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Tag: Crime
Police appeal following local bogus caller incidents
Police are continuing enquiries and appealing for information following several bogus caller incidents in North West Edinburgh in the last few days:
1. Around 3.45 pm on Tuesday, 30 June, two men called at an elderly woman’s home in Easter Drylaw Drive. The woman paid a three figure sum for landscaping work to be carried out however the men left in a car and did not return. .
2. Around 11.30 am on Wednesday, 1 July, two men called at a house in Cramond Park stating they were there to carry out work. It was established it wasn’t prearranged work and they were asked to leave. They were driving a white van.
3. Around 1.15 pm on Thursday, 2 July, a man called at an address in Craigs Avenue offering to carry out gardening and landscaping work. The man wanted to carry out the work immediately for cash and left when the occupier refused.
Detective Sergeant Dougal Begg at Corstorphine CID said: “This type of crime is despicable and is often targeted at the elderly and vulnerable in our communities. At this time we are trying to establish whether any of these incidents are linked.
“I urge members of the public to be on guard if someone turns up unexpectedly at their home offering to carry out work, especially work that they don’t believe is required.
“Ask for identification and/or a business card so that you can make the necessary checks for verification, don’t be afraid to say no and don’t be embarrassed as genuine callers expect you to be careful.
“If you’re not sure, don’t answer the door and report the incident to police.”
Anyone who has any information relating to the above incidents or anyone who has concerns or feels that they have been a victim of a bogus crime or scam caller should contact police via telephone number 101.
New knife crime campaign on Tik Tok
Young people have a new and unusual TikTok challenge to get their teeth into during lockdown.
The #NoKnivesChallenge encourages young people to take their breakfast routine to a whole new level. The challenge is to butter a slice of toast with anything but a knife.
The No Knives Better Lives (NKBL) campaign is all about getting people to think about knife carrying, we may be in lockdown but the issue of knife crime has not gone away.
NKBL exists to reduce the incidence of knife carrying amongst young people by raising awareness of the potentially devastating risks and consequences associated with carrying a knife and promoting positive life choices. NKBL is a primary prevention, national initiative that is delivered at a local level across Scotland.
The TikTok ‘Butter your Toast’ challenge will run for a month and will be hosted on the YouthLink Scotland TikTok account (@YouthLinkScotland). Young people who create a #NoKnivesChallenge video will be in with a chance of winning a £50 Amazon voucher.
Emily Beever, National Co-ordinator for NKBL at YouthLink Scotland said: “Knife crime has significantly reduced in Scotland since 2009 but it is still crucial to talk to young people about knife carrying.
“Peer influence plays a significant role in preventing knife crime. The #NoKnivesChallenge uses humour to encourage young people to have a conversation with their friends and say, ‘Carrying a knife isn’t ok. Ever!’ We are excited to see the weird and wacky things young people are going to butter their toast with.”
Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “We have seen knife crime in Scotland fall drastically over the last decade and No Knives Better Lives has played a crucial role in this.
“We know however that there is still much more we can all do to reduce this further. The #NoKnivesChallenge will encourage young people from all over Scotland to highlight and talk about the consequences of carrying knife.
“I am looking forward to seeing what creative ideas everyone comes up with during this challenge.”
Young People and Knife Crime in Scotland
At its inception in 2009, No Knives, Better Lives was a response to the very high incidence of knife crime in Scotland and the corresponding high numbers of young people charged with handling an offensive weapon. This position has changed dramatically over the last decade.
Between 2008-09 and 2018-19, the number of violent crimes recorded by the police in Scotland has nearly halved (falling by 48%), while recorded crimes of handling an offensive weapon (where not used to commit another offence) have fallen by 53%.
The number of young people, under the age of 18, convicted of handling an offensive weapon has fallen by 83% (from 456 in 2008-09 to 80 in 2018-19).
The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey also shows a 48% fall between 2008-9 and 2018-19 in Violent Crime experienced by adults in Scotland, and that 11% of adults thought that people carrying knives was common in their area in 2018-19, down from 22% in 2009-10.
The general trend has been a large reduction in violent crime and weapons possession over the last decade. No Knives Better Lives attracted a lot of positive publicity for playing its part in helping to make Scotland a safer place for young people.
Over the ten-year period from 2008-09 to 2018-19, the number of crimes of handling an offensive weapon (where not used to commit another offence) recorded by the police in Glasgow City decreased by 65%.
About NKBL
No Knives, Better Lives (NKBL) is a national programme designed to deter young people from using and carrying a knife. It is a youth-work focused initiative supported by Scottish Government delivered by YouthLink Scotland in collaboration with local partners.
The aim of the initiative is to reduce the incidence of knife carrying amongst young people by raising awareness of the potentially devastating risks and consequences associated with carrying a knife and promoting positive life choices. NKBL is a primary prevention, national initiative that is delivered at a local level.
Since 2014 all Local Authorities have been able to access support from NKBL.
NKBL – How does it work?
There are two main strands to our prevention work with young people:
- Working with partners in individual local authority areas in Scotland to support a strategic capacity building approach to prevention and to reach and train 100s of practitioners every year, who in turn deliver prevention work with tens of thousands of young people every year.
- Communicating prevention messages to young people through social media and innovative engagement programmes
Witness appeal following knifepoint robbery
Police are appealing for information after an armed robbery at a shop in Shandon. The incident happened at a premises on Ashley Terrace around 7pm on Tuesday (23 June).
An unidentified man entered the store approached staff at the till and made a muffled request whilst showing a knife in his waistband. He threatened staff to open the register and took a three figure sum of cash.
He left on foot and is believed to have headed towards Harrison Gardens.
The man is described as being black, aged in his late 20s to early 30s, of a medium build and around 5ft 10ins tall. He was wearing a dark grey suit jacket, a black hooded top with the hood up, black trousers and black leather shoes. His face was covered with a black scarf and dark coloured sunglasses.
Detective Constable Zaira Marker of Corstorphine CID said: “Nobody was injured but this was a frightening experience for staff and customers alike.
“Extensive enquiries are ongoing to identify the man responsible, including reviewing CCTV from the area.
“Anyone who believes they may have information which could help identify the man or who was in the area at the time of robbery is urged to contact police as soon as they can.”
Anyone with information can call 101, quoting incident 3084 of 23 June, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Man guilty of Edinburgh child rape
A man has pled guilty to the rape of a then 12-year-old child which happened in Edinburgh in 2016. Balwinder Singh (54) pled guilty to raping the child at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday.
Detective Inspector Jonny Wright of Edinburgh’s Public Protection Unit said:
“Today, Singh has pled guilty to raping a 12-year-old child in 2016. My thoughts remain with the victim and those impacted by Singh’s actions.
“Singh fled the country soon after the offence came to light and travelled across the world seeking to avoid detection. However, his attempts would not be allowed to succeed and as a result of committed national and international partnership working, he was traced and deported from Canada, ultimately leading to his arrest in the UK on 12 March 2020.
“I would like to place on record my thanks to the Police Scotland International Unit, Canada Border Services Agency, Scottish Police Authority Forensic Services and Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service whom made significant contributions towards achieving Singh’s conviction today.
“Singh will now face justice for the abhorrent offence committed by him.
“We remain committed to bringing sexual offenders before the courts and treat all reports of sexual crime with the utmost seriousness. Anyone wishing to report such offences should do so to Police Scotland via 101.”
Be vigilant against lockdown scams
Concerns have been raised over the emergence of new types of scams which try to take advantage of vulnerable households in Scotland during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Over 2,000 online fraud attempts have been identified and blocked in the past month, according to the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre, including fake online shops and websites which attempt to steal user data, and fraudulent adverts.
It is estimated that scams cost the UK economy up to £10bn each year with the average victim losing over £3,000.
In response, OFTEC, the registration body for off-grid heating, is helping to raise awareness of the types of scams taking place during the lockdown and how households in Scotland can protect themselves from unscrupulous activity.
These include:
- Email scams. Be wary of any emails which say you can obtain a refund on taxes, heating bills or other expenses during the lockdown. Avoid clicking on links as they may contain viruses or direct you to fake websites which are designed to impersonate well-known organisations such as banks.
- Social media scams. Adverts offering miracle coronavirus cures or treatments are fake and should be ignored or reported through the relevant social media platform. These adverts may occasionally be mistakenly shared by a friend or family member but this does not make them any more legitimate.
- Telephone scams. With more people at home, there is an increased risk of telephone scams from criminals pretending to be calling from a bank, mortgage provider or utility company. If you receive an unexpected or suspicious call, do not share any financial or personal information and hang up immediately. If you have any concerns about a call you have received, contact your provider directly.
- Door knocking scams. Unqualified individuals may impersonate heating technicians or other tradespeople. If your boiler needs essential work, use a qualified technician who is GasSafe (for mains gas) or OFTEC (for heating oil or solid fuel) registered and ensure they follow government guidelines on social distancing.
Malcolm Farrow from OFTEC, commented: “Since the lockdown was announced, communities across Scotland have come together to support each other during this uncertain and unsettling time.
“Unfortunately, a small number of individuals have sought to take advantage of the current situation and target households through scams or other fraudulent activity.
“We all need to be on the lookout for suspicious calls, emails or visitors and regularly keep in virtual touch with vulnerable family, neighbours and friends to ensure they are not being harassed in any way.
“If you do need to have essential work undertaken in your home, always use a qualified professional. Check their ID badge upon arrival and ensure they follow the government’s advice on social distancing at all times.”
For more information and advice, visit www.oftec.org.
Man jailed for Saughton robbery
A 41-year-old man has been sentenced after he was convicted of assault and robbery at a Saughton convenience store.
On Thursday (28 May) Terrence Tant was sentenced to four years in prison after he targeted One Stop Shop on Saughton Mains Gardens on Friday, 27 December, 2019.
During this incident one of the shopkeepers was assaulted and sustained a serious hand injury and a three-figure sum of cash was stolen.
Detective Constable Sam Gillies, of Edinburgh CID, said: “We welcome the sentencing of Terrence Tant who subjected the staff working within the shop to an extremely terrifying ordeal, threatening one with a knife before stealing cash from the till and assaulting the other member of staff outside the shop.
“Thanks to the actions of one of the shopkeepers and members of the public, Douglas was arrested and charged a short time after the incident and will now face the consequences of his actions.
“Threatening behaviour and robbery will not be tolerated in our area and we will always work tirelessly to ensure that such offenders are brought before the courts.”
Police issue latest Performance Report
Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Taylor has urged people to share their concerns with police as a new report highlights offences in private and virtual spaces.
The Quarter 4 Performance Report is the final one of the 2019-20 performance cycle that supports Police Scotland’s outcomes focused approach to reporting.
It shows almost 1,700 offences were recorded under new domestic abuse laws during its first year in legislation.
Introduced on 1 April 2019, the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act criminalised the coercive and controlling behaviours used by domestic abusers, creating a single offence which covers the full range of abusive behaviours whether physical, psychological, financial or sexual.
The report reveals 1,681 crimes under DASA were recorded during the year, with 1,158 detected.
The new offences are counted within Group 1 crimes of violence, which increased by 1,297 crimes (16.2%) year on year overall.
The Performance Report also highlights increases in crimes with a cyber element, including the disclosure of, or threat of disclosure of, intimate images, as well as online grooming and cyber-related fraud.
The period covered by this report includes only a very small number of days during which emergency measures to ensure physical distancing in response to coronavirus were in place.
Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Taylor said: “Crimes recorded under the new domestic abuse legislation underline the fact that, sadly, private, and indeed virtual, spaces are not safe places for everyone.
“For some people, the stay at home guidance may expose them to a greater risk of abuse, harm and neglect.
“We are seeking to be proactive when it comes to people we know have a history of committing domestic violence or domestic abuse, and we also want to ensure that support is given to people who may have been victims in the past, and we are encouraging people and neighbours to look out for each other.
“I want to reiterate that Police Scotland remains here to help and support our fellow citizens to keep them safe in all aspects of their lives.
“If you need police assistance, if you need our support or intervention, or if you have concerns about someone else, contact us and we will help.”
The report, which can be read here, will be presented at the Scottish Police Authority’s Policing Performance Committee on Thursday (28 May 2020).
Police Scotland has also published detailed management information covering Quarter 4 here. The data, while not official statistics, relates mainly to crime recorded by Police Scotland.
To assist public understanding of their work, Police Scotland is providing provisional information about the nature and level of demand on policing specifically for the period during which the measures have been in place and how we are responding to this public health emergency. Find out more here.
Further, detailed, management information relating to the period beginning April 2020 will be published routinely in the Q1 of 2020-21 Performance Report and management information.
Violent crimes and housebreaking have fallen in Edinburgh, according to the latest figures.
The Performance Report shows that overall crime in the capital is down year-on-year by 1.6 per cent, or 818 offences.
In Edinburgh, violent crime rose by 182 offences. However, when removing offences recorded under new domestic abuse legislation, there was a fall in violent crime.
A total of 205 offences were recorded under the Domestic Abuse Scotland Act, which came into effect last year and created a single offence covering the full range of abusive behaviours, whether physical; psychological; financial or sexual.
There were five fewer victims of attempted murder – a reduction of almost 19 per cent, while serious assaults also fell by just over 18 per cent, equating to 77 fewer incidents.
Protecting vulnerable people and bringing perpetrators of sexual offences to justice remains both a national and local priority and year to date detection rates for all sexual crimes is up 3.4 percentage points, which includes a 6.3 percentage point rise in the detection rate for sexual assaults.
One area of sexual offending that has seen a rise in reporting is lewd and libidinous crime, which rose from 100 offences in 2018/19 to 129 in 2019/20. Many of these offences were identified as part of larger investigations, where additional victims and crimes came to light. Edinburgh Division’s Public Protection Unit continue to conduct proactive inquiries to identify victims and bring perpetrators to justice.
Housebreaking, motor vehicle crime and shoplifting offences are all down from the previous year.
The figures show that there are 484 fewer housebreaking offences, 80 fewer motor vehicle crimes and 783 fewer shoplifting incidents.
Edinburgh Division has also seen 88 more drug supply charges brought against members of the public, as well as a 26.3 per cent rise in drugs possession offences. This is driven by an increase in proactive work within the Capital, through Operation Threshold and two large scale dance events held at the Royal Highland Showground in Ingliston.
Antisocial behaviour continues to fall in Edinburgh, with 1383 fewer incidents than last year.
The most significant reduction is 891 fewer noise complaint reports and fire-raising crimes have also reduced by almost 24 per cent, which equates to 62 less crimes.
The number of road casualties in the division fell from 936, to 779 – a decrease of 153 incidents. Similarly, the number of fatalities has reduced from seven to three.
Chief Superintendent Sean Scott, Divisional Commander for Edinburgh said: “It is incredibly encouraging to see significant reductions in crime figures for the Capital and I am grateful to all of my officers and staff for their continued professionalism and dedication in serving Edinburgh’s communities.
“Tackling violent and sexual offences are two of our top priorities, along with reducing housebreaking, and I am delighted that these crimes have fallen, meaning we have several hundred fewer victims.
“We are also giving enhanced focus and attention to not only detecting domestic offences, but ensuring victims are suitably supported, while perpetrators are brought before the courts. I want to mirror what DCC Taylor has said and reassure our communities that, despite these offences mostly taking place behind closed doors and in virtual spaces, we will utilise all resources at our disposal to investigate these incidents professionally and sensitively when they are reported.
“Nevertheless, we recognise that more still needs to be done to tackle the continued use of weapons, particularly bladed items during other criminality and our Violence Reduction Units work tirelessly to identify those who both carry and utilise weapons and remove them from our communities.
“In addition, School Link Officers regularly speak with pupils in our high schools to raise awareness of the risks and consequences associated with carrying a weapon.
“The new legislation for domestic abuse to include coercive control means we are seeing more and more reported incidents and I welcome this, as domestic abuse remains an under-reported issue. For those living in a situation where they find themselves being physically, emotionally or sexually abused by a partner, please contact us immediately so we can help you.
“I also want to reaffirm our commitment to road safety and to assure all road users that Road Policing Officers will continue to provide a visible presence on the city’s roads to identify motoring offences and educate the public on safe driving.
“Police Scotland will continue to work alongside all of our relevant partners to improve the quality of life for the city’s residents and to ensure that any issues requiring a police, or multi-agency response, are dealt with appropriately.
“The public continue to have a huge role in helping us not only tackle and reduce crime, but prevent it in the first instance, by taking a range of simple steps to protect themselves, their loved ones and their possessions.
“Please visit our website at www.scotland.police.uk for lots of useful information on crime prevention and personal safety.”
Cycle thefts: youth charged
Officers from Leith Police Station have charged a 15 year old boy in relation to the theft of pedal cycles.
Community Officers and Team 2 Response Officers recently recovered 5 bikes and have reunited 4 of them with their owners. Enquiries are still ongoing to identify the owner of one of the bikes.
Sergeant Elaine McArthur-Kerr from Leith Police Station said: “The coronavirus pandemic is changing the way we travel. The UK Government is actively encouraging everyone to use pedal bikes more and the City of Edinburgh Council are creating safe and accessible spaces for walking and cycling.
“Recent press reports indicate that bike sales have increased in the city and unfortunately it would appear that certain individuals or groups of people have decided to take advantage of this by stealing them while left locked and unattended.
“Our enquiries have resulted in a 15 year old boy being identified and charged in connection with recent thefts of bikes in the city and enquiries continue to identify others who may be involved.
“We are also keen to trace the owner of the Voodoo pedal cycle seen in the image on this post (above). If this is your bike please call 101 quoting incident 3746 of 20/05/2020.
If you have any information regarding the theft of pedal bikes I urge you to call police on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111”.
Three youths arrested in connection with bike thefts
Police in Edinburgh have arrested three youths in connection with bike thefts in the city.
In the last few weeks, a number of bike thefts were reported to police, including three from the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where NHS staff have been using bicycles to travel to and from work during the coronavirus pandemic.
To address these issues, officers teamed up with NHS Lothian to help support staff with appropriate crime prevention measures and have carried out bike marking events for staff at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, along with securing funding from NHS Lothian to implement permanent prevention systems.
George Curley, Director of Operations in NHS Lothian, said: “NHS Lothian would like to say a big thank you to police in Edinburgh for their hard work and liaising with us in this matter. We hope this helps to prevent further issues like this so our staff can cycle to and from work without concerns.”
Two of the youths, aged 17 and 19, will be subject of a report to the Procurator Fiscal and a 16-year-old youth will be reported to the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration.
Through enquiry, officers have recovered three bikes, with a combined worth of approximately £4,000.
Inspector Norman Towler at Howdenhall Police Station said: “The theft of a bicycle at any time is depriving the owner of their property and potentially their method of exercise and commute.
“During these unprecedented times, the theft of bikes from staff working at the frontline of this crisis within the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary is beyond comprehension.
“Along with partners within NHS Lothian, we have worked together to take a long term prevention approach whilst also supporting them with bike marking events, which is something we will continue to do.
“A thorough investigation has led to three youths being identified, arrested and charged in connection with thefts and they will be reported in due course.”