A 30-year-old man has been arrested and charged following a serious assault in Muirhouse Gardens.
Emergency services were called to a common stairwell around 12.45pm on Friday, 17 July, 2026.
A 54-year-old man was taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment to serious injuries.
The 30-year-old man is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, 20 July.
Anyone with any information or concerns can approach the officers, or call 101 and quote reference number 1501 of Friday, 17 July.
A fraudster who illegally obtained five Covid loans at the height of the pandemic has been jailed.
Cardiff-based Rupali Wagh fraudulently applied for £216,250 in Bounce Back Loans for her four companies between May and September 2020.
The 50-year-old inflated the turnover of her businesses to secure the loans and used some of the funds to buy stocks and shares.
She also obtained two loans for one of her companies when businesses were only entitled to a single loan.
Wagh, of Harrison Way, pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud when she appeared at Cardiff Crown Court in November 2025.
She was jailed for two years and three months when she appeared at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Friday 17 July.
David Snasdell, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: “Rupali Wagh systematically targeted a scheme designed to help genuine businesses survive the pandemic.
“She lied about her turnover, obtained duplicate loans for the same businesses, and used the funds to pay off personal debts and buy stocks and shares.
“When confronted with the evidence, Wagh initially tried to blame someone else before admitting she had acted alone.
“These are serious crimes and the Insolvency Service remains committed to bringing Covid fraudsters like Wagh to justice no matter how long it takes.”
Wagh’s first fraudulent application came in early May 2020, when she applied for a £16,250 Bounce Back Loan for One2Four Accounting Ltd, a bookkeeping services company she had set up in June 2018.
She declared the company had a turnover of £65,000 and said that the funds would be used wholly for business purposes.
In reality, the company’s turnover for the previous calendar year was just £39,000.
Within weeks of receiving the funds, Wagh transferred the money into her personal bank account and spent most of it paying off debts and purchasing stocks and shares.
The following month, Wagh applied for a £50,000 loan, the maximum allowed under the scheme, for Talensetu UK Ltd.
She claimed the business had a turnover of £218,000 when dormant accounts filed by the company for the period June 2019 to June 2020 showed it was not trading.
Within days of receiving the funds, Wagh transferred the entire £50,000 into her personal account and spent it on personal finance and stocks and shares. She also transferred more than £25,000 to an account in India.
Wagh applied for a second £50,000 Bounce Back Loan for Talensetu UK Ltd in July 2020, this time from a different bank.
She claimed a turnover of £225,000 despite having estimated the company’s turnover for the next calendar year as just £72,000 on the bank account application form she completed the same day.
Wagh also falsely declared this was the company’s only Bounce Back Loan application.
After receiving the funds in August, Wagh again transferred almost the entire amount into her personal account and spent it on stocks and shares and paying off personal finance.
Wagh followed this up with a fourth fraudulent application in August 2020, seeking £50,000 for White Coconut Ltd, which traded as an Indian street food outlet in Cardiff.
She claimed a turnover of £252,000, again contradicting the £72,000 estimate she provided on her bank account application.
Wagh falsely declared this was the company’s only Bounce Back Loan application, despite having already secured £18,000 from the bank for the same business three months earlier.
Her final fraudulent application came in late September 2020, when she applied for a £50,000 loan for Indian Canteen Ltd, a street food business incorporated only in January of that year.
Wagh claimed a turnover of £206,000, despite estimating on her bank account application that the company’s turnover for the next year would be just £82,000.
She later transferred more than £25,000 of the loan funds to White Coconut Ltd.
In interviews with the Insolvency Service, Wagh initially attempted to blame a third party for one of the loan applications, claiming someone sharing her computer had made the application without her knowledge. She later retracted this and acknowledged she had acted alone.
Wagh admitted using the funds to pay off personal credit card debts and loans, saying she thought that by clearing her personal debts she would be helping her businesses.
The Insolvency Service is seeking to recover the fraudulently obtained funds under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
POLICE officers in Edinburgh yesterday executed a warrant in relation to the spate of recent car vandalisms known locally as ‘The Scratcher’.
A 25 year old male was arrested, and following interview, charged for these offences. He will be held in police custody to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday.
This is the result of an extensive enquiry, and we would like to thank everyone affected for their patience as the case was built. Work is still ongoing to identify further instances.
If you have any information, or are a victim who has not yet reported it, please contact us on 101, or online via the Police Scotland website.
POLICE are in attendance in the Muirhouse Gardens area after a man was seriously assaulted.
Emergency services were called to a common stairwell around 12.45pm on Friday, 17 July, 2026.
A man was taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment to serious injuries.
Extensive enquiries are ongoing.
Anyone with any information or concerns can approach the officers, or call 101 and quote reference number 1501 of Friday, 17 July, 2026.
Crimestoppers has launched a national campaign to expose the hidden exploitation of children linked to county lines and encourage the public to speak up safely and anonymously.
County lines involves grooming and controlling young people. Children are targeted, manipulated and exploited to transport drugs, money and weapons, often far from home and while facing violence, intimidation and isolation.
*New figures highlight the scale of the issue. Police estimate that up to 11,600 children are at risk of county lines exploitation, with many going missing repeatedly. In the past year alone, more than 2,600 children were identified as linked to county lines activity, though the true number is believed to be significantly higher.
Going missing is one of the clearest warning signs. Each year, there are around 200,000 reports of missing children, many involving repeat episodes that increase the risk of harm. Within county lines networks, young people may be sent to unfamiliar areas and feel unable to seek help because of fear or coercion.
Violence is often part of this exploitation. Young people can be pressured into carrying weapons in the belief it will keep them safe, when in reality it puts them in greater danger.
The impact and harm extends beyond individuals. Communities may experience increased violence and antisocial behaviour, while vulnerable adults can also be exploited, including through “cuckooing”, where their homes are taken over.
Crimestoppers is urging the public to recognise the signs of exploitation and act early. Unexplained gifts, new clothes or phones, secrecy, or frequent absences can all indicate that a young person may be at risk.
Angela Parker, Scotland National Manager at the charity Crimestoppers, said: “County lines exploitation is often hidden in plain sight and can affect any family or community. Children are being manipulated and placed in dangerous situations, while those responsible remain in the background.
“We know people may feel unsure about coming forward, but you can tell us what you know whilst staying completely anonymously. No names, no statements, just information that could help protect a young person from harm.”
Anyone with information about county lines activity, or concerns about a young person, can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org.
Crimestoppers is an independent charity. We never ask for your name or personal details, and your information cannot be traced.
You will not be speaking to the police or have any involvement with the courts with you contact Crimestoppers or Fearless.org.
THE City of Edinburgh Council’s Trading Standards Team has seized an estimated 58,000 counterfeit football jerseys and kits intended for distribution during the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The haul follows a series of intelligence led operations with assistance from Police Scotland, alongside linked action by the National Trading Standards Intellectual Property team in Newport Trading Standards.
It is estimated to be one of the largest ever seizures of its kind in the UK, weighing in at over nine tonnes and worth over £5million.
The shirts will be securely recycled after having been confirmed as counterfeit by brand holders. Investigations into the source and supply routes continue.
Unlike authentic shirts, counterfeits bypass safety regulations, are often of poor quality, and could potentially expose buyers to harmful toxins in dyes and materials. Fake shirts, along with other counterfeit goods, also have strong links to the funding of organised crime.
Regulatory Convener, Councillor Neil Ross said: “Our Trading Standards team have secured a tremendous result in intercepting these shirts.
“With the World Cup well underway this is a timely reminder that criminals exploit major sporting events by flooding the market with counterfeit goods to cash in on fan demand. Let me be clear, this is not a victimless crime.
“Counterfeiters undermine legitimate businesses, rip off supporters and sell products with no guarantee for how or where they were made or whether they meet basic safety standards.
“The investigations into the supply routes involved in this discovery continue but we know that this is part of an international trade in counterfeit goods and represents a significant dent to their illegitimate trade.”
Christopher Bell, Chair of the Society of Chief Trading Standards Officers in Scotland (SCOTSS) said: “This is a great result, particularly taking place ahead of the World Cup.
“The scale of such a seizure shows the challenge faced by Trading Standards teams throughout the country. Officers help to protect legitimate trade and intercept illicit goods, which are often linked to organised crime.
John Herriman, Chief Executive of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, said: “This is an outstanding seizure that strikes a significant blow against organised criminal networks while protecting consumers from potentially unsafe and substandard products.
“The global trade in counterfeit and pirated goods remains one of the world’s most pervasive illicit markets. The latest international estimates put its value at around $467 billion a year, representing 2.3% of global trade.
“Far from being a victimless crime, counterfeiting undermines legitimate businesses, deprives economies of revenue, puts consumers at risk, and provides a source of income for organised crime groups.
“The proceeds from counterfeit goods can help fund a range of serious criminal activities, including human trafficking, modern slavery and the exploitation of vulnerable people.
“Seizures like this demonstrate the vital role Trading Standards and enforcement partners play in disrupting criminal networks and protecting the public.”
A spokesperson for Back Four Brand Protection, said: “We’ve never seen a seizure of this scale in the UK. A huge proportion of the total were England and Scotland shirts, as well as other counties such as Spain, Portugal and France.
“We estimate that this seizure represents an estimated £5.5 million in genuine product.”
A Scottish Football Association spokesperson said: “The Scottish FA invests income into the game at every level, from the grassroots scene through to the senior international squads.
“Without the funds generated from licensing, merchandising and sponsorship, this would be severely impacted.
“Counterfeit goods hit those revenues and, therefore, the amount that we can pour back into Scottish football.
“We are committed to tackling fake merchandise and protecting our loyal supporters from sub-standard products.
Scotland’s return to the FIFA World Cup stage has, understandably, led to huge demand for official kit and merchandise in general. Unfortunately, major tournament involvement also brings about a rise in counterfeit goods.
“Aside from taking funds away from local community clubs, charities and key programmes around facilities like Pitching In, these items are typically poor quality and have often skipped rigorous safety tests. They can be highly flammable, made with harmful dyes and can be linked to funding organised crime networks and human exploitation.
“We would strongly encourage Scotland supporters to opt for official merchandise – to protect them and Scottish football.”
Heading out this weekend? Whether you’re at a festival, beer garden, night out or house party, be aware of the signs of spiking.
Spiking is when someone gives another person alcohol or drugs without their knowledge or consent. It can happen anywhere and to anyone.
Signs can come on suddenly and may include dizziness, confusion, unusual drowsiness, memory loss, difficulty speaking or moving, or being sick.
If you think you or someone else has been spiked:
Call NHS 24 on 111 for advice
Call 999 if it’s a life-threatening emergency
Report suspected spiking to Police Scotland on 101
Search ‘Safer Scot spiking’ for more advice from the experts.
A 19-year-old woman has been arrested and charged in connection with shoplifting, road traffic offences and possession of a bladed weapon in Edinburgh.
This follows a report of shoplifting in the St James Square area of the city around 2.30pm on Saturday, 4 July, 2026. The woman was traced in her car in the new town area.
She is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on a later date.
A 17-year-old male youth was arrested in the Chambers Street area on Wednesday, 8 July, and has been charged in connection with shoplifting offences in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow.
He is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on a later date.
Sergeant Barry Mercer said: “We work closely with partners and retailers as part of our Shopwatch scheme where information is shared when a crime takes place or suspicious activity is seen.
“It means officers can respond quickly to ongoing incidents with the support of Police Scotland’s Retail Crime Taskforce.
“Retail crime has a negative impact on businesses and we urge anyone with information to contact us on 101.”
A 29-year-old man has been sentenced to 21 months in prison following a threatening and abusive behaviour offence in Ravelston.
Marcus Laidley-Sobers pleaded guilty to the offence at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, 22 June, 2026. He was sentenced at the same court today – Wednesday, 8th July, 2026.
Police received a report of threatening behaviour in the West Court area of Edinburgh on Thursday, 20 March, 2025.
Laidley-Sobers was arrested and charged in connection with the incident on Wednesday, 2 April, 2025, following the execution of a warrant.
Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Ferry, Specialist Crime Division, said: “Laidley-Sobers will now face the consequences of his actions.
“Bringing another individual to justice is testament to the continued hard work and dedication by detectives, specialist officers and partners across the country.
“Police Scotland remains committed to the Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce and its national strategy.”
Operation Portaledge is the ongoing investigation into violent incidents in the East and West of the country.
A man has been arrested following a fatal incident in Leith.
Emergency services were called to a disturbance outside Cables Wynd House – the Banana Flats – at around 9.40 last night (Sunday 5 July).
A man was found with serious injuries and he died at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
Police confirmed a 33-year-old man has been arrested and enquiries are ongoing.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 9.40pm on Sunday, July 5, 2026, police received a report of a disturbance outside Cables Wynd House, Edinburgh.
“Officers attended and a man was found with serious injuries. He was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, where he died a short time later.
“A 33-year-old man has been arrested and enquiries are ongoing.”
