POLICE are appealing for information following a serious assault of a man in Drylawyesterday. The incident took place in the Groathill Road North area at round 2.30pm on Wednesday (29 May, 2024).
A 41-year-old man was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment of serious but non-life threatening injuries.
Detective Constable Peter Lyons said: “Extensive enquiries are being carried out to establish the full circumstances of this incident.
“We are appealing to anyone in the area at the time who may have witnessed the incident or anyone with any information to get in touch.
“I would also urge anyone with dashcam footage or private CCTV that could assist our investigation to contact officers.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact police via 101 quoting incident 2702 of 29 May. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, if you wish to remain anonymous.
Two men and a woman have been convicted of human trafficking and brothel keeping offences in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Qin Huang, 31, Xiao Min, 38, and Guolei Huang, 35, pled guilty at the High Court in Glasgow today (Tuesday, 28 May, 2024).
They are due to be sentenced on Tuesday, 25 June, 2024.
Detective Inspector Mark Dines said: “Human trafficking is a despicable crime that has an unmeasurable long-term impact on its victims.
“We are committed to working with our partners to conduct thorough investigations, to identify those responsible and to protect vulnerable victims from harm.
“During this operation we worked in partnership with the Home Office Criminal & Financial Investigation Team and received assistance from officers of the Metropolitan Police and Cambridgeshire Constabulary.
“We will continue in our efforts to tackle human trafficking and information from people within our communities is key to helping us to identify those involved.
“I ask that anyone with any information or concerns about the welfare of someone they suspect has been trafficked to contact us on 101.”
Scottish Businesses to benefit from global expert insight on tackling Modern Slavery
Scotland Against Modern Slavery (SAMS), which focuses on the elimination of modern slavery and human trafficking has announced an accelerator series of webinars designed to help Scottish businesses tackle the issue in their supply chains.
Businesses in Scotland have supply chains, and often operations, which span the globe. The International Labour Organisation believes that 63% of forced labour happens in the private economy, which accounts for 16million of the 28million men, women, and children in forced labour.
In Scotland alone, 765 referrals were made to Police Scotland as potential victims of human trafficking last year – the highest number since records began. This is up from 600 in 2022.
Human rights and supply chain expert, Elaine Mitchel-Hill, has engaged with SAMS to develop and deliver a Human Rights in Supply Chain Accelerator Series on a pro-bono basis.
She said: “The introduction of the UK Modern Slavery Act in 2016 has had limited impact on tackling human rights abuses by corporations, and there are moves to review and address these, including the recent Commercial and Public Authorities Duty (Human Rights and Environment) Bill put forward by Baroness Young of Hornsey.
“Global environmental and human rights due diligence legislation is moving apace, signalled most recently by the passing of the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive.
“The truth is that many businesses still do not know where human rights risks lie. Nor do they know where to begin to find out where risks lie. Too many have their heads buried in a ‘compliance’ only approach.
“Still more are not significantly motivated by potential prosecutions and fines – although this is changing. This accelerator series is a great opportunity to engage with global experts to learn and to share.”
Shan Saba, director at Brightwork and a founder of SAMS, said: “The stats don’t lie and this issue is not going away so we hope as many people as possible sign up to the SAMS Human Rights in Supply Chain Accelerator Series to learn more and thereby improve the situation.
“Slavery is a global issue so listening to and learning from our international partners will be invaluable in our efforts to help ensure compliance, eliminate modern slavery, and support human rights.
“Since inception, SAMS has brought together the Scottish Government with over 56 businesses, charities, and NGOs, with the core aims of raising awareness of the problem, supporting survivors into positive employment opportunities and protecting vulnerable communities from exploitation.
“All areas of Scotland have reported cases of human trafficking – anyone can be susceptible, and it is happening in our towns, cities and rural communities, as well as in our global supply chains.”
POLICE are appealing for information after a traffic enforcement camera was damaged in Edinburgh’s southside.
The incident happened between 10.45pm on Sunday, 19 May and 8am on Monday, 20 May, 2024 on Old Dalkeith Road.
Sergeant Karen Durham said: “Our enquiries to establish the full circumstances are ongoing and we are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed anything to come forward.
“Anyone with information that could assist us is asked to contact police on 101 quoting incident 0051 of 22 May, 2024.”
A man has been sentenced to nine years in prison after being convicted of a series of domestic abuse offences in the Edinburgh area.
Brian Taylor, aged 54, committed these crimes over a period of 15 years.
He was previously found guilty of eight charges following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh and returned for sentencing yesterday – Thursday, 23 May, 2024.
Detective Inspector Mhairi Cooper of the Edinburgh Domestic Abuse Investigation Unit said: “Taylor is an abusive individual who showed no remorse for his violent and abusive behaviour.
“It is incredibly difficult for someone to confront their abuser and I would like to commend the women for their bravery in coming forward during the investigation. Their information was crucial in helping us build the case against him, and I hope this outcome provides them with some sense of closure.
“If anyone is experiencing, or has experienced domestic abuse, please do not hesitate to contact us directly or through one of our partner agencies.”
Two men aged 35 and 41 years have been arrested and charged in connection with an attempted murder which took place in Pennywell Gardens at around 9.15pm on Monday (20 May, 2024).
They are due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today – Thursday, 23 May, 2024, and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.
A 36-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of a 78-year-old woman in Edinburgh on Tuesday (21 May).
Around 8.25am, police were called to a disturbance within a house in Fernieside Crescent. Police and Ambulance attended however 78-year-old Margaret Parker was pronounced dead at the scene.
The 36-year-old man is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (Thursday, 23 May),
The 36-year-old man has also been charged in relation to the attempted murder of a 55-year-old woman and a 42-year-old woman during this incident. They did not require medical treatment.
Detective Inspector Dougal Begg said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Margaret Parker and everyone affected by this tragic incident.
“A continued police presence can be seen in the area as officers continue their enquiries into this isolated incident.”
A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.
A 44-year-old man has been jailed for six years in connection with attempted murder in Muirhouse.
Craig McQuillian was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday (Wedneday, 22 May) after pleading guilty the previous day.
McQuillian tried to murder a young boy and man on Sunday, 12 November, 2023 by setting a fire outside the door of their home in the Muirhouse area.
Detective Inspector Gordon Couper said: “This was a targeted attack which not only could have killed two innocent people, but also harmed many others in the building.
“McQuillian will now face the consequences of his deplorable actions.
“I would like to thank all officers involved for their dedication and commitment throughout the investigation as well as those members of the public who assisted with our enquiries.”
A 36-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the death of a 78-year-old woman in Edinburgh today – Tuesday, 21 May, 2024.
Around 8.25am, police were called to a disturbance within a house in Fernieside Crescent. Police and Ambulance attended and a 78-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
A 36-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the death and enquiries continue.
This was an isolated incident and officers remain in the area to provide public reassurance and anyone with concerns should speak to officers.
A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.
Three men have been sent to prison for serious and organised crime offences involving the large-scale supply of class A drugs based in Glasgow and stretching across the central belt of Scotland.
At the High Court in Edinburgh, yesterday (Friday, 10 May), Paul Martin, Peter Dickson and Grant Japp, were sentenced to five years and eight months, four years and three months, and three years and four months respectively.
Martin aged 43, Dickson aged 34, and Japp aged 30, had previously pled guilty at the High Court in Glasgow.
Acting on intelligence officers, executed a number of warrants in Glasgow which led to the arrest of Jaap in May 2021. Further enquiries resulted in Dickson also being apprehended.
A complex investigation enabled officers to identify Martin as the ring-leader. This included infiltration of the encrypted messaging service Encrochat via Operation Venetic – regarded as the most significant UK operation into serious and organised crime involving Police Scotland, the National Crime Agency and police forces across the UK.
Martin had fled to Spain before he could be arrested but was traced to Tenerife and extradited to Scotland in August 2022.
Detective Inspector Phillip Kennedy said: “These men made a substantial amount of money from a drugs operation importing and selling Class A drugs in the central belt of Scotland.
“Martin, in particular, lived a lavish lifestyle with properties in Scotland and Spain.
“The three men blighted our communities with drugs and their sentencing comes after a complex investigation.
“Disrupting the activities of organised crime groups and making the country an extremely hostile environment for them to operate is one of Police Scotland’s top priorities.
“There is no place for serious organised criminality in our society and, working in partnership with law enforcement agencies and the members of the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce, we will continue our fight against those involved in serious and organised crime to keep our communities safe.”
Anyone who has information or concerns about the sale and supply of drugs in their community is urged to contact Police Scotland via 101 or make a call anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Around 9am yesterday (Wednesday, 8 May), whilst executing a warrant at an address on Broomhouse Place North, officers from Edinburgh South West Community Policing Team discovered controlled drugs, believed to be cannabis, both herbal and plants, with an estimated street value of £303,000.
A 28-year-old man has been arrested and charged and is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday, 9 May 2024. A report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.
