Housing Bill published

Preventing homelessness and strengthening tenants’ rights

New legislation which aims to keep people in their homes and help prevent homelessness has been published.

The Housing (Scotland) Bill will introduce an ‘ask and act’ duty on social landlords and bodies, such as health boards and the police, to ask about a person’s housing situation and act to avoid them becoming homeless wherever possible.

It also reforms provision for people threatened with homelessness up to six months ahead and includes provisions for tenants experiencing domestic abuse.

The Bill will outline proposals for a New Deal for Tenants, a key part of the Bute House Agreement between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Green Party.

Proposals include long term rent controls for private tenancies, new rights to keep pets, decorate rented homes and stronger protection against eviction.  

Housing Minister Paul McLennan and Tenants’ Rights Minister Patrick Harvie will lead the Bill’s passage through Parliament.

Mr McLennan said: “Scotland already has the strongest rights in the UK for people who become homeless – but nobody should have to experience the trauma and disruption of losing their home.

“Early action, through the kinds of measures included in the Housing Bill, results in fewer people reaching the point of housing crisis. It also means people facing homelessness have more choice and control over where they live, helping them to maintain relationships in their community and stay in work.”

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Mr Harvie said: “A fairer, well-regulated rented sector is good for both tenants and landlords. Tenants benefit from improved conditions and security, while good responsible landlords will thrive when their good practice is recognised by regulation.

“Scotland has led the way across the UK in improving the experience of people who rent their homes and this reform has been at the same time as significant growth in the size of the private rented sector.  So progressive reform can lead to better conditions and a healthy rented sector overall.

“I want to keep working with both tenants and landlords to achieve that goal.”

THE housing bill published today by the Scottish Government fails to address the systemic issues driving the housing emergency, Shelter Scotland has said.

The charity warned that there was no realistic prospect of councils being able to fulfil new statutory obligations given that local authorities are regularly failing to meet their existing legal duties.

The bill’s publication comes in the wake of figures which show a significant decline in the delivery of social homes, which Shelter Scotland says is essential in tackling the systemic issues driving the housing emergency.

Shelter Scotland Director, Alison Watson, said: “There is a growing consensus that Scotland is in the grip of a Housing Emergency. Already four local authorities have declared housing emergencies, with more expected to follow in the coming weeks.

“Today’s housing bill was an opportunity to address the causes of that emergency and end the scandal of 10,000 children trapped in temporary accommodation.

“What we need is urgent action to drive up the supply of social homes, invest in local services and stop to councils breaking existing homelessness laws.

“Instead, we have a Housing Bill that does none of that and risks diverting frontline staff from the task in hand. By proposing new additional duties on councils already failing to deliver existing laws, we run the risk of making the situation worse.

“It is time for Scottish Ministers to listen to what our communities are telling them – declare a housing emergency and bring forward a new plan to deliver the social homes we need.”

Responding to the Housing (Scotland) Act being published, Citizens Advice Scotland Housing spokesperson Aoife Deery said: “The pandemic and cost of living crisis underlined the need for better protections for tenants and more affordable housing. In many ways the market is simply broken and urgently needs repaired. 

“The CAB network in Scotland gives out hundreds of thousands of pieces of advice a year on housing, and it was one of the top areas of crossover advice – where people seeking help with housing also needed help with something else, often social security, debt or energy bills. In fact a third of all single working age households contacting CABs do so for advice on housing.

“We welcome this once in a generation opportunity to improve the rented sector and shape a fairer system. We look forward to getting into the detail of the Bill, change needs to happen with both landlords and tenants involved, we will be contributing our evidence as this work moves forward”


Cyrenians welcomes the introduction of the Housing (Scotland) Bill to the Scottish Parliament today. Long awaited, the new prevention or ‘Ask and Act’ duties included within it have the power to reach people before they become homeless and get them the right help, much faster.

‘Ask and act’ forms the cornerstone of a wider set of reforms to homelessness legislation. If passed, the Bill will require public bodies – including healthcare and justice agencies to implement systems whereby people at risk of homelessness are easily identified and directed to the appropriate services before they reach crisis point.

These duties will implement recommendations from the Homelessness Prevention Task and Finish Group (co-chaired by Crisis and Cyrenians), published in August 2023 [click here to read the Group’s report].

The group drew on its collective knowledge of the housing sector, as well as the lived experience of people who were homeless, through the All in for Change programme.

Throughout the process, building up to the publication of the Housing Bill, Cyrenians has consistently argued for increased funding to resource new prevention duties. We will continue to advocate for the necessary resource that our public bodies and local authorities will need to make the promise of the Housing Bill possible.

Ewan Aitken, Chief Executive of Cyrenians, said: ““Scotland is in the grip of a housing crisis. Several local authorities have now formally declared a housing emergency as the numbers of people facing homelessness is reaching record levels.

“But we know from our work across 60 services in Edinburgh, the Borders, Falkirk and the Lothians, that in many cases homelessness can be stopped long before people reach crisis point. 

“To do that we need to widen the scope of responsibility, giving people within public bodies the right training and resource to be able fulfil this role. We believe that this, a public health approach to homelessness, is key to tackling the housing crisis.

‘We are very pleased to see the plans for prevention duties within the Housing Bill, published today. This legislation has the potential to prevent homelessness in Scotland. However, to do that, it needs to be properly resourced.  

“As a charity which tackles the causes and consequences of homelessness, we regularly work with people whose situation could have been prevented, if they had received help earlier. We urge the Scottish Government to ensure that these duties are properly funded so that the bill can live up to its potential.”  

Cats Protection has welcomed the new Housing (Scotland) Bill, which will for the first time give renters the right to own a pet.

The charity’s Advocacy & Government Relations Officer for Scotland, Alice Palombo, said: “This is a landmark day for renters in Scotland, who will finally be given the right to own a pet with an end to blanket ‘no-pet’ policies.

“We hope this new law will stop the misery faced by animal lovers who have been denied the chance to ever own a pet cat, simply because they rent rather than own their own home.

“People in rented housing pay significant amounts of their income every year on fees and rent, and it is only right they should be able to feel at home in that property. Pet ownership – whether it’s a cat or another companion animal – provides companionship to all sorts of people. Whether it’s older people at risk of loneliness or young families with children learning how to care for others, pets play a vital role in our lives.

“We’re particularly pleased to see the Bill introduces an obligation for local authority and social landlords to publish a policy relating to domestic abuse. Cats Protection operates a free fostering service for cat owners fleeing domestic abuse, but many victim-survivors can struggle to find cat-friendly housing. We hope that domestic abuse policies will include a commitment to ensuring victim-survivors can keep their pets when they settle into new housing.

“A survey by Cats Protection and Dogs Trust found a lack of sufficient pet-friendly rented housing in Scotland, with only 22% of Scottish landlords allowing pets. This puts a strain on rehoming charities, and landlord-related issues is one of the top reasons for cats coming into our care.”

The Housing (Scotland) Bill was informed by three public consultations and will now by scrutinised by the Scottish Parliament.

Domestic abuse victims encouraged to seek support

Fewer than one in five incidents reported to police

Victims of domestic violence have been encouraged to seek support and report incidents to police, following a reduction in recorded cases.

Newly published statistics show Police Scotland recorded 61,934 incidents of domestic abuse in 2022-23, a decrease of 4% compared to the previous year.

Most domestic abuse, however, is not reported. The most recent results from the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (for 2018-20) estimated that only 16% of incidents were reported to police.

Victims Minister Siobhian Brown said: “Domestic violence is abhorrent. Although these latest statistics show a decrease in police recorded incidents, we know that there are cases where violence and abuse is not reported. I would encourage victims to seek support from organisations who can help and, where they can, to report any abuse to police.

“Through Scotland’s Equally Safe Strategy, which focuses on early intervention, prevention and support services, we are putting in place measures to tackle the root causes of domestic abuse.

“It is imperative that where behaviours turn into violence and abuse, those responsible face the full force of the law and are brought to justice. Our landmark Domestic Abuse Act has provided more powers to police and courts to punish perpetrators of abuse and protect people at risk.

“This month we announced £2 million of funding for Rape Crisis Scotland and Scottish Women’s Aid to help reduce their waiting lists for women who need support services, including refuge places and counselling.

“This is in addition to £19 million annual funding from our Delivering Equally Safe Fund, which aims to tackle gender-based violence and has supported 121 projects from 112 organisations since October 2021 – benefitting almost 32,000 people in its first year.”

Domestic abuse recorded by the police in Scotland, 2022-23

The Victim Centred Approach Fund will also provide £48 million to 23 organisations from 2022-25, including £18.5 million for specialist advocacy support for survivors of gender-based violence.

Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline (0800 027 1234) provides a 24-hour, 365-day-a-year service, for victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence and other forms of violence against women, providing confidentiality and specialist advice. The Scottish Government has provided £1.9 million funding to the helpline.

Scotland’s Chief Statistician yesterday released domestic abuse recorded by the police in Scotland, 2022-23. The main findings include:

The police recorded 61,934 incidents of domestic abuse in 2022-23, a decrease of 4% compared to the previous year. This is the second consecutive year this figure has shown a decrease since 2015-16.

In 2022-23, 39% of incidents of domestic abuse recorded by the police in Scotland included the recording of at least one crime or offence.

The type of crime or offence that was most frequently recorded as part of a domestic abuse incident in 2022-23 was common assault, accounting for 32% of all crimes and offences recorded. This was followed by threatening and abusive behaviour, accounting for 21% of crimes and offences.

Following its enactment on 1 April 2019, crimes recorded under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 accounted for 5% of crimes and offences recorded as part of a domestic abuse incident in 2022-23.

There were 114 incidents of domestic abuse recorded by the police in Scotland per 10,000 population in 2022-23. At a local authority level, Dundee City (180), West Lothian (148) and Glasgow City (141) recorded the highest incident rates per 10,000 population.

Where gender information was recorded, around four-in-five incidents of domestic abuse (81%) in 2022-23 had a female victim and a male suspected perpetrator. This was the same as in 2021-22.

In 2022-23, the 31 to 35 years old age group had the highest incident rate for both victims (277 incidents recorded per 10,000 population) and for the suspected perpetrators (245 incidents recorded per 10,000 population).

A third of incidents (32%) occurred at the weekend in 2022-23. This is a slight decrease from 33% in 2021-22.

In 2022-23, nine-in-10 (90%) of all domestic abuse incidents occurred in a home or dwelling where location was recorded.

Domestic abuse: statistics recorded by the police in Scotland, 2022-23

North Edinburgh projects hit the Lottery jackpot

Community groups across Edinburgh will be able to provide vital services and support for thousands of local people thanks to National Lottery funding announced today.

North Edinburgh projects have done particularly well in the latest round of funding. Both North Edinburgh Arts and Stepping Stones North Edinburgh are awarded six figure sums, while Muirhouse Millennium Centre, Heart of Newhaven, Blackhall Children’s Sports Committee, Ama-zing Harmonies and Granton Parish Church are among other local organisations to receive grants today.

The latest round of funding from The National Lottery Community Fund is shared amongst 384 projects across Scotland, sharing in £15,048,544. 

See below for a full list of projects

North Edinburgh Arts will use their award of £148,821 to continue their ‘Green Projects’ programme which provides green spaces for local people to come together whilst offering a range of volunteering opportunities and arts and garden activities for people of all ages to get involved in.

Valla Moodie, Green Projects Manager, North Edinburgh Arts said: “This funding will enable us to start an exciting phase of work as we move back into our refurbished and extended building after two years in temporary venues, setting up our new Community Shed workshop and redeveloping our community garden at the back of our venue.

“This support, given to our ‘Green Projects’, will allow us to continue to offer opportunities for our local community that improve their health and well-being whilst contributing to the enrichment of their neighbourhood, building local resilience to big issues and sharing and supporting them with actions that combat climate change.”

STEPPING STONES North Edinburgh receive £132,020 through the Improving Lives programme.

The group, based at Inchgarvie Court in West Pilton, will use the funding to continue delivering their Family Wellbeing project, supporting primary school children and their families by providing individual, group and equine mental health support in North West Edinburgh.

Thanks to an award of £126,671, Deaf Action will run a digital literacy programme to help deaf people across the city develop and improve their skillset.

Support will be provided through a series of one-to-one sessions and group work covering specific topics such as word processing, scam awareness, healthcare apps and video calling software.

Lauren McAnna, Community Services Manager, Deaf Action said: “Our Digital Inclusion Service will support deaf people living across Edinburgh to become digitally empowered, unlocking a world of information, resources and opportunities that will foster greater independence and help improve life outcomes.

“We will support deaf adults and older people who face significant barriers to communication and social inclusion and who are likely to be experiencing financial hardship and/or socioeconomic disadvantage. 

“By supporting deaf people to overcome barriers to digital literacy they can become more connected and active citizens, have increased independence and improved wellbeing in many aspects of their lives.”

An award of £19,929 to Survivors of Human Trafficking in Scotland means they can continue to identify more victims of human trafficking across the city.

Joy M Gillespie, CEO, Survivors of Human Trafficking said: “We will be able to work with our cross-sector partners to recover more victims of human trafficking in Edinburgh and provide vital prevention information to those most at risk. 

“We believe there is power in partnership and are grateful to The National Lottery Community Fund for partnering with us to help end end human trafficking in Scotland.”

Announcing the funding, Kate Still, Scotland Chair, The National Lottery Community Fund said: “This latest round of National Lottery funding will be distributed to groups across Edinburgh who are providing a range of essential services and support for thousands of local people, helping to make a real difference to their lives.

“As The National Lottery prepares to mark its 30th birthday later this year, today’s investment is a timely reminder of the difference that National Lottery players continue to make to communities across the country.”

The National Lottery Community Fund distributes funding on behalf of National Lottery players who raise more than £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK.   

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk    

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Two Scottish soldiers prepare to travel abroad for the first time

For most 21-year-olds, their first experience of travelling abroad without their parents is filled with foam parties, budget hotels and questionable cocktails.

For two soldiers in The Royal Regiment of Scotland, their first solo trip is vastly different.

Privates Ethan Wyper and Allan Beveridge are preparing to leave their hometowns for the very first time this month, to support Officer Cadets in an intense training course in Bavaria, Germany.

The course, which is the Officer Cadets final exercise before commissioning as Army Officers from the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, is used to evaluate their abilities to fight and lead in tactical operations.

Ahead of his first ever venture outside of the UK, Private Ethan Wyper from Kilmarnock said: “This my first time abroad, which is exciting in itself. Adding in that the purpose is to see what I’m training towards, in terms of reaching an Officer position, is really motivational.  

“I left school at 16 and went to straight into working, so I didn’t have any opportunities to travel. The fact I’m about to spend a week in Germany, training hard with my fellow soldiers – and hopefully getting to experience some of the local culture – is something I never thought I’d have the chance to do.”

For Private Allan Beveridge from Edinburgh, the training exercise also gives an opportunity to travel abroad that he otherwise may not have had. He added: “I left school quite young and knew I wanted to travel to new places and see new things but before joining the Army, I didn’t even have a passport and the furthest I’d ever travelled to was Wales.

“The Regiment helped me through the process of getting a passport, which I’m hugely grateful for, and now I have the opportunity to travel to places I only ever imagined before while also furthering my career in the Army.”

Major Rob Weir, Officer Commanding 5SCOTS, said: “Exercises such are these are crucial for both the professional and personal development of our soldiers.

“Life in The Royal Regiment of Scotland is about far more than simply being battle ready. It’s about helping each individual to be the very best versions of themselves and to broaden their experiences through opportunities they may otherwise not have access to.” 

The intense week-long trip will include simulated ambushes with plastic explosives, patrols and other gruelling situational exercises.

Giving Scottish soldiers a chance to see the demanding training first hand, the experience will allow them to understand the challenges that lie ahead as they rise through the ranks of The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Rabbit sales ‘pawsed’

Jollyes Easter Bunny Ban From Thursday 28 March

On Thursday (28 March), nationwide pet retailer Jollyes will be putting in place a six day ban on the sale of rabbits to make sure shoppers don’t make an impulsive purchase over the Easter period.

The UK’s second largest pet retailer will ‘paws’ the sale of bunnies from Thursday 28 March until Tuesday 2 April 2024.

The bunny ban, which Jollyes has led for decades, prevents the possibility of unwanted rabbits being abandoned after the Easter holidays.

The restriction will apply to every one of Jollyes’ 101 UK pet stores.

Phil Turner-Naylor from Jollyes said: “Pets bring enormous joy and companionship to people throughout their lifetime, and they deserve to be looked after well. Rabbits can live up to 15 years and we recognise that is a serious commitment by pet owners. 

“Jollyes is ‘the Pet People’ because we’re passionate about animals. We want to ensure that families are buying pets at the right time for the right reasons and believe that lifelong responsibility should be considered, researched, and prepared for.”

While rabbits won’t be available for sale during the Easter period, customers can still hop to Jollyes as it will be offering plenty of pet-friendly Easter treats and toys.

Of course, as all responsible dog owners know, it will also be reminding pooch parents of the dangers of theobromine in regular chocolate, which is toxic for dogs. 

Jollyes offers dog-friendly alternative easter eggs from just £2.00 including a Rosewood Chocolate Easter Egg For Dogs  and a yummy Rosewood Chocolate Catnip Easter Egg for Cats for just £2.99 each.

For more information, visit https://www.jollyes.co.uk/

MPs call for new regulatory approach to secure thriving future for defined benefit pension schemes

Changes to proposed regulation and improvements in governance standards are urgently needed to ensure private sector defined benefit (DB) pension schemes remain an active and thriving part of the pensions landscape and work in the best interest of scheme members, MPs say today.

The Work and Pensions Committee report concludes that despite a steady decline in number in recent years, DB pension schemes are still of critical importance to both savers and the UK economy.

It warns however that two decades of regulatory and policy caution from DWP and The Pensions Regulator (TPR) have led to a low-risk approach to investment that threatens to inadvertently finish off the few remaining DB schemes still open to new members.

With an improvement in funding levels over the past decade presenting new challenges and opportunities for schemes, the report calls for a fresh approach both to funding regulation and the treatment of surpluses in pension and compensation schemes.

Among recommendations on the latter, the report calls for DWP and TPR to look at ways of ensuring the reasonable expectations of scheme members for benefit enhancement are met where there has been a history of discretionary increases.

On the new funding regime proposed by the Government to come into force in September, the Committee’s inquiry heard concerns that open schemes would be forced to de-risk unnecessarily, potentially leading to premature closure.

The Committee calls for the Government to address such concerns in the final version of the Funding Code and for TPR’s objective to protect the Pension Protection Fund to be replaced with a new duty to protect future, as well as past, service benefits.

PPF reserves now stand at £12 billion and the report calls for legislation to allow the levy to be reduced to zero and for compensation levels to be improved.

To encourage better governance, the Committee welcomes the introduction of a trustee register to improve TPR oversight. The report notes TPR’s view that consolidation, including through pension Superfunds, is one of the main ways to improve governance, and calls for the required legislation as soon as possible.

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, said: “Defined benefit pension schemes are hugely important to savers planning for a comfortable retirement and for the UK economy.

“The improvement in scheme funding levels presents opportunities for both to benefit, but a new approach to regulation and governance is needed to protect the best interest of scheme members and allow still open schemes to thrive.

“The flexibility afforded by the much-improved financial position of the PPF, which we applaud, gives the Government an opportunity to ensure open schemes are not hindered by overly cautious restrictions imposed by regulations.

“While many trustee boards operate to high standards, new standards for trustees can foster confidence that this is the case across DB schemes.”

The report follows up on some of the points raised during the Committee’s previous inquiry into DB pensions with Liability Driven Investments, which examined the events of autumn 2022. The Committee heard that a repeat of the events was now unlikely given the steps taken to improve resilience.

A full list of the Committee’s conclusions and recommendations is available on Pp 54–58 of the report.

Edinburgh politicians pledge to protect fishing

Major exhibition inspires over three days at Scottish Parliament

MORE THAN 50 MSPs including three party leaders have put their names to a pledge that commits them to protect and support Scotland’s vital fishing industry and coastal communities.

Among the signatories to the pledge include MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Ash Regan, over half of all backbench MSPs, Anas Sarwar, Edinburgh Western’s Alex Cole-Hamilton and Douglas Ross, Scottish party leaders of Labour, Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives respectively, as well as senior figures from the SNP and Alba.

The backing comes as the sector is represented by a moving exhibition featuring portraits and accounts of those working in and around fishing, including vessel owners, skippers, deckhands, scientists and analysts.

“Pride in the Seas” is an exhibition and campaign run by the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) in partnership with renowned photographer Ian Georgeson and was held in the Garden Lobby at Holyrood between 19 and 21 March.

Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands said: “The spirit and vitality of our fishing industry and coastal communities is something of which we should all be rightly proud, and which is powerfully captured by this exhibition. 

“The Scottish fishing industry is world renowned and remains at the forefront of sustainable fishing practices. It helps support many jobs around the country and is embedded in our culture.

“The Scottish Government shares the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation’s vision of a fishing industry that endures and thrives.

“Through robust evidence and marine planning we will continue to work with all sectors to manage the increased competition for our shared marine space, supporting commitments to net zero, protection of the marine environment, energy security, food security, and thriving communities.”

The pledge signed by politicians called on enhanced support of Scotland’s fishing communities, fishing’s role in food security, the importance of protection against loss of access to key fishing grounds and ensuring that policies recognise and support fishing’s role in producing low carbon, healthy and nutritious food.

Elspeth Macdonald, Chief Executive with the SFF, said: “It has been heartening to see so many MSPs and their teams engage very positively with us over the last few days.

“Given Scotland’s geography, many have coastal fishing communities within their constituencies and know first hand of the pressures that they – and the industry as a whole – has been under in recent years. It was great also to have MSPs from more urban and inland parts of Scotland recognise the importance of our sector, and to give us their support.

“Fishing has a vital role in food security and the country’s net zero aspirations – and the provision of sustainably sourced and low-carbon protein has never been more vital.

“This exhibition taps into the inherent pride and responsibility that those working in fishing feel and whilst there will always be things we can improve on, it is characterised by responsible, innovative businesses seeking to improve conditions for the next generation.”

Following its debut, the exhibition will be available for tour across towns, schools, museums and other public facilities around the country. 

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023 the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation was established to represent a sustainable, prosperous fishing industry in Scotland.

It was borne in response to the need for greater political engagement when the UK joined the EU and in adapting to the first oil exploration which saw the proliferation of other activities in the historic fishing grounds of the North Sea. 

Fighting for the interests of 450 fishing vessels in Scotland’s fleet, the federation is made up of eight Associations which represent the sector from small creel boats to large pelagic and white fish trawlers.

The Pledge:

I pledge to support Scotland’s fishing communities by:

  • Supporting fishermen at sea and their colleagues ashore as a vital part of Scotland’s food story
  • Being a champion of the healthy, nutritious and sustainable food they produce
  • Being proud of this low carbon, climate-smart food sector
  • Supporting the call for strong, focused science to increase understanding
  • Backing the sector to get a fair deal in our crowded seas
  • Agreeing that food security is as important as energy security
  • Working with fishermen and fishing communities to ensure that they don’t just survive but will thrive in the decades to come.

I have Pride in our Seas, and all those who feed us from them.

Pride in the Seas case studies:

  • Trevor Spouse, Skipper in Eyemouth 
  • Mark Anderson, Skipper, and son Nicol, Deckhand, in Shetland 
  • Colin Stephen, Skipper in Peterhead
  • Mark Robertson, part-owner, and sons Paul and Adam, Skippers, in Fraserburgh
  • Willie John McLean, Skipper in Mallaig 
  • Erin Mackenzie, Deckhand in Mallaig
  • Dr Steve Mackinson, Chief Scientist, Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association
  • Dr Paul Macdonald, Senior Fisheries Analyst, Scottish Fishermen’s Organisation
  • Elena Balestri, Senior Fisheries Policy and Science Manager, Scottish Fishermen’s Federation

The full exhibition and case studies are now available to view on the SFF website: https://www.sff.co.uk/news/category/pride-in-the-seas

Police Scotland’s latest canine recruits – Digital Evidence Detection Dogs

The latest additions to Police Scotland’s canine search capability – Digital Evidence Detection Dogs – are currently being trained before they are deployed operationally.

The dogs will assist officers investigating a crime where a digital device, such as a smartphone, tablet and laptop, may have been used and is believed to have been hidden.

The trainee dogs – Zen, a rescue Springer Spaniel, Xena, a Springer Spaniel/Labrador cross, Max a Sprocker, gifted by the previous owners who wanted him to have an active home, Pip, a Malinois/Australian Shepherd Cross, gifted by a member of the public and Willow, a Labrador – and their three specialist handlers are a national resource.

When their specialist training is complete they will be able to detect hidden devices and hardware which existing searches may not be able to identify.

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Assistant Chief Constable Andy Freeburn said: “It is now extremely common for a digital device to be used in criminal activity, which is then concealed by the perpetrator to hide incriminating evidence.

“People and businesses are spending more and more time online and criminals will use any means available to them to exploit vulnerabilities and any method at their disposal. Digital devices are becoming smaller in size and those involved in criminal activity are becoming more adept at hiding them.

“Searches by humans can be limited and the dogs will provide an additional capability which make finding hidden devices easier.

“Police Scotland is committed to keeping everyone safe and this addition to our search capabilities will ensure there is no hiding place for criminals, even in the digital world.”

“The training of the dogs takes between six and eight weeks and when complete they will be an invaluable resource to assist our officers and staff search for evidence.”

The Digital Evidence Detection Dogs search capability is an additional resource and complementary to Police Scotland’s existing canine resources including those dogs that can currently search for drugs, explosives, cash, firearms, human remains and blood.

In December 2023, Benjamin Young from Dunoon was convicted of serious sexual offences against children.

For the first time in Scotland, a Digital Evidence Detection Dog, deployed from another force, assisted during the investigation by carrying out searches which located several SIM cards.

Last week Young was sentenced to 12 years in prison and had an Order of Lifelong Restriction imposed.

Edinburgh Leisure swim coach making waves as he heads to Paralympian trials

Scott Quin, a swim teacher with Edinburgh Leisure will be heading to The British Swimming Championships at the London Aquatics Centre in early April, hoping to qualify for a place in the Paris 2024 Paralympics (28th August – 8 September 2024).

Born with Crouzon Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder, the ex-Warrender Baths-based swimmer has been swimming professionally for the last 12 years, funded by sportscotland and Scottish Swimming.  Scott has shown himself to be one of the strongest S14 swimmers in the country, having won medals at Paralympic, World and European level.

Scott Quin said: “At the age of 34 years, I’m now considered something of a veteran and realistically this will probably be my last opportunity to try for a place in the Paralympics.

“Having made my Paralympic debut at Rio 2016, marking it with a silver medal in the SB14 100m Breaststroke, it would be great to finish my competitive swimming career with one more chance to bring a medal home.

“For now, I’m busy with intense training and lots of swimming at the Royal Commonwealth and Edinburgh University pools, six to seven times a week combined with gym-based training at the Uni’s Pleasance gym and at the Commie, as well as working at my day job as a swim coach at Edinburgh Leisure’s Leith Victoria Swim Centre.”

Now considered a ‘veteran athlete’, and with his competitive swim career coming to an end and funding from British Swimming stopping, Quin explored opportunities outside of competitive swimming. 

Edinburgh Leisure offered him the chance to join their Swim Teacher Training Programme last summer for his next career pathway, where he could progress from being a full-time athlete and move into the ‘real working world’ but where he could still combine a career which involved swimming. 

The Swim Teacher Training programme, a structured 13-week training programme, ticked a lot of boxes for Scott – as not only does he receive training but also a salary, and on completion of the programme, was offered a job.

Scott said: “Life, as you can imagine, is particularly busy just now but I’m really excited about heading to London in April for the British Swimming Championships. I’m keeping everything crossed that I make the grade to join the team representing my country.”

The British Swimming Championships are returning to the London Aquatics Centre in 2024 and for the first time, the swimming and para-swimming events will fully combine in one competition as athletes look to book their place at Paris 2024.

The 2024 championships will take place at the venue at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park from 2-7 April with the event playing a key role in the selection of the British Olympic and Paralympic swimming teams for the Games in July.

Olympic and Paralympic swimming event schedules will run concurrently in the same programme across six days of heats and finals sessions. The para-swimming events will be run with multi-classification competitions.

It’s the first time since 2015 that the national championships will be held at the Aquatics Centre although it staged the British Swimming Selection Trials ahead of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Judy Murray to get tails wagging at Musselburgh’s Corgi Derby

TV star and mother of tennis greats will be VIP at Musselburgh Racecourse

JUDY MURRAY OBE will start the third annual Corgi Derby – the popular “four-legged sprint with a difference” that kicks off The Virgin Bet Easter Saturday Raceday at Musselburgh Racecourse.

Taking place after 2023’s hotly contested race, the event will see the return of reigning champion Rodney, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi who saw off 13 other competitors, including a distant relative of one of the late Queen’s beloved pets.

First launched as part of the racecourse’s Jubilee celebrations, the event was moved to the annual Easter Saturday Raceday as a nod to the event’s royal connections, which include the £100,000 Queen’s Cup race named after Elizabeth II.

It has subsequently become hugely successful, attracting global media coverage and attention – and will once again hopefully be televised on ITV Racing.  

Judy Murray, said: “It’s going to be a tough job to match the excitement of last year’s photo finish, but I know the dogs and their owners have been putting in the hard work behind the scenes, so I have very high hopes. 

“The racecourse team have thought of everything to make this day a perfect Easter outing, whether you’re going for the family-friendly entertainment, the fun, food, friends and fizz, the top-quality racing or – like me – a combination of all of those.

“It’s one of my favourite days of the year!”

Following the Corgi Derby at 12pm, a Mini Queen’s Cup will feature local audiences of all ages from Musselburgh before an action-packed schedule of racing, including the Scottish Sprint Cup – regarded as Scotland’s fastest race.

The Queen’s Cup will see riders bid for a share of a £100,000 prize pot, with high-calibre racing from 1:50 through to 5:20.

There is an abundance of activities too available for everyone looking for an Easter get-together with a difference, including action-packed mini-events and activities for the whole family. 

Aisling Johnston, Head of Marketing and Business Development with Musselburgh Racecourse, said: “We couldn’t have predicted how popular the Corgi Derby would become, they have such a great character.

“It’s the perfect way to kick off Easter Saturday, which is one of our biggest annual events, even gaining the royal seal of approval along the way. There really is something for everyone.”

Racegoers will be met with an abundance of quality food and drink offerings, from a hand-picked selection of Scotland’s best street food stalls to formal drinks and dining packages.

With an after-racing party the event promises to be one of the biggest social gatherings on the Easter social calendar.

The Virgin Bet Easter Saturday Raceday on 30th March 2024 will open doors at 11:30 am, and the first race is off at 1:50 pm (subject to change). Book your tickets before midnight on the 29th of March and save £5.00 per person with under 17s going free when accompanied by an adult, T&Cs apply.

For more information and to book tickets now for Easter Saturday, visit: 

https://www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk/view-fixture/easter-saturday-30-03-2024#tickets-header