Police have arrested an 18-year-old male in connection with a number of offences in the North Edinburgh area. The teenager has been charged with forty-three vandalisms, which include damage to a number of cars overnight in a trail of carnage between 13 and 14 November. Continue reading Teenager in custody following vandalism spree
More than 600 motorists detected after 15% increase in checks
The proportion of drivers stopped by police who were found to be over the limit during the festive period has risen, from 2.8% to 3.3% in a year. Police Scotland’s four-week enforcement campaign saw an average of 610 drivers tested every day, a 15% rise in the number of checks carried out the year before.
Of the almost 19,000 drivers stopped during the 2016/17 festive period campaign, a total of 625 – or 1 in 30 – were over the limit, compared with 1 in 36 – during the same period in 2015/16.
More than 9% of those caught drink driving tested between the old and new limits, up on 4% the previous year.
Of the 625 detected, 46 were caught in the morning having been drinking the night before, up from 13 in 2015/16.
The Police Scotland period of enforcement coincided with a Scottish Government awareness campaign to reinforce the message that ‘the best approach is none’.
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said: “It is hugely disappointing to see a rise in the number of drivers who have flouted the law and put their lives, and the lives of others, at risk over the festive period.
“Of course people should be enjoying time with their loved ones over Christmas and New Year but this isn’t an excuse to ignore the law and get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol.
“By drink driving, including the morning after, you are not only putting yourselves at risk, but also facing a minimum one year driving ban, a criminal record, points on your licence and a substantial fine. Please remember, the best approach is none.”
Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins said: “It is an absolute disgrace that so many people were prepared to risk their own lives, as well as the lives of innocent people, by recklessly taking to the roads while in a drunken state. We were massively active over the festive season and while the number of tests we carried out was greater than last year, proportionately the number of people caught, particularly those the following morning, was greater still.
“Drivers need to take far greater personal responsibility, and also be aware that while this campaign is over, my officers still have a very sharp focus on detecting and arresting drunk drivers. I repeat the guidance given at the start of the campaign – don’t risk it, because – as these 625 people have found to their cost – we will detect and arrest you.”
The Police Scotland festive enforcement campaign ran from 2 December 2015 to 2 January 2016.
Continue reading Rise in number of drink drivers caught over festive period
Edinburgh Police have released CCTV images of three males who they wish to trace in connection with a serious assault on another man in the city centre. The men were seen in the vicinity of the attack in the company of two young women. Continue reading Southside assault: do you know these men?
Police investigating a robbery at a Canonmills restaurant are appealing for witnesses. The robbery took place at Earthy on Canonmills Bridge at around 9.40pm on Thursday evening. Continue reading Appeal for witnesses following Canonmills robbery
Two men will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today following the death of a man in Leith in the early hours of New Years Day. Thirty year old Shaun Woodburn died in hospital following an altercation near Gladstones in Great Junction Street. Continue reading Teenagers face court following Leith death
Police in Edinburgh are appealing for witnesses following a hit and run collision in Muirhouse. The incident happened at around 10:10pm on Thursday (December 29th) on Muirhouse Green at its junction with Ferry Road. Continue reading Witness appeal following Muirhouse hit and run
Drivers are being urged not to risk their lives, and their licenses, by getting behind the wheel after having a drink this festive period.
Police officers have caught 388 drink drivers in the first half of their month-long festive enforcement campaign so far. Of these, 38 were caught between the old limit and the new drink drive limit, which came into force in December 2014.
The Police Scotland period of enforcement coincides with a Scottish Government awareness campaign to reinforce the message that ‘the best approach is none’.
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said: “It is disappointing that some are continuing to ignore the law and put themselves, and others, at risk.
“People should be having fun this festive season and enjoying time with family and friends. By taking a few simple steps, like planning ahead, nominating a designated driver or using public transport, you can make sure you have a night to remember for all the right reasons.
“There will be plenty of people on the road visiting loved ones, but please remember the morning after a night of drinking you could still be over the limit and unfit to drive.
“Drink driving is completely unacceptable and if you get caught you face a minimum one year ban from the roads, a criminal record, points on your licence and a substantial fine. To all those who persist in breaking the law remember, the best approach is none.”
Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins said: “There are still too many people taking to Scotland’s roads when they’ve had a drink. They need to know it is totally unacceptable to jeopardise not only their lives, but the lives of innocent people going about their daily business.
“Our officers have seen a sharp increase in the number of motorists failing breath tests from last year’s campaign. In the first two weeks of this year’s campaign alone, 388 drink/ drug driving related offences were detected compared to 452 for the entire four week 2015 crackdown. In addition, 34 drivers were found to be over the limit having been stopped between 6 and 10am.
“Our message is simple – if you’re going to drink, do not risk driving. Police Scotland does not tolerate this kind of behaviour and will stop anyone they suspect of driving under the influence of alcohol. The consequences are severe; they include an automatic ban, a potential fine and even the possibility of a prison sentence as well as being the potential to kill or seriously injure yourself or others.”
Director of Road Safety Scotland, Michael McDonnell, said: “The consequences of drink-driving start with being arrested and, thereafter, the effect on different aspects the people’s lives is like dominoes crashing to the ground one by one – loss of licence, criminal record, hefty fine and potentially even prison can have a devastating effect on present and future employment, destroy relationships, and incur debt problems. Most of us have too much to lose so it’s just not worth taking the chance – don’t risk it.”
A mother has been assaulted and robbed as she was walking home with her two young children on Friday afternoon. She was walking along Ferry Road Avenue with her children in a double buggy when the ‘cowardly’ attack took place. Continue reading Mum attacked and robbed in West Pilton
A man was treated in hospital after being attacked on Pennywell Gardens early this morning. Police are seeking four men in connection with the incident, which took place at 5.15am. Continue reading Four sought after Pennywell assault
Police in Edinburgh have arrested a 48-year-old woman following an incident in the Stockbridge area. She was subsequently reported to the Procurator Fiscal and appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Friday. Continue reading Woman in court following New Town incident
