Tag: Crime

Police: Firearms Surrender appeal

Firearms and ammunition can be surrendered at police stations across Scotland as part of a UK-wide firearms surrender campaign.

Running from Thursday 12 May until Sunday 29 May, people in possession of firearms and ammunition, for which they do not hold a valid certificate, will be able to surrender these to police.

In addition to being able to hand in firearms and ammunition, the public will be able to hand over replica firearms, air weapons, BB guns, imitation firearms, component parts and other ballistic items.

The public can hand firearms and weapons to any police station, however are asked where possible to attend at designated locations across Scotland.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Speirs said: “The purpose of the firearms surrender campaign is to remove firearms from criminal availability and therefore reduce the risk of harm to the public and our communities.

“People will be able to surrender unlicensed weapons and ammunition to a number of dedicated police stations throughout Scotland and I would encourage people to do so.”

Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans Keith Brown said: “I would encourage anyone in possession of an unneeded or unlicensed firearm or air weapon to safely hand it over to police at one of their designated police stations.

“Firearm offences remain at historically low levels in Scotland, but by removing unwanted weapons this important campaign by Police Scotland will help keep our communities safe and prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands.”

Dedicated stations for the surrender are:

EAST

Edinburgh Division

St Leonards

Fife Division

Levenmouth

Kirkcaldy

Dunfermline

Forth Valley Division

Stirling Randolphfield

Falkirk

Lothians and Scottish Borders

Dalkeith

Galashiels

Haddington

Livingstone

NORTH

Highland and Islands Division

Burnett Road

Dingwall

Fort William

Kirkwall

Lerwick

Nairn

Portree

Stornoway

Wick

North East Division

Banchory

Elgin

Ellon

Inverurie

Kittybrewster

Mintlaw

Stonehaven

Tayside Division

Dundee

Forfar

Perth

WEST

Argyll and West Dumbartonshire Division

Campbeltown

Clydebank

Dumbarton

Dunoon

Islay

Lochilphead

Oban

Rothesay

Ayrshire Division

Ayr

Irvine

Kilmarnock

Lamlash

Dumfries and Galloway Division

Annan

Castle Douglas

Dumfries HQ

Lockerbie

Loreburn, Dumfries

Newton Stewart

Stranraer

Sanquhar

Greater Glasgow Division

Aitkenhead Road

Govan

Kirkintilloch

London Road

Lanarkshire Division

Hamilton

Motherwell

Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Division

Greenock

Paisley

Police launch firearms surrender campaign

Firearms and ammunition can be surrendered at police stations across Scotland as part of a UK-wide firearms surrender campaign.

From Thursday 12 May until Sunday 29 May, people in possession of firearms and ammunition, for which they do not hold a valid certificate, will be able to surrender these to police.

In addition to being able to hand in firearms and ammunition, the public will be able to hand over replica firearms, air weapons, BB guns, imitation firearms, component parts and other ballistic items.

The public can hand firearms and weapons to any police station, however are asked where possible to attend at designated locations across Scotland.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Speirs said: “The purpose of the firearms surrender campaign is to remove firearms from criminal availability and therefore reduce the risk of harm to the public and our communities.

“People will be able to surrender unlicensed weapons and ammunition to a number of dedicated police stations throughout Scotland and I would encourage people to do so.”

Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans Keith Brown said: “I would encourage anyone in possession of an unneeded or unlicensed firearm or air weapon to safely hand it over to police at one of their designated police stations.

“Firearm offences remain at historically low levels in Scotland, but by removing unwanted weapons this important campaign by Police Scotland will help keep our communities safe and prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands.”

Dedicated stations for the surrender are:

Edinburgh Division: St Leonards

Fife Division: Levenmouth, Kirkcaldy, Dunfermline

Forth Valley Division: Stirling, Randolphfield, Falkirk

Lothians and Scottish Borders: Dalkeith, Galashiels, Haddington, Livingston

Aimee Jane murder: man arrested

A 25-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the murder of Aimee Jane Cannon in West Calder.

Aimee Jane (26) was found with a number of serious injuries at a property on Learmonth Crescent, West Calder around 6.35pm on Saturday, 7 May, 2022. 

Enquiries remain ongoing following the arrest.

Members of the public can still submit information via an online portal.

The Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) is a website that gives the public access to a form so they can send information directly to the major incident teams based at the Scottish Crime Campus: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/SCOT22S14-PO1 

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting reference 3181 of 7 May, 2022.

Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Niddrie murder: man charged

A 48-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of 30-year-old Liam Maloney in Niddrie.

Liam died on Saturday (7 May), after being seriously injured on Niddrie Marischal Road, around 8pm on Thursday, 5 May.

The 48-year-old man is expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (Tuesday, 10 May, 2022).

Detective Inspector Scott Roxburgh, of Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team, said: ““We’d like to thank the public for their assistance with this investigation.

“There will remain a police presence in the area over the coming days and we continue to appeal for anyone with further information to please come forward.

“You can call police on 101, quoting reference 3262 of 5 May, or submit information directly to the Major Investigation Team via our dedicated portal, where you can select to remain anonymous.”

The portal can be accessed at https://mipp.police.uk/operation/SCOT22S13-PO1.

Alternatively, Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111. 

Murder in Niddrie Marischal: police appeal for witnesses

A murder inquiry has been launched following the death of a 30-year-old man in Edinburgh.

Around 8pm on Thursday, 5 May, 2022, Liam Maloney was seriously assaulted on Niddrie Marischal Road, near to its junction with Niddrie Marischal Grove..He was taken by ambulance to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, where he died yesterday (Saturday, 7 May).

His relatives are aware and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.

A post mortem examination has been carried out and the death is being treated as murder.

Detective Chief Inspector Frank Travers, of the Major Investigation Team, said: “This appears to have been a targeted incident and we do not believe there is any risk to the wider public.

“Extensive police enquiries are ongoing at this time and officers are gathering CCTV footage from the surrounding area.Door to door inquiries are also being carried out.

“We will have a continued police presence in the area and I would like to reassure the local community that everything is being done to trace the person responsible.

“I would ask anyone who was in the Niddrie Marischal Road and Niddrie Marischal Grove area on Thursday night, and who may have seen or heard a disturbance, or witnessed anything suspicious, to please get in touch with us.

“We have also set up a website that gives members of the public access to a form to send information directly to the Major Investigation Team.

“Anyone with any CCTV, dashcam or any other footage that they think would assist the enquiry can also send this via this link.

“You can select to remain anonymous when submitting information.

“The portal can be accessed at https://mipp.police.uk/operation/SCOT22S13-PO1.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting reference 3262 of 5 May, 2022.

Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained.”

Man convicted for serious sexual offences in North Edinburgh

A man responsible for a series of serious sexual offences against women and children in Edinburgh has been convicted.

Yesterday at Edinburgh High Court (5th May 2022), John O’Flaherty was found guilty of serious sexual offences, including rape committed against 4 females between the 1980s and 1990s.

The 65-year-old became the subject of a public protection investigation after the victims, who are now all adults, came forward to report the abuse they were subjected to.

The sexual abuse survivors were aged between 7 and 32, with the majority of attacks taking place within the North of the city.  However, other addresses and locations within the South West were also identified during the inquiry.

Detectives from Edinburgh’s Public Protection Unit spent more than two years gathering evidence against O’Flaherty before he was initially arrested in June 2020, with further charges added over the following months.

He will now be sentenced at a later date.

Detective Inspector Jonny Wright said: “For more than two decades John O’Flaherty targeted young woman who lived within, or frequented, the North of Edinburgh and subjected them to horrific levels of sexual abuse.

“The impact of his offending had a significant and long-lasting effect on communities within the North and had it not been for the outstanding courage of these women in coming forward, then O’Flaherty would not have been brought to justice.

“I want to thank each survivor of O’Flaherty’s abuse for their strength during our investigation and I also wish to acknowledge the outstanding work of the detectives and criminal justice partners who worked so diligently to ensure this case reached a successful conclusion.

“Today’s conviction should serve as a reassuring reminder to the public that time is no barrier to our investigation and whenever reports of sexual assault are made, we will utilise all resources at our disposal to investigate thoroughly and provide those affected with all the relevant support they require.”

Police appeal following attempted murder in Balfour Place

Detectives are appealing for information following an attempted murder in Edinburgh.

At around 11pm on Tuesday (3 May, 2022) a 25-year-old man was with two friends in a blue Honda in Balfour Place. The man was sitting in the front passenger seat when two men approached the car from Pilrig Park and began speaking with him.

The two men then attacked the 25-year old, stabbing him, before running off.

The man was taken to hospital where medical staff describe his condition as stable. No-one else was injured in the incident.

The suspects are described as two males, 14-18 years old, skinny build, one with ginger hair, wearing a blue hooded top and one with dark hair.

Officers have been carrying out door-to-door enquiries and are checking relevant CCTV for any information it could provide which could assist the ongoing enquiries.

Detective Inspector Kevin Tait said: “A young man has been stabbed in what we believe to be a targeted attack. I am appealing to anyone who was in the Pilrig Park and Balfour Place area, around the time of the incident to get in touch with us.

“Did you notice the two men in the street, did you see the car? Any small piece of information could prove relevant to our enquiries. I would also ask motorists who were driving in the area around that time to check their footage as it could have captured images which could help us in locating the two men responsible for this attack.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 3627 of 3 May 2022. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and give your information anonymously.

“Juliuszek left us the most beautiful memories that will remain in our hearts forever.”

Lukasz Czapla, 41, has been sentenced to at least 23 years in prison following his conviction for the horrific murder of his two-year old son Julius in Muirhouse.

Czapla, who claimed he suffered from poor mental health, murdered his son in a drink and drug-fuelled jealous rage to get back at the child’s mum Patrycja Szczesniak.

The court heard that, on the night Julius died, Ms Szczesniak had told Czapla he was seeing somebody new. 

Passing sentence at the High Court in Edinburgh yeserday, judge Lord Beckett said that Czapla’s use of drink and drugs were no excuse for what he did to Julius.

Lord Beckett said: “Your son will never grow up and his loving mother has lost him forever and will forever be haunted by the truly evil act that you did.

“Your son will never grow up and his loving mother has lost him forever and will forever be haunted by the truly evil act that you did. 

“You acted out of spite to punish his mother for leaving you and getting on with her life.

“Suffice to say you showed considerable determination to ensure that a defenceless child would die in considerable distress. 

“It is no excuse that you were full of drink and drugs. Indeed it is significantly aggravated given that you were being asked to look after a two-year-old.”

Emergency services were called to the family home at Muirhouse Place West in November 2020, where Julius was found seriously injured. He was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.

The jury heard that Czapla shot Julius three times in the head with a gas-powered air pistol. Three ball bearings were later recovered from the child’s head. Czapla then stabbed the toddler with a metal skewer before smothering him with a pillow.

Detective Inspector Bob Williamson, of Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team, said: “Julius was a bright, happy young boy and his loss in such horrendous circumstances has been devastating for his mother and his family.

“Lukasz Czapla is now facing the consequences of his actions. The outcome of this case will never bring Julius back but it does bring this aspect to a close. Julius’s family have understandably asked for privacy during this difficult time.

“I would like to thank the local community and our dedicated team of officers, along with our partner agencies, who assisted throughout the duration of the investigation.”


Patrycja Szczesniak, Julius’ Mother, has also released the following statement through Police Scotland and asks her request for privacy to please be respected:

“I only wanted the best for you. If only I could only turn back time to have you in my arms again my child.

“Despite the breakup with Juliusz’s dad, I wanted him to have contact with our son. I never stopped him seeing Juliusz. Julek loved him like every child loves their dad. He trusted him, he trusted him completely.

“Juliusz was murdered only for revenge. His dad wanted me to suffer, he succeeded and achieved his goal, at the cost of my beloved little boy’s life.

“If only I knew what was going to happen. I would have never thought he could do this to my child.

“He was only two and a half.

“Every day I think about Juliusz. I can’t imagine what his little, helpless heart felt that night and I feel his fear and pain every day. He was part of me, part of my heart and soul.

“I wish I could hug him, play with him and watch him grow.

“Every day I ask myself why there is so much evil in this world, why the innocent have to suffer.

“He not only took Juliusz life but my life too.

“That day, the world stopped, not only for me but also for my mother and my sister.

“Juliusz was a very happy child. He lit up the place wherever he showed up. He could put a smile on anyone’s face and always looked forward to calls with his Grandma and Auntie. They managed to build a strong relationship despite the distance in miles between us and enjoyed every minute they had together.

“It is breaking our hearts that we are no longer able to take his hand and lead him through life. To watch him enjoy riding his bike and eating his favourite ice cream. Listen to his giggling and laughing and being amazed by the things he learned every day.

“There was so much we wanted to show him but this chance was brutally taken from us and now the only thing we can do is to prey for the highest possible punishment. We want to believe in the justice system and that justice will be served, although I know there is no sentence that will bring my angel back to life.

“Czapla should not have the right to any defence and we will fight to ensure that monster never leaves prison.

“My suffering and my pain will stay with me for the rest of my life. But the unconditional love I have for my baby; my dearest child Juliusz will never end.

“My family, friends and l will miss him dearly and we will suffer his loss until the end of our days.

“Juliuszek left us the most beautiful memories that will remain in our hearts forever.”

Madeleine McCann: Charge imminent?

Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner WILL BE CHARGED WITHIN WEEKS an investigator claimed yesterday.

Jon Clarke said he had been informed of the bombshell development by a source in the office of the team of German investigators probing the jailed sex offender. (TUES).

Clarke, a journalist who has led the way in investigating her disappearance, also believes the DNA of the missing girl may still be found in one of the vehicles Brueckner was driving on the night of her disappearance 15 years ago.

He told GB News: “I can tell you that there’s lots of circumstantial evidence, but today I was made party to some evidence to suggest that there may be traces of Maddie’s DNA in one of the cars that Christian was driving on the night that she went missing.

“He was living very close to the resort, regularly burgled homes and the results clearly has a long track record of child sex abuse.

“He’s currently in prison serving seven years for rape and will be will be charged later this month.

“I’m told by my sources from the German prosecutor’s office he will be charged with three if not four cases in the next couple of weeks with the Madeleine charge likely later in the year.”

He was speaking to Alex Philips on the 15th anniversary of her disappearance during We Need To Talk About on GB News.

Mr Clark also talked about how he was one of the first on the scene after she was reported missing from an apartment complex in Praia da Luz in Portugal.

He added: “I was actually able, believe it or not, to go up to the back of the apartment, to walk under flimsy pieces of police tape and step up the steps right up to the front of the apartment.

“As you probably know now, I think 26, 27, 28 people actually traipsed right away through that apartment in the early hours of the morning making the crime scene completely null and void really for future investigators.

“The golden hour was a complete disaster from start to finish. I did my best in those early hours and … just went around and asked lots and lots of questions and I’ve continued to do that to this day.”