make a real difference – but this is only part of the solution.
We’re supporting community-led events across the city and our schools teams are partnering with local community groups to create alternative options for young people on Halloween and Bonfire Night.
I want to thank Fearless, Crimestoppers’ youth service, for hosting a youth summit where pupils from 19 of our high schools, Council officers, and other agencies shared their views and discussed how we can address these challenges together. The feedback from the event was extremely positive – with our young people helping to shape the forthcoming Fearless social media campaign, which will launch alongside Police Scotland’s campaign later this week.
Through these joint efforts across the city, we want to make this Bonfire Night a safer and more enjoyable experience for all.
Remembering our war heroes
Having marked 80 years since the end of WWII earlier this year, there are sadly very few veterans left with us to thank for their outstanding service and bravery. All the more reason, then, for us to continue to remember them – and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Yesterday (20 October), the Lord Provost led the annual dedication service to Edinburgh’s Garden of Remembrance. Located beside the Scott Monument, the Garden is made up of thousands of symbols of Remembrance, including poppies and crosses, many of which come from Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory. The Garden will be open for the public to visit, reflect, and pay their respects throughout the Remembrance period.
Meanwhile, veterans and ex-service personnel in Edinburgh will once again be able to benefit from free taxi journeys to Remembrance Day events, thanks to the return of Poppy Cabs. If you, or anyone you know, wishes to use the service, please email Jonny Bates at the Association of Hackney Carriage Drivers of Edinburgh or call 07496 238040.
Keeping Edinburgh Beautiful
Finally, with our internationally renowned gardens and greenspaces, it comes as no surprise that Edinburgh has once again been recognised at this year’s Keep Scotland Beautiful awards.
Working in close partnership with the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society and Royal Botanic Gardens, the submissions celebrated the very best of Edinburgh – highlighting some of our best-loved parks, gardens and community spaces, such as Bridgend Allotments, Holyrood Park, Cyrenians Royal Edinburgh Garden – and the newly opened Jock Tamson’s Gairden.
Judges were impressed by the vibrant culture of volunteering and great visitor experience, with particular praise for the longstanding tradition of the Floral Clock in West Princes Street Gardens.
New bereavement and pregnancy protections to be shaped by businesses and workers
Public invited to share views on reforms including dismissal protections for pregnant women and new mothers at work, and bereavement leave.
Business and workers to shape trade union reforms, including employer duty to inform workers of their right to join a union.
Reforms will help establish a modern-day workplace, central to the Government’s vision of growth and national renewal as part of the Plan for Change.
Businesses and workers are today [Thursday 23 October] being asked to share their views on how employment reforms, including bereavement leave and enhanced dismissal protections for pregnant women and new mothers, should work in practice.
Every parent should feel secure at work. Yet thousands of pregnant women and new mothers face significant risks to their job security – research has found up to 54,000 mothers a year may be dismissed, made redundant or treated so poorly at work they have felt they have to leave.
New legislation will make it unlawful to dismiss pregnant women, those on maternity leave, and mothers returning to work for at least six months, except in specific circumstances. Today’s consultation will seek views on how this should work in practice.
The UK Government’s plan to Make Work Pay will bring our employment rights’ legislation into the 21st century, extending the employment protections already given by the best British companies to millions more workers across the country.
Business Secretary, Peter Kyle said: “Many, many businesses already ensure their employees have security and dignity at work. That is particularly important in the precious early days of having children or, at the other end of the spectrum, if they experience tragedy and grief.
“What we’re launching today are vital steps to ensure everyone gets that dignity at work and feels the benefits of economic growth, delivering on our Plan for Change.
“We’re committed to working in full partnership with businesses and unions to get the detail right on these reforms, because strong employment rights and a growing economy go hand in hand.”
Reforms will also be introduced to ensure workers have a right to time away from work to grieve – including those who experience pregnancy loss before 24 weeks.
The loss of a loved one is a deeply personal experience that impacts everyone differently. In some cases, people may need to take time and space away from work to grieve; while in other cases, people may prefer to continue working as normal.
There will also be the chance for stakeholders to feed in views on a new duty for workers to be informed by their employers of their right to join a trade union, as well as on the new framework that allows trade unions to request access to a workplace.
Employment Rights Minister, Kate Dearden said: “No family should ever be denied the time and space to grieve – and no mother should face penalties at work for choosing to have children.
“I know brilliant businesses and unions across the country will welcome the chance to give their views on these reforms – those who know that happy, well-paid and loyal staff are at the heart of building successful companies, driving growth that benefits all.”
The first in a series of visits to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Inpatient units has found a mix of concerns for the safety and wellbeing of young people, alongside committed staff and positive initiatives at the Melville Unit in Edinburgh.
The joint unannounced visit was carried out in May 2025 by the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland together with Healthcare Improvement Scotland, following a commitment from the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport to address national concerns about the care of young people in mental health units.
The Commission listened to the experiences of the young people in the unit during the visit. While young people reported feeling listened to by staff and staff were praised for their clear commitment and passion, the visit identified several critical areas requiring immediate action.
Key findings on safety and wellbeing of young people
The report presents a mixed picture of the care provided at Melville. On one hand, the Commission observed positive interactions between staff and young people, who reported feeling listened to by dedicated and passionate staff.
However, there were concerns for the safety and wellbeing of young people. A significant issue was the use of restraint. The report calls for urgent improvement when this highly restrictive response is used, noting a lack of detailed care plans and incomplete records.
Of particular concern is the practice of nasogastric tube feeding under restraint, which requires immediate review to ensure it follows best practice and respects young people’s involvement in decisions about their care.
The unit has also yet to ensure all care is lawful under the Mental Health Act, as our previous recommendations have yet to be fully acted on and embedded. The quality of care planning and communication with parents also requires improvement.
Young people and their families reported a lack of activities, especially in the evenings and on weekends. Some young people said this meant they spent “too much time thinking their own thoughts,” which directly impacts their recovery.
The physical environment was also noted as requiring attention to ensure the safety of both staff and patients.
Julie Paterson, Chief Executive of the Mental Welfare Commission and Robbie Pearson, Chief Executive of Healthcare Improvement Scotland said: “Inpatient care provides intensive support for children and young people experiencing acute mental health crises and it is crucial such care meets both legal requirements and standards for the safe delivery of care.
“This report has identified areas for improvement as well as good practice. It is important the NHS Lothian addresses the recommendations and requirements with appropriate urgency.”
Claire Lamza, Executive Director (Nursing) of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland, said: ““The safety and wellbeing of vulnerable young people in specialist inpatient mental health units is a key priority for the Mental Welfare Commission. Several findings from our visit to Melville were concerning as they did not provide the quality of lawful care and treatment every young person has a right to.
“We recognize the dedication of staff at Melville who genuinely advocate for young people. However, decisive action from NHS Lothian is needed to address the issues identified in this joint report and in previous Commission visit reports. This must include honest reflection on why previous action plans and intentions have yet to deliver meaningful change for young people and their families.”
Nicola Killean, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, said: “I’m deeply concerned about the findings from the Mental Welfare Commission into the care of children at Melville Unit, which highlight potential rights breaches including the safe and lawful use of restraint.
“This is further worrying evidence about the use of restraint on children living in some of the most vulnerable situations. Alongside partners I have been raising my concerns with the Scottish Government about the use of restraint on children in mental health provision for over two years.
“Following my recent letter before action, I am pleased that the Scottish Government has now confirmed that it will revise the statutory code of practice to include human rights-based guidance and put in place mandatory recording and reporting of restraint and seclusion.
“I have also been given assurances that it will designate the Mental Welfare Commission as the appropriate monitoring body. These steps must be taken urgently to protect children from harm.”
NHS Lothian says it is working to improve services for young people at the Melville Inpatient Unit after it accepted a joint report published today (Thursday 23 October) by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) and the Mental Welfare Commission (MWC).
A robust action plan is already well underway to address the report recommendations and improve care in the specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) unit which supports up to 12 young people with complex needs.
CAMHS has made significant progress in recruiting and retaining more skilled staff and developing new care pathways, with the report also highlighting positive staff interactions and their commitment and passion for working with young people.
However, Jim Crombie, Deputy Chief Executive for NHS Lothian, said that wider improvements were continuing across the unit.He added: “We want to reassure young people and families that we are committed to delivering safe, high-quality and effective care and we take the findings of the report extremely seriously.
“The safety and care of young people and staff is always our top priority. Restraint is only ever used in the unit as a last resort to prevent harm for young people or to staff or other patients.
“We introduced an initiative to reduce the use of restraint further, which was observed by HIS during the inspection, and has shown positive results. Systems are also in place to improve the recording, monitoring and auditing of restraints.
“We want to thank staff for their ongoing dedication and HIS and MWC for their expertise and guidance in shaping improvements to the mental health care of young people. We will welcome any forthcoming national guidance or best practice from these essential reviews.”
The action plan also includes work underway to improve multidisciplinary team dynamics through enhanced meeting structures, communication, collaboration and decision making to work more effectively with young people.
Since May 2025, a system has been in place to monitor legal authority for treating young people under the Mental Health Act, with enhanced managerial oversight and daily checks by registered nurses to ensure documentation is in place before administrating care.
Work also continues to expand meaningful evening and weekend activities for young people with regular reviews planned. Nurses will also receive refresher training to strengthen their therapeutic skills in individual and group settings.
A review of the physical environment of the Melville Unit, including looking at options for how best to provide care safely while meeting the needs of young people, is also well underway.
A copy of the report is available from Healthcare Improvement Scotland.
Samhain/Halloween on 31 October, 1-3 pm at Granton Castle Walled Garden
Join Mycobee and discover the power of functional mushrooms and their benefits for our well-being. Explore, learn, and try some mushroom tea.
Each of Mycobee’s Functional Fungi events is themed around a different festive occasion. What does a Fungi Halloween party look like? Take part and find out!
All events are free to join. To book your place, email Mycobee stating the date and time of the event you would like to book: info@mycobee.org.
Edinburgh’s latest arts venue has announced a brand new programme of autumn events ranging from a weekly comedy night, theatre, sketch shows, music, magic and more.
The Gilded Saloon, which opened in August, will host a vibrant programme of live events in the heart of the city’s Old Town at Bristo Square. With upcoming shows featuring Scotland’s top comedians like Stephen Buchanan, Marjolein Robertson, Mark Nelson, Stuart McPherson and more, The Gilded Saloon is the capital’s latest addition to its arts scene.
As joint venue operators (with Kelburn Arts and Paradise Palms), Gilded Balloon presents a new weekly night of mixed bill stand-up comedy with the best comedians from across the UK, as well as local rising talent, performing every Friday night at ‘The Comedy Show’.
Resident comperes will kick off the 8pm Friday show, with upcoming line-ups featuring some of Scotland’s most successful comics including: Chris Forbes, Stephen Buchanan, Marjolein Robertson, Mark Nelson, Stuart McPherson, Krystal Evans, Sam Lake, Eleanor Morton, Billy Kirkwood, Kate Hammer, Kathleen Hughes and more.
Featuring a brand new line-up each week, comedy fans can kick their weekend off by adding a meal from The Gilded Saloon’s hearty pub kitchen on to their ticket.
The Comedy Show – 8pm every Friday night
£10 show only, £18 ‘meal and show’ ticket
24th October – Chris Forbes, Scott Agnew, Julia Sutherland, Amanda Hursy,Rosie Hess
7th Nov – Stephen Buchanan, Billy Kirkwood, Amelia Bayler, Kathleen Hughes, Michael Welch
14th Nov – Marjolein Robertson, Chris Thorburn, Eva Peroni, Sophie Rose McCabe, Scott Agnew
21st Nov – Mark Nelson, Eleanor Morton, Sam Lake, Kate Hammer, Alan Ritchie
5th Dec – Chris Thorburn, Giulia Galastro, Robin Grainger, Ifrah Qureshi, Oro Rose
20th Dec – Stuart McPherson, Sam Lake, Kathleen Hughes, Alana Jackson, Sean Chalmers
Plus, comedy fans can round their weekend off at ‘Hot Comedy’ every other Sunday – a bold inclusive comedy compilation show hosted by Nicholas Elliot and Eva Peroni.
Welcoming a new line-up every fortnight, the show features queer, POC, disabled, female, non-binary performers, (and even straight white men!), for a comedy show that doesn’t target or exclude audiences or performers.
Expect the next generation of comedy talent combined with top headliners from across the Scottish scene.
A new monthly event at Gilded Saloon with free tickets on offer, ‘Story Platform’ will welcome Scottish writers and performers to take on a night of stand-up, sketch comedy, music and more.
A changing group of writers and performers devise and workshop the show over the course of four days, combining a unique creative energy with unpredictable live shows. Previous stars include Kim Blythe, Amanda Dwyer, Amelia Bayler, Chris Weir and many more, creating brand new hilarious sketches at each show. First come, first serve for limited free tickets.
The Gilded Saloon will also host one-off shows spanning Fringe big hitters, new comedy sketch nights, music and more. Scotland’s favourite live Dungeons & Dragons show ‘Tartan Tabletop’ returns after a sold out Fringe run, with a charity Halloween special show with all proceeds donated to the charity Mermaids and starring drag queen Ruth Canal.
Plus, Fringe’s top magicians reunite for a show with a Halloween twist as stars of the show ‘1 Hour of Insane Magic’ present a night of fast-paced fearless magic for adults where fans can find out whether the night holds a trick, a treat or both.
And for those looking to relive their youth, ‘Brick & Sip’ is an afternoon of lego building and bonus drinks rounds that ends in the ultimate inner toddler tantrum – destroying your own creation!
Twilight fans can celebrate the cult movie’s 20th anniversary with a special edition of Australian cult comedy sensation ‘Lost in Translation : Twilight’ following a hugely successful August. The film’s script is run through an online language translator a dozen times, before guest stars read the results live on stage in character for a night of live, linguistic chaos.
Plus, ‘Sixties on a Sunday’ takes over The Gilded Saloon once a month, for an afternoon of dancing and drinks with local band Fayne & The Cruisers. Music fans can relive the heady days of iconic 60s tunes with the band playing hits from The Beatles to The Beach Boys, Elves, Ray Orbison and everything in between. A Sunday afternoon party like no other.
The Gilded Saloon is open 7 days a week, supporting the creative and performing arts community across Scotland with gigs, club nights, comedy shows, spoken word, music performance and more. The venue serves up a specially selected menu of local beers, wines and spirits, with a menu of favourite pub dishes created by local chef Tomás Gormley featuring burgers, pies and locally sourced fish.
SNEAK PEEK ALERT! 
We invite everyone to the concert “the voices that unite”!
November 9, 2025
о 15:00
Portobello Town Hall, EH15 1AF
