Two males aged 17 and 18 have been arrested and charged in connection with assault to endangerment of life, breach of the peace and weapons offences following a disturbance in The Jewel area.
Around 4.20pm on Wednesday, 25 February, 2026, officers were called to a report of males with weapons causing a disturbance.
There were no reported injuries.
Chief Inspector Alison Macdonald said: “We are treating this as a targeted attack and extensive enquiries are continuing to trace others involved.
“This type of violence is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Officers are committed to tackling crime and antisocial behaviour in the local community. Targeted patrols will continue to deter and detect any criminality.
“Anyone with any concerns should speak to local officers or contact us through 101.”
Professor Alexis Jay has agreed to chair a statutory Public Inquiry to examine Scotland’s response to group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE).
In a statement to Parliament, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth confirmed the Scottish Government’s intention to establish a targeted independent Inquiry and establish a Scottish Truth Project.
The Inquiry will focus on the prevalence of group-based CSAE now and in the recent past, whether brought forward by survivors or relating to findings from the independent National Review being led by four Inspectorates.
The new Inquiry will be distinct from the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI), chaired by Lady Smith. The Scottish Government will ensure the new Inquiry does not duplicate the valuable work of the SCAI.
The scope of the Inquiry and its detailed terms of reference will be finalised and confirmed in due course, following input from Prof Jay.
The Education Secretary also announced that the Government intends to establish a Truth Project in Scotland, to enable victims and survivors of CSAE to share their experiences to help inform change and access support.
This afternoon, I made a statement to the Scottish Parliament outlining the @scotgov’s position on protecting children from harm.
I confirmed my intention to establish a statutory public inquiry to consider Scotland’s response to group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation. pic.twitter.com/JkvPcOY2hn
Ms Gilruth said: “Survivors of abuse want to see accountability and improvement delivered as quickly as possible, and that sense of urgency is shared by the Scottish Government.
“We are determined to act decisively to protect children from the horrendous harm of child sexual abuse and exploitation.
“I consider the establishment of a Public Inquiry to be essential, and from discussions I know Professor Jay wants to ensure that the Inquiry is carried out at pace. Announcing an Independent Public Inquiry today will not cure all which has come before, but it is a statement of intent from this Government that we will leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of justice for survivors of child sexual abuse.
“The work of the National Review and Police Scotland’s ongoing review of cases of group-based abuse will ensure that any improvements that must be made to practice or action to bring perpetrators to justice is taken as quickly as possible.
“The Truth Project, to be led by John O’Brien, will ensure that the voice of survivors is central to our collective efforts so that every action is informed by their experience and brings about the changes they have told me must be made.”
Professor Alexis Jay said: “The sexual and criminal exploitation of children entails abuse of the most horrific kind, usually at the hands of many perpetrators.The Public Inquiry will get to the truth of exploitation in Scotland in the past and the present, in order to prevent it in the future.
“It will examine the extent to which public authorities and other organisations effectively identify the risk of child exploitation and take action to protect children. I will engage with victims and survivors early, as the terms of reference are formed.”
Commenting on the Scottish Government announcement today of a public inquiry into grooming gangs in Scotland, Mary Glasgow, Chief Executive of Children First said: “Children First have long supported victims and survivors of child sexual abuse to fight for better systems of prevention, detection and protection. Scotland has a duty to confront the harm children have suffered and to put a stop to more children being abused.
“We now need to see full details of this inquiry so we can understand its scope and how it will ensure children’s voices and rights are placed at its centre.
“What cannot wait is urgent investment in specialist support like that provided by Bairns Hoose. This must be made available to every child who needs it so they can safely disclose harm and receive all the help they need to heal and reclaim their childhood.”
Whilst many businesses invest in state-of-the-art computers and up-to-the-minute software to keep them safe online, the digital experts at West Lothian’s Workflo Solutions are warning the most exploited vulnerability for many businesses is actually human error. And so to mark CyberScotland Week, which runs from Monday 23rd until Saturday 28th February, they are urging everyone to tighten up their protection.
Cyber-attacks that target small to medium-sized businesses have increased sharply in recent years, propelled by advances in AI technology.
From phishing scams and ransomware to credential theft and web-based intrusions, hackers are harnessing the power of AI to increase the speed, scale and sophistication of these devastating online attacks, stealing sensitive data for financial gain with greater ease than ever before.
And according to Workflo Solutions, many employees are simply not keeping pace with these fast-moving developments. As a result, they are putting businesses at significant risk.
It is estimated that more than 95% of data breaches in the UK are caused by human error. Significant incidents – categorised as those costing at least £500 – average nearly £195,000 per business, amounting to a staggering £14.7billion worth of damages per year to the UK economy.
The most common human errors include falling for phishing scams, using weak or compromised credentials, misconfiguring security settings, and falling victim to social engineering.
Commenting ahead of CyberScotland Week, Workflo Solutions’ managing director Michael Field urges businesses to stay vigilant; “CyberScotland Week is an opportune time to remind businesses of the need to create a strong security posture through their staff:
Create a culture where cyber security feels simple, relevant and part of everyday work.
Keep training short, frequent and practical by using real examples of phishing, social engineering and reconnaissance that staff might encounter.
Reinforce good habits through reminders, clear policies and easy routes to report suspicious activity.
Lead by example and reward secure behaviour so employees feel responsible and motivated to protect the organisation.
“As AI becomes more integrated into everyday systems and business processes, the overall attack surface continues to grow, creating new entry points for exploitation within interconnected digital environments.
“It is therefore vital that we come together during CyberScotland Week to raise awareness, boost resilience and reduce the risk of human error.”
To give businesses an extra helping hand during CyberScotland Week, Workflo Solutions is offering 200 businesses a free dark web domain audit.
By heading to www.workflo-solutions.co.uk and signing up for this free service, businesses will be notified if any of their company email addresses or passwords have been breached, enabling them to take proactive steps to reverse these vulnerabilities and avert a potential damaging attack.
Scotland has seen a drastic 129% rise in shoplifting since 2021, with 48,564 recorded incidents in the year ending September 2025, according to figures from Police Scotland. Yet only 2,854 people were convicted in 2023/24, showing a growing gap between crime and accountability.
Tracy Gilbert MP, who worked on the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-Restricted Goods and Services) Scotland Bill before her election to Parliament and has a long history in the trade union movement advocating for worker rights, said: “These figures are deeply concerning. Retail workers are on the frontline, facing increasing risk from shoplifting and associated crime, yet our laws and policing are not keeping pace. Workers and communities deserve better protection.
“This is not just about crime statistics, it’s about real people, and real communities. Adequate resources are required to ensure effective policing, and support for retail staff is urgently needed to tackle this growing problem.”
The Protection of Workers Bill, which Tracy contributed to before her parliamentary career, provides a vital framework for safeguarding retail staff, ensuring they can carry out their roles safely and without fear.
Tracy Gilbert added: “We must act now to ensure that Scotland’s workers and communities are protected.
“I will continue to advocate for better policing and laws that safeguard those on the frontline by working with trade unions and employers to ensure retail crimes are reported and prosecuted.”
Police Scotland has released CCTV images of two people they believe may be able to assist in an ongoing investigation into an assault that occurred within the Corn Exchange, New Market Road, Edinburgh on Saturday, 21 June, 2025, at around 11pm.
The first person is described as being a white male, aged between 20 and 25 years old, of medium build and with blond hair. They were wearing a white ‘Loewe’ t-shirt, blue jeans, and has tattoos on both arms.
The second person is described as being a white male, aged between 20 and 25 years old, with short black hair. They were wearing a white t-shirt, black jeans and trainers.
Detective Constable Beverley Burnside said: “We would ask the people in the images, or anyone who recognises them, to contact us as soon as possible.”
Anyone who has information that may assist with this investigation is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident number 0848 of Sunday, 23 June 2025.
Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Since the beginning of February 2026, Police have received eight reported incidents of sextortion from across East Lothian and Midlothian.
The victims are both men and women and range in age between 14 to 58-years-old. Five of the victims are teenagers.
In all the cases, the suspects have financially blackmailed the victims online. One of the victims has paid the demanded money.
Officers are investigating these crimes and are urging the public to be cautious of what is shared online.
Detective Inspector James Welsh said: “Sextortion is blackmail and those targeted should not pay, nor should they be embarrassed or scared to report it to police.
“Criminals use the internet, social media and dating apps, to befriend people online and then threaten to share images to their family and friends for financial gain.
“People shouldn’t panic. There is support available from policing and from third party organisations. We want people to know they will be treated with respect and dignity and the circumstances investigated professionally.
“There is information available on the Police Scotland website on ways you can stay safe online – such as not sharing intimate images.”
POLICE are appealing for information following a robbery at a premises in Portobello on Saturday, 31 January.
The incident happened around 4.55pm on Portobello High Street when a woman entered a shop, threatened a staff member and made off with a three-figure sum of money.
The woman is described as white, 30 to 40-years-old, around 5ft 4ins and of thin build. She was wearing a black puffer style jacket with the hood up, dark trousers and a purple headband. She spoke with a local accent.
Detective Constable Luke Wilson said: “Thankfully no one was injured but the staff member was left very shaken and upset by what happened.
“We are asking anyone in the area at the time who can help with our investigation to get in touch. Please check any private CCTV to see if anything has been captured that could assist officers.”
Anyone who can help is asked to call Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 2197 of Saturday, 31 January, 2026, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
POLICE are asking for help to find Husayin Simsek, 50, last seen around 8pm on Dalry Rd on Sunday 18th January and reported missing on Friday 30th January.
He is described as around 6ft, of athletic build with black hair. It is not known what he may be wearing.
Husayin is known to have access to a white BMW series 3 saloon, registration YA69 KWF, and officers are keen to trace this vehicle.
Inspector Ross Nicol said: “We are asking anyone who has seen him or knows where he might be to get in touch.
“Anyone who can help is asked not to approach Husayin but to call Police Scotland immediately on 101, quoting incident number 3339 of Friday, 29 January, 2026.”
