Two men and a woman have been arrested and charged after drugs with an estimated value of around £364,000 were recovered from a property in Gilmerton.
A warrant was executed in the Combe Cruik area on Tuesday, 3 March.
During the search PD Freddie (pictured), an eight-year-old Springer Spaniel specialist drugs search dog, indicated to officers that drugs were concealed in a room.
Officers recovered 3.64kg of diamorphine with an estimated street value of around £364,000 and a five figure sum of cash.
The men, both aged 32, and a woman aged 36, were arrested and charged in connection with drug offences. They were due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday (Wednesday, 4 March).
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Lumsden said: “This was a significant recovery which highlights our continued commitment to the Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce, and the country’s Serious and Organised Crime Strategy.
“Drugs cause misery in our community and the public has an important role to play in helping us to take action against those responsible for the manufacture and sale of illegal substances.
“Anyone with information or concerns about drugs should contact us on 101 or make a call to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
Office evictions threaten the future of Leith businesses
The future of Leith’s vibrant Shore community is under threat as local office tenants at Waterside House face eviction to make way for short-term holiday lets.
The Shore Business Collective has launched the ‘Save The Shore’ campaign, backed by Ben Macpherson MSP for Edinburgh Northern & Leith, to block a planning application that threatens the survival of local institutions.
The proposal by Gregor Properties (Ref: 26/00362/FULSTL) seeks to convert the offices at 46 Shore (Waterside House) into guest serviced apartments.
The Shore Business Collective warns this move will replace a steady, year-round workforce with a transient population, devastating the trade for local staples including the likes of Shore Deli, Victor Hugo Deli, and SESH Hairdressing.
The threat extends beyond footfall. The proposed apartments sit directly above the Malt & Hops, one of Leith’s most historic pubs and live music venue. Residents in short-term lets often clash with established music venues, putting the pub’s license and viability at risk.
The Shore Business Collective also cites increased security concerns and waste management issues often associated with high-turnover holiday apartments.
The Malt & Hops is a primary fundraiser for the Leith Jazz & Blues Festival, there are also concerns that impact to the pub’s trade put the future of cultural events like this at risk.
January Watson, Secretary of the Shore Business Collective and Area Manager for The Malt Group, said: “The Shore thrives because of its balance of residents, workers, and visitors. By evicting the businesses that call 46 Shore home, we are losing the very people who sustain our economy from Monday to Friday.
“Tourists don’t use local dry cleaners or hairdressers. If we lose our daytime population and see our pubs silenced by noise complaints, the unique vibrancy of Leith will vanish.”
Ben Macpherson MSP for Edinburgh Northern & Leith added: “Proposals by Gregor Properties to convert the Waterside House offices into guest serviced apartments are concerning many people locally.
“The loss of office space would not only affect those based in the building but it could also impact local hospitality units, like the Malt & Hops pub.
“I encourage people in Leith and beyond to get behind the various efforts to protect the Shore area. Together, let’s make it clear that we really value our local businesses and want them to be supported.”
The Shore Business Collective is calling on all locals and supporters of Leith to object to the change of use by emailing local councillors and the planning department and referencing: 26/00362/FULSTL
During this session we’ll be looking back at what the people of Edinburgh and the Lothians, have chosen to wear over the decades; following fads & fashions from the past and how we dressed to impress.
We’ll look at where people shopped for their clothing, whether buying traditional tartan, a Victorian corset on Princes Street, teen garb in Leith or flared denim on 1970s Cockburn Street.
Drugs worth more than £180,000 have been recovered as part of multi-agency operation to tackle organised immigration crime across the country.
Officers engaged with more than 660 people travelling in and out Scotland using airports, roads and ferry terminals across three days of action, which began on Tuesday, 24 February.
Thirty vehicles were searched at ports in Stranraer, which resulted in 27kgs of cannabis being discovered at Loch Ryan. At Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh airports, 78 flights were met.
Over the course of the activity, £7,000 worth of cash was seized and four people were arrested in connection with drugs, road traffic and immigration offences.
A key aim of Operation Lockstream was to safeguard vulnerable people at risk of exploitation and Police Scotland officers worked closely with partners from the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC), Border Force, Home Office Immigration, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, and the Scottish SPCA throughout.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston, Police Scotland’s lead for Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism, said: “Organised immigration crime is happening now in Scotland and tackling it is a priority.
“We know that criminals use our transport hubs for a range of illegal activities, and working closely with our partners, we remain focused on targeting those who exploit vulnerable people solely for financial gain.
“Action like this is only possible through the continued support of our communities. Anyone with information or concerns should contact Police Scotland on 101 or make a call anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
“I can assure you that you will be listened to and the information you provide could prove vital in helping us identify those involved in this type of criminality.”
Deputy Chief Constable Wendy Gunney, NPCC’s Organised Immigration Crime Domestic Taskforce lead, said: “This week we have leveraged all of law enforcement powers at the UK’s borders to target people who come to the UK to commit any form of criminality.
“It has been a significant joint effort involving many officers, staff, and multiple agencies, across the rail network, roads, seaports and airports.
“This activity has generated strong results and crucial intelligence that will help us recognise patterns and better understand these criminal networks, ensuring we collectively continue to identify offenders and bring them to justice.”
Social Care Minister hails “landmark” Anne’s Law regulations
Social Care Minister Tom Arthur has welcomed the Scottish Parliament’s unanimous approval of new measures enshrining the right of care home residents to contact with family and friends.
Anne’s Law was developed following the COVID-19 pandemic, when restrictions on care home visits had a significant impact on residents’ health and wellbeing, but will also apply in circumstances such as flu outbreaks.
The regulations establish that homes must allow and support visiting unless suspension is essential to prevent serious risk to life, health or wellbeing. Even then, care homes are still required to facilitate visits for those nearing end of life or where the harm caused by suspension outweighs other risks.
Those who are most important to a care home resident will be named in personal care plans as essential care supporters – with a legal presumption that suspending their visits is likely to seriously harm health and wellbeing.
Social Care Minister Tom Arthur said: “Meaningful activity and social connections are important for the wellbeing and quality of life of people living in adult care homes. For many residents, family members or friends build on the support provided by care home staff.
“These regulations enshrine the right to direct contact in law and recognise the vital role family, friends and others play in providing essential care, support and companionship to loved ones in adult care homes.
“In developing the legislation, I am pleased that we were able to work closely with Natasha Hamilton, whose petition first highlighted the issue during the pandemic.
“It is another important landmark in improving and reforming the social care system and I thank Care Home Relatives Scotland and others for their continued work and support.”
Spokesperson for Care Home Relatives Scotland Cathie Russell said: “On behalf of Care Home Relatives Scotland and people living in care, we welcome the regulations for Anne’s Law passing this milestone in Parliament today.
“This law ensures that the damage caused by isolating residents from their loved ones and the importance of recognising residents as members of society is always taken into account.
“Those closest to loved ones in care are not simply visitors but essential care supporters. We are grateful to everyone who has worked to make this happen.”
Chief Executive Officer of Scottish Care Donald Macaskill said: “Scottish Care warmly welcomes the Scottish Parliament’s passing of Anne’s Law. Enshrining the right of care home residents to maintain meaningful connections with those who matter most is a vital human rights milestone.
“This legislation recognises the profound importance of relationships, autonomy and emotional wellbeing in care, and we look forward to working with partners to ensure its implementation strengthens the lives of those who live and work in Scotland’s care homes.”
The foundations of Anne’s Law were developed through updated guidance and strengthened health and social care standards. It was put on a statutory footing as part of the Care Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 and these are supporting regulations.
Line-up announced for The Royal Highland Show presents The Reeling, taking place on Saturday 20 June at the Royal Highland Centre
A major new partnership is set to bring one of Scotland’s most exciting contemporary folk festivals to the capital for the very first time.
For one day only on Saturday 20 June, the Royal Highland Show will partner with renowned trad music festival The Reeling to bring The Royal Highland Show presents The Reeling to the Royal Highland Centre.
Following the success of the Royal Highland Hoolie over the past three years, organisers at the Royal Highland Centre have teamed up with The Reeling, the celebrated festival founded in Glasgow, to deliver a bumper trad music experience during the iconic Show weekend.
The one-day Highland Show edition of The Reeling will shine a spotlight on the very best of Scotland’s contemporary trad scene, with a line-up featuring Breabach, Dlù, Dougie MacLean, Elephant Sessions, Kinnaris Q and Skippinish.
Advance tickets can be purchased from 9.00am Tuesday 3rd March via the Royal Highland Show website with combined Royal Highland Show and The Reeling entry priced at £75. The Reeling-only tickets are £45, while child tickets are £27.50. A VIP upgrade to The Reeling can be purchased for an additional £30.
Gate prices will be higher and availability cannot be guaranteed, so early booking is advised.
The Royal Highland Centre – Scotland’s largest indoor and outdoor venue – delivers some of the biggest events in the country, welcoming more than one million visitors every year.
As well as hosting the Royal Highland Show, which welcomes over 220,000 visitors to Ingliston each year across the four-day event, the venue has become a major destination for live music.
This August, it will welcome a series of Summer Sessions featuring Biffy Clyro, Florence and the Machine and brand-new festival Heather on the Hill, created by Nathan Evans and Saint PHNX.
The arrival of The Reeling signals another significant step in the venue’s ambition to grow and diversify its festival and large-scale event offering.
Mark Currie, Director at Royal Highland Centre, said: “This is an incredibly exciting partnership opportunity for us and really signifies the direction we are going in as we continue to build and strengthen our event and festival offering at the Royal Highland Centre.
“The Royal Highland Show weekend is the perfect platform for an event like this. Over the past three years, the musical element of the Show through the Royal Highland Hoolie has become a real draw for Show-goers, and we know that partnering with The Reeling will only build on that momentum.
“Bringing one of Scotland’s most exciting trad music festivals to Ingliston for a special Highland Show edition feels like a natural evolution, and we’re proud to be working with The Reeling to create something new and ambitious as part of the Show weekend.”
Founded by Michael Pellegrotti, co-director of Skye Live, The Reeling has quickly established itself as a flagship celebration of contemporary Scottish folk music since launching at Rouken Glen Park in 2023.
Now, the festival makes its move to Scotland’s capital for the first time.
Michael Pellegrotti, Founder of The Reeling, said: “We’re delighted to partner with The Royal Highland Show to bring The Reeling to Edinburgh for the first time. Both events celebrate the very best of Scotland, making this a natural collaboration.
“With a fantastic line-up of artists and so much to experience at the show, it’s set to be a great day out for everyone.”
The Royal Highland Show presents The Reeling takes place on Saturday 20 June at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston.
Want to use your skills, insight and experience to support those moving on from homelessness in Edinburgh?
Join the Fresh Start Board of Trustees!
Over the past 25 years, we’ve been supporting those who have experienced homelessness to move on to the next chapter of their lives with the dignity and stability that everyone deserves. With rising demand for our services and a strong reputation built over years of delivery and community partnership, we’re recruiting new Trustees to help strengthen governance and support the sustainable, values-led expansion of Fresh Start
As a Trustee, you’ll be responsible for the charity’s governance and strategy, and for making sure that the organisation is administered effectively. You’ll work closely with the other Trustees and our CEO, Biddy Kelly, to ensure that Fresh Start is able to continue our essential work as successfully as possible.
Interested? Visit the link below to learn more and download the info pack for the position. Applications close on 20th of March, 2026 – we look forward to hearing from you!
Hourglass has welcomed a new inspection by His Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI), which finds that older victims of crime generally receive a good service from prosecutors, but warns that court delays and an overly complex policy framework risk leaving older people waiting too long for justice.
The inspection, published today, examined 168 cases and assessed how the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) supports older victims throughout the prosecution process. Inspectors found that prosecutors often identify vulnerability well in practice and make appropriate use of special measures to support older victims to give their best evidence.
Hourglass worked closely with HMCPSI throughout the inspection, providing written evidence, sharing frontline insight from its work supporting older victim-survivors, and contributing to the development of the inspection framework.
The charity welcomed the inspectorate’s commitment to centring victim experience and engaging meaningfully with specialist third sector organisations.
The report highlights serious concerns about delays in the court system, noting the disproportionate impact these have on older victims, whose health and circumstances may deteriorate while cases are repeatedly adjourned.
Inspectors also found that the current approach to identifying and monitoring crimes against older people is overly complex and prone to error, with around a third of cases incorrectly flagged.
Significantly, the inspection reflects a number of issues consistently raised by Hourglass, including the need to lower the age threshold used to identify older victims, move away from a quasi-hate-crime model, and improve the quality and transparency of data.
HMCPSI recommends that the CPS simplify its approach by recognising all victims aged 60 and over, focusing on vulnerability rather than rigid definitions, and strengthening monitoring.
Veronica Gray, Deputy CEO and Head of Policy at Hourglass, said: “We are grateful to HMCPSI for engaging closely with Hourglass throughout this inspection and for taking older victims’ lived experiences seriously.
“The report rightly recognises the commitment of prosecutors, while also being clear that the current framework is too complex and is producing inconsistent outcomes.
“We are particularly pleased to see our recommendations reflected in the inspectorate’s findings, including lowering the age threshold to 60 and simplifying the approach so that all older victims are consistently recognised and supported.
“We urge the CPS to adopt the recommendations in full and look forward to continuing to work constructively with them to support implementation.”
Hourglass, the only UK-wide charity dedicated to ending the abuse and neglect of older people, has long called for greater consistency in how older victims are identified, better data to understand the scale and nature of abuse, and a justice system that responds with urgency to the realities of ageing and vulnerability.
The report makes three recommendations for the CPS to implement by September 2026:
simplifying the definition of crimes against older people to include all victims aged 60 and over
removing the requirement to treat these cases as ‘quasi-hate crimes’ and focusing instead on individual vulnerability
strengthening monitoring and data quality to ensure older victims are properly recognised.
Hourglass said the inspection provides a strong foundation for reform and an important opportunity to strengthen confidence among older victim-survivors that they will be seen, supported, and treated with urgency by the justice system.
Baroness Hughes of Stretford, England Patron for Hourglass, said: “Older victims of crime face particular barriers in being heard and supported, especially when cases are delayed or systems are overly complex.
“I welcome moves to create a clearer, more consistent approach that focuses on vulnerability and ensures older people are not overlooked. This is an important moment to strengthen confidence in the justice system for older victims.”
Want to use your skills, insight and experience to support those moving on from homelessness in Edinburgh?
