Police in Edinburgh are appealing for witnesses after an officer was injured prior to the Heart of Midlothian v FC Zurich match on Thursday (25 August, 2022).
Shortly after 7.05pm an officer sustained serious injuries when a traffic cone was thrown on McLeod Street in Edinburgh during the escort of football fans to Tynecastle Park Stadium.
The officer received treatment at the scene.
Detective Constable Andy Lambert, of Gayfield CID, said: “An officer was injured as a result of this incident so we are appealing for anyone who was in the area and witnessed what happened to get in touch.
“I would also encourage anyone who may have video footage of the incident to contact us.
“Anyone with information should contact police via 101, quoting incident 2449 of 25 August. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
● Fringe star Paul Black once again becomes fake money mule recruiter to raise awareness of online fraud
● Those caught face up to a fourteen-year jail sentence and lifetime bank a/c ban
● Young people most at risk with half (48%) of victims aged 18-26
Scottish comedian Paul Black is partnering with NatWest for a second time to raise awareness of money muling – an activity where targets are recruited to channel illicit funds through their personal bank accounts.
Following a successful run of sell-out shows at this year’s Fringe, Paul will be out and about on the streets of Edinburgh on Wednesday 24th August.
Once again donning the persona of the “money mule man”, the award-winning comic will be approaching festival goers to look after money. If they simply say no, they will be rewarded with a £100 cash prize, while those who say yes will go home empty handed.
Earlier in the year Paul toured Scotland’s cities to raise awareness of money muling and support people in being vigilant about the ways criminals might try and exploit them by making use of their bank account.
Instances of money muling increased dramatically during the pandemic and over 17,000 suspected cases involving 21- to 30-year-olds were recorded in 2020 according to Cifas, the UK’s leading fraud prevention body. Rising social media usage during lockdown is thought to be linked to the spike, with criminals using apps such as Snapchat and Instagram to recruit targets.
Money muling often involves criminals recruiting young people to use their bank accounts to move cash which has been illegally stolen or transferred from another account.
Despite the upsurge in money muling, many young people are unaware of the consequences of allowing criminals access to their accounts – with those caught facing up to a fourteen-year prison sentence and a lifetime ban from holding a bank account.
Cifas research has found that the number of 14–18-year-olds charged with money muling offenses to have risen by 73% since 2020.
Commenting on the campaign, Paul Black said: “I hadn’t heard of money muling until I got involved in the campaign earlier in the year, but that’s the problem – people are letting criminals channel money through their bank accounts with no idea that what they’re doing is actually against the law. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
“Edinburgh has such a great atmosphere during the Fringe, and I’ll be out and about to see if tourists and residents alike are clued up on money muling and find out who’s smart enough to win 100 quid!”
A NatWest spokesperson, said: “The message is simple: if approached to be a money mule, always say no.
“The consequences of becoming involved in this type of crime are severe, your bank account will be closed down and you could end up in prison.”
Police in Liverpool have launched an investigation following the tragic fatal shooting of a child in Knotty Ash last night, Monday 22nd August.
Officers attended at a house on Kingsheath Avenue at 10pm after reports that an unknown male had fired a gun inside the property.
A nine-year-old girl suffered a gunshot injury to the chest and was taken to hospital in a critical condition. She has since sadly died.
Next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained family liaison officers.
A man also suffered gunshot wounds to his body and a woman suffered a gunshot injury to her hand during the incident inside the house.
They have both been taken to hospital for treatment for their injuries.
An investigation is underway and house-to-house, CCTV and forensic enquiries are in the process of being carried out. A cordon is also in place.
Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said: “This is a truly shocking incident in which tragically a young and innocent girl has been shot and sadly died.
“Our thoughts and condolences go to her family and friends at this very difficult time. No parent should ever have to suffer the loss of a child in these dreadful circumstances.
“This crime is abhorrent and our communities must come forward and tell us who is responsible.
“This cowardly individual does not deserve to be walking the streets and I would urge those who know anything to speak to us and tell us what they know so that we can put the person responsible behind bars where they belong.
“We are carrying out a number of lines of enquiry as a matter of urgency and would ask for dashcam, CCTV or mobile phone footage from anyone who lives, works or was visiting the area of Kingsheath Avenue last night.”
The shooting comes on the 15th anniversary of the death of eleven year old Liverpool schoolboy Rhys Jones, who was shot while making his way home from football training.
A 39-year-old man who carried out a series of rapes and other sexual assaults across Edinburgh between November 2018 and August 2020 has been jailed.
Emmanuel Anoliefo (pictured above) was previously convicted at the High Court in Edinburgh in July 2022 of four charges of rape, involving three different women, two charges of sexual assault, three of threatening and abusive behaviour and one of stalking.
Anoliefo was sentenced to 12 years in prison at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday.
Detective Sergeant Mark Seymour said: “Anoliefo preyed on women, some of whom he already knew. He deliberately decided to exploit others who he approached in the street and tried to befriend. He was ruthless, dangerous and cruel and has shown no remorse for his crimes.
“He claimed to have been brought up to respect women but his victims were left terrified and distraught and are still trying to come to terms with what has happened.
“I commend the bravery of every woman who came forward, some of whom testified in court, and hope that the sentencing gives them some kind of closure.
“I would also like to thank the public for their response to our appeal for information in August 2020, as this assisted with our investigation which led to Anoliefo being apprehended and being brought to justice.
“Police Scotland is committed to bringing those responsible for sexual crimes to justice and anyone wishing to report this kind of crime, no matter when it happened, should contact us.”
POLICE in Edinburgh have launched Operation Summer City 2022 to keep the public safe during the festival season.
Chief Inspector Mark Hamilton, Operation Summer City Silver Commander, said: “It’s always an incredible atmosphere within Edinburgh during the Festival and with so many people visiting our city, it’s important we have appropriate resources in place to keep people safe and respond to the range of potential incidents that could occur.
”As the city gets busier, we may see reports of certain acquisitive crimes rising and while we will have an increased presence in place to investigate these, the public can play an important role in helping prevent these offences by always keeping hold of their stuff, being mindful of anyone getting too close to them and keeping valuables stored safely away safely.
“Many of our licensed premises will also be operating with later licences and that can mean an increase in alcohol-related disorder and violence. To minimise this, we’ve been liaising with bar and nightclub staff to remind them of their licensing responsibilities and to ensure they share information with one another about anyone who has been within their venue causing trouble.
“I would ask anyone coming into Edinburgh to enjoy the night-time economy to do so responsibly and not have your evening ruined because of excessive consumption. Within the Capital we have special bail conditions that can be imposed on anyone who commits a crime in a licensed premises, or as a result of having been within one. If you are charged in connection with an offence the bail conditions will prohibit you from entering any other licensed premises within the city centre until the conclusion of your trial.
“The last two years without the Festival in its full capacity have been a huge miss to the city of Edinburgh and its local residents and businesses. We look forward to welcoming everyone back, but please work with us to ensure it’s a memorable event for all the right reasons.”
Thank you Edinburgh Castle for hosting the launch on the Castle Esplanade.
Detectives are appealing for information following an attempted murder in West Pilton.
A 24-year-old man suffered serious injuries after being deliberately knocked off his motorbike by a car on Ferry Road Drive around 1.45pm yesterday (Thursday 28 July).
The man was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where his condition is described by medical staff as stable.
The occupants of the vehicle made off and enquiries are ongoing. The car, a black Fiat Panda, had previously been reported stolen from the local area.
Officers believe this was a targeted attack and are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has dashcam footage of what happened, to contact police.
Superintendent Mark Rennie said: “Violence of this nature won’t be tolerated in any part of the city. This is a prime example of a small number of young people creating fear and concern in a local community.
“Our investigation is progressing well and we will have an enhanced policing presence in the area to reassure local residents and prevent any further disorder. Every single person involved in recent incidents in the area will be pursued and arrested and we will ensure that identified offenders are quickly put before the courts.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting reference 1820 of Thursday, 28 July, 2022. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A 39-year-old man who committed rape and various sexual offences in Edinburgh and East Lothian between 2006 and 2017 has been jailed.
Mark Anderson, who was previously convicted on Wednesday, 29 June, 2022, was sentenced to 12 years in prison at the High Court in Stirling yesterday (Tuesday, 26 July, 2022).
His offences were committed at various addresses, including Edinburgh and two towns in East Lothian.
Detective Inspector Kevin Hughes, the senior investigating officer, said: “Mark Anderson is a dangerous man who carried out rapes and sexual assaults over a number of years and will now face the consequences of his actions in jail.
“I want to commend the victims of his attacks for being brave enough to come forward and I hope that his sentencing brings them some kind of closure.
“I also want to acknowledge the work done by detectives and criminal justice partners to bring Anderson to justice.
“We always take reports of sexual crime seriously and deal with them in a professional and sensitive manner while providing support for those involved.”
LAST Friday (15th July), officers from the Drylaw Locality Initiative Team executed a warrant on Wardieburn Place East, uncovering a cannabis cultivation with a potential street value of £400,000.
Two men have since been remanded in custody.
This is one of three cultivations uncovered by the Drylaw team over the past three weeks in the North of Edinburgh, totalling the recovery of drugs to a value in excess of three quarters of a million pounds.
Churches are being urged to take steps to prevent arson after a church in Sheffield was seriously damaged in an attack.
Claims data from specialist insurer Ecclesiastical shows over 150 churches across the UK have suffered arson attacks over the past five years, causing millions of pounds worth of damage to historic buildings.
In the latest incident, Pitsmoor Christ Church was the victim of a fire on 4 July, which South Yorkshire Police are investigating as arson.
While the number of attacks dropped during the pandemic, Ecclesiastical is warning churches to take urgent action over the summer months when arson attacks more frequently occur.
Nationwide threat
The data revealed that almost every county in the country has seen churches targeted by arsonists, with London, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Essex and Kent the worst affected.
Unlike theft of metal where organised gangs tend to carry out raids over a large geographical area, arson is often as a result of the actions of an individual and with no clear trends. This makes proactive action to protect church buildings even more important
Communities devastated
Specialist insurer Ecclesiastical was formed over 135 years ago to protect Anglican churches and church buildings against the risk of fire. The Gloucester-based company’s risk management experts produce fire prevention advice, including arson prevention guidance, specifically designed to help protect churches.
While thankfully a rare occurrence, the impact of arson on churches and the wider community can be substantial as recent significant fires have shown.
In 2017 the Grade II listed Church of the Ascension in Lower Broughton, Greater Manchester was devastated by an arson attack leaving the community distraught.. The restoration project, led by Ecclesiastical, is due for completion later this year.
More recently, All Saints Church in Mackworth, Derbyshire was gutted by fire in December 2020. A teenager has since pleaded guilty to setting fire to the church and schools in the area and is awaiting sentencing. A lengthy restoration project is underway to restore the Grade I listed building and return it to the local community.
Churches urged to take steps
Following the latest fire, Ecclesiastical’s risk management team has urged churches to take additional steps to protect themselves.
Jo Whyman, risk management director at Ecclesiastical Insurance, said: “Our data shows that arson seems to be on the increase again and the impact of these attacks can be truly devastating.
“It’s horrible to see churches damaged as a result of a fire – particularly at the hands of criminals. These buildings are part of the fabric of our society, at the heart of our communities, and have been for centuries. Senseless acts by individuals not only destroy bricks and mortar, but often priceless artefacts that have historical significance to our nation.”
Extinguishing the risks
To help manage the risk of an arson attack and help to protect the country’s cherished historic churches, Ecclesiastical’s risk experts have issued advice to churches.
These include:
Keep your church secure: At night lock your church doors, windows, and any external gates. Installing security lights and keeping the exterior well lit will deter intruders. Also, consider installing fire alarms, intruder alarms and CCTV that provides continual monitoring to an alarm-receiving centre.
Report suspicious activity and make your church look busy: Use the building as much as possible for church and community activities.
Practice good housekeeping: Keep internal doors shut and locked when not in use, this can slow the spread of fire through a building and prevents access to obscure areas. Safely store items that could start fires inside the church, for example portable heaters and matches, and move bins away from the outside of the building. Take particular care when building or maintenance projects are being undertaken, ensuring building materials and waste are stored safely, securely and well away from the building.
Carry out regular external inspections of your church buildings and grounds: Make regular checks to the building and report damage to the police and your insurers as soon as possible. Cut back vegetation on a regular basis.
Repair damage to the church immediately: A damaged building is at risk of further attacks, including arson. Ensure any damage is repaired and graffiti removed quickly.
Check your fire extinguishers: Check you have enough fire extinguishers including some that are water (hydro-spray) or carbon dioxide types.
Be prepared for fire: Keep up-to-date fire risk assessments for your premises. Consider ways in which deliberate fires could be started and how you can prevent or reduce the risk.
Mr Whyman continued: “Churches are legally required to carry out a fire risk assessment and in doing so they’ll be able to understand the risk of fire – including the risk of an arson attack.
“It is really important that steps are taken to prevent fires and by following our guidance you can help to reduce the risk of arson at your property. The good news is, many of the recommended safeguards don’t require capital investment but simple precautionary steps which could make all the difference.
“Our Risk Management team are on hand to assist our customers and bespoke guidance and support is available through our Risk Advice Line as well as general guidance available on our website.”
A full list of Ecclesiastical’s arson prevention advice can be found at the company’s website, www.ecclesiastical.com.
Phone scam reports have fallen by 84 pent cent in Scotland over the last year, new regional data from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has revealed.
In the Scotland, 384 phone scams were reported to HMRC in June this year compared to 2432 in June 2021.
People aged between 25 and 34 appear to be most affected by scams in the region, with 94 reporting phone scams in Scotland in June.
HMRC has made significant efforts to tackle the problem and protect the public. Scam call reports from across all regions peaked in March 2021 with almost 76,000 reports. This was slashed to just over 5,000 in March this year.
To fight phone scams, HMRC has worked with the telecoms industry and Ofcom to stop HMRC’s helpline numbers from being spoofed by fraudsters, who can no longer appear to be calling from an HMRC number. HMRC also has a dedicated customer protection team working on cyber and phone phishing scams around the clock.
The drop in reported phone scams is a testament to the work of teams across HMRC in tackling fraud. HMRC’s phishing referral tools and innovative technology all play a part in the department’s efforts to combat fraud, which has resulted in fewer people falling victim to and reporting tax scams.
Kelly Paterson, HMRC’s Chief Information and Security Officer, said:
“We work tirelessly to tackle scams and protect hard-working taxpayers from becoming victims of fraud.
“Never let yourself be rushed. If someone contacts you saying that they are from HMRC, wanting you to urgently transfer money or give personal information, be on your guard. HMRC will never ring out of the blue threatening arrest.
“To help us fight these crimes, forward suspicious texts claiming to be from HMRC to 60599 and emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk. Report tax scam phone calls to us on GOV.UK.”
HMRC received over 212,500 reports in total of all kinds of scams, by email, text message and phone, over the past year, nationally.
Phone scammers often call people threatening immediate arrest for fictitious tax owed. Sometimes they claim that the victim’s National Insurance number has been used in a fraud or offer a fake tax rebate as a way of stealing personal and banking information.
In addition to warning the public about phishing scams, HMRC urges people never to share their HMRC login details. Criminals using the logins could steal from the customer or make a fraudulent claim in their name.
HMRC’s phishing scam advice is:
Stop:
take a moment to think before parting with your money or information
if a phone call, text or email is unexpected, don’t give out private information or reply, and don’t download attachments or click on links before checking on GOV.UK that the contact is genuine
do not trust caller ID on phones. Numbers can be spoofed
Challenge:
it’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests – only criminals will try to rush or panic you
contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen victim to a scam, and report it to Action Fraud (in Scotland, contact the police on 101).
The numbers in this release refer only to phone scam reports to HMRC using a GOV.UK form introduced in 2020 and do not reflect all of the phone phishing reports that the department has received through email and other channels.
