Fake goods are becoming increasingly sophisticated and it’s becoming harder to tell the difference between genuine and fake items.
Some signs to spot include: low prices, poor stitching, low quality fabric, incorrect logos and spelling mistakes.
Got information about fashion dupes?
Speak up, 100% anonymously, to our charity with any information about fake goods or the criminals behind it: https://bit.ly/FakeGoodsCS
As the weather hots up and cycling becomes ever more popular, criminals are increasingly turning their attention to the lucrative profits to be made from stolen bikes and bike parts.
Whether you are hitting the trails, working, enjoying a long ride or storing your bike at home, the charity is reminding you to secure your bike and urge the public to speak up 100% anonymously about who’s behind the thefts.
In 2020/21, the number of bike thefts in Scotland rose again to 5,470 – an 18.9% increase on the previous year.
That’s why over the busy summer months, Crimestoppers’ bike theft campaign will equip the public and partners with simple information on how to secure and register your bike. The campaign will encourage those who know about those involved in bike theft to speak up 100% anonymously.
Angela Parker, National Manager for Crimestoppers Scotland, said: ‘Scotland is a fantastic country for cycling and more than ever people are hitting the trails. Sadly, the joy can be taken out of cycling with bikes stolen from gardens, sheds or left unattended.
“Our campaign in partnership with Scotland’s cycling organisations will hopefully protect more bikes from theft and decrease the criminal proceeds from the sale of often expensive stolen bikes and parts.”
You can give information 100% anonymously via our secure online form at: www.crimestoppers-uk.org or by phone on 0800 555 111.
Superintendent Claire Dobson from Police Scotland said: “Bikes play a key part in many people’s lives whether they are using them as part of their employment, commuting to work or purely for pleasure. When these are stolen the impact can be significant.
“Police Scotland is delighted to support this campaign and I would urge the public who have information on this crime to anonymously contact charity Crimestoppers. Please do take all the necessary steps to secure your bike, a range of useful crime prevention advice is available on our website at www.scotland.police.uk. “
For more advice on how to protect your bike, visit Bike Register, where you can join the UK’s national, police-approved, bicycle marking & registration scheme:
Advice: bikeregister.com/advice/top-tips-to-protect-your-bike.
Seven people have been arrested after warrants were executed at nine properties in Edinburgh, East Lothian, and Midlothian, as part of a pre-planned operation following a series of violent incidents and fire-raising.
Today, Tuesday, 14 March, divisional officers, supported by specialist resources from Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism, attended at addresses in the Niddrie, Gracemount and Craigmillar areas of Edinburgh, as well as Cockenzie and Gorebridge.
Five men – aged 23, 23, 30, 30, and 32 – and a 16-year-old male youth – have been charged in connection with a series of offences, a report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal and all will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Wednesday, 15 March, 2023. A 23-year-old man was released pending further enquiries.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Petrie, Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism, said: “Today demonstrates our commitment to tackling violence in our communities and apprehending those involved.
“This day of action has been the culmination of extensive investigatory work over a number of months.
“Throughout the investigation we have utilised detectives and specialists from across Police Scotland and we will continue to do so as our enquiries remain ongoing.”
Superintendent Mark Rennie, who is responsible for operational policing within Edinburgh, said: “These arrests reinforce our determination to target those involved in violence and organised crime.
“I want to reassure the public that we will continue to use every tool and tactic at our disposal to relentlessly pursue individuals who engage in violence within this city.
“I would encourage members of the public with information, or any concerns, to come forward so we can take action.
“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101. Alternatively, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, where information can be given anonymously.
Over the past year (1st April 2021-31st March 2022,) independent charity Crimestoppers Scotland and their youth programme Fearless received over 16,000 contacts from the Scottish public.
As a result of anonymous information from communities across Scotland, over 350 (357) people were arrested and charged, including five with murder. Contacts about drug supply, manufacture and dealing continue to rise and the charity passed on information to the police which helped recover a ‘street value’ of drugs worth over half a million.
Fearless, the youth programme of Crimestoppers, saw over 58,000 young people from all across Scotland visit the charity’s youth website Fearless.org and reported crime – 100% anonymously – more than ever before.
Information from the public has achieved the following:
Over the past year, 12,709 pieces of information were recorded as `actionable intelligence’ by law enforcement. This means that 78% of all Crimestoppers anonymous information sent to Police Scotland was high-quality information.
Thanks to police action after receiving Crimestoppers reports, nearly a thousand positive outcomes followed (935). This was a 20% increase on the previous year and included 163 vulnerable and safeguarding issues.
Angela Parker, National Manager for Crimestoppers Scotland, said: ‘We are continually grateful for people across Scotland who come forward and trust us with their information.
“From drug dealing to child harm and neglect, we heard from thousands of people concerned about crime in their communities. We are so encouraged and grateful to those who contacted our charity – thanks to you, life is better for many and communities across Scotland are safer.”
Police Scotland’s Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie said: “The annual report makes it clear that our communities remain confident in using the service provided by Crimestoppers. The information provided anonymously helps Police Scotland’s officers tackle crimes that affect our citizens.
“We also want to acknowledge the support that Fearless provides to our young people, in schools and our communities which undoubtedly helped their resilience during the past few difficult years and understand that we can also play a part in keeping everyone safe.”
“We continue to work in partnership with Crimestoppers to encourage those who may be concerned about getting in touch with us directly to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit its website to make a report anonymously.”
Minister for Community Safety Elena Whitham said: “The clear, significant impact that the information provided to Crimestoppers has had on tackling crime shows the power we all have to help keep our communities safe.
“It is extremely encouraging to see so many young people through the Fearless campaign play their part to help tackle crime. The information they have provided along with many thousands of others who have come forward has resulted in more than 300 less criminals on our streets last year.
“I would like to thank Crimestoppers, Police Scotland and members of the public for their support and efforts. The Scottish Government is backing this with £3.4 billion for justice system in the next financial year to fund vital front-line services, provide continued support for victims and witnesses, and to tackle the causes of offending.”
Campaigning electrical association SELECT and the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF) say the cost of living crisis is driving a worrying rise in meter-tampering, with potentially deadly results.
The bodies say interfering with electricity and gas meters can have a “disastrous effect” on perpetrators and innocent people nearby – and have urged anyone coming across tampering to report it and avert disaster.
In a joint statement, Alan Wilson, Managing Director of SELECT, and Fiona Hodgson, Chief Executive of SNIPEF, said: “It is a distressing sign of the times that an increasing number of consumers are resorting to tampering with their electrical and gas meters in an effort to reduce their energy bills.
“Stealing energy in this way is a worrying and illegal practice, often encouraged by widely shared footage on social media. But it risks lives and can have fatal consequences for innocent people close by.
“Such services are often offered by unscrupulous individuals who will bypass services or devices for a fee. But often the methods they use are often extremely dangerous and they can have no, or very limited, knowledge of what they’re doing.
“Like all gas and electrical work, interrupting the supply is something that should only ever be dealt with by fully-trained and qualified professionals.
“We are urging all householders and tradespeople to immediately contact the relevant energy company if they suspect meter tampering has occurred.”
The trade bodies’ warning echoes a recent alert from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), who say meter tampering is occurring with increasing frequency as the price of electricity and gas rises.
Sean Smith, Fire Investigation Officers Watch Commander with SFRS, said: “SFRS is now seeing meter tampering and removal services with increasing frequency and, sadly, we have first-hand experience of the tragic circumstances that they can cause.
“We are now engaging with communities to discourage this dangerous act and make people aware of the significant risks from energy theft and meter tampering.”
The renewed alert follows a warning last year from energy regulator Ofcom, who flagged the danger of social media posts claiming gas and electricity meters could be removed as an “energy-saving hack”.
It also coincides with the current high-profile Stay Energy Safe campaign from Crimestoppers, urging contractors and consumers to contact them anonymously at 0800 023 2777 if they think a meter has been tampered.
As part of the campaign, Stay Energy Safe highlighted the tragic case of an elderly woman who died in a house fire in Glasgow after her son had their electricity meter bypassed to save on bill payments.
A major new survey and report, commissioned by the charity Crimestoppers, has shed light on general attitudes to sexual harassment and the age at which victims are targeted.
Of those that responded, around one in six people who answered said their first experience of sexual harassment in a public place happened when they were aged just 10 or even younger.
Whilst 1,800 people participated in the survey, none of the questions were mandatory. This means that respondent numbers per question are lower than overall participant numbers. Due to the sensitivity of the subject matter, the University recommended using optional questions to encourage more people to take part.
Key findings are:
These shocking findings demonstrate that the majority encountered sexual harassment for the first time during adolescence or childhood. Shockingly, the survey also found that 10% of women said they had been raped with 23% saying they had been `forced’ to have sex.
The report, by the University of Suffolk and commissioned by Crimestoppers, follows the impact of the #MeToo movement against sexual abuse and harassment. Crimestoppers has also launched a national campaign today to challenge attitudes and encourage reporting on those responsible.
Figure 17: Age at first experience of unwanted sexual behaviours or interactions in public spaces [P29]
In a clear message to the culprits, fewer than 1% of victims said they felt flattered, attractive or desired after their most recent harassment experience. [P33].
Strikingly, around 78% of female participants spoke of experiencing unwanted questions about their sex life, and two thirds experienced staring (leering) and comments on their clothes, body or appearance. [P23, Figure 10]. The research found that respondents change their behaviour or activities to avoid a repeat incident, with nearly 10% (9.8%) shunning outdoor areas where they had previously encountered unwanted sexual behaviours.
Figure 10: Lifetime prevalence of unwanted sexual behaviours in public spaces: female participants [P23]
More than a third (38%) have been followed and nearly a quarter (23%) have witnessed flashing/genital exposure. Whilst the largest group of perpetrators were strangers, they were closely followed by classmates during their younger years, then acquaintances and colleagues in later life.
Lydia Patsalides, VAWG (Violence Against Women and Girls) sexual violence lead at the charity Crimestoppers, said: “This research confirms that all forms of sexual harassment begin at a shockingly early age, which is completely unacceptable.
“It raises the question to those men involved: would you accept this behaviour towards those closest to you, such as a partner, female friend, or your daughter? Crimestoppers is taking its part in the conversation as these normalised behaviours, can escalate, with some perpetrators going on to commit the most serious of crimes such as rape and child abuse.
“We know this is a difficult and complex area and won’t be solved with one study. However, it’s important that we have a frank and realistic discussion, and we must all play our part in helping change behaviour and think seriously about how sexual harassment affects others.”
Mick Duthie, Director of Operations at the charity Crimestoppers, said: “As a father of two daughters, and an ex-police officer who dealt with the tragic circumstances of violence against women and girls, I totally understand the impact unwanted sexual behaviour has on victims.
“It’s important that we all understand the issue and take steps to educate ourselves on what is and is not appropriate. Our research shows that a large number of very young girls are being targeted, and therefore we must all ensure we take positive steps to protect them.”
Dr Katherine Allen from the University of Suffolk said: “In a post #MeToo era, these findings are shocking but unsurprising. Our survey underscores that sexual harassment is common, perpetrated across a range of public spaces, and remains highly gendered, disproportionately impacting women and girls and limiting their ability to exercise everyday freedoms.
“Chiming with national and international studies, our research suggests that women and girls are subject to unwanted sexualised behaviours from an early age, and overwhelmingly experience these behaviours as intrusive, uncomfortable and intimidating.”
Survey participant comment: “I think a lot of the time, perpetrators are completely oblivious to how their actions are making the other person feel.
“Being sexually harassed makes me feel genuinely scared for my safety, and scared to anger the person in case they get violent.”
Crimestoppers is a standalone charity that is independent of the police and takes crime information whilst guaranteeing total anonymity.
By never asking for or storing personal details, it encourages people to come forward who might otherwise stay silent. The process means no courts, no witness statements and no comeback.
If you know a work colleague/friend/relative or neighbour who is involved in any criminal aspect of sexual harassment – please tell our charity.
To pass on crime information completely anonymously, visit our website Crimestoppers-uk.org and fill in the simple and secure anonymous online form. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers’ UK Contact Centre, which is open 24/7, 365 days a year, on freephone 0800 555 111.
Please note: Computer IP addresses are never traced, and no-one will ever know you contacted Crimestoppers. For telephone calls, there is no number display, no 1471 facility and calls have never been traced.
Online traders selling counterfeit will be trying to fool even more people into buying fakes this year.
The new #DontBlowChristmas campaign from Intellectual Property Office UK helps consumers know the risks and learn how to spot a fake
Kelsey Jones, Senior Outreach and Engagement Advisor of the IPO’s Enforcement team gives advice to consumers to help them stay safe from counterfeit electrical goods this festive period:
With prices dropping across retail and Christmas around the corner, Black Friday and Cyber Monday can be irresistible. Because who doesn’t want to make their Christmas savings to go even further?
Fake electrical products, also known as counterfeits, are everywhere, targeting you on e-commerce sites you know and trust or appearing as you scroll through your go-to social media channels. Think fake AirBuds, straighteners, hairdryers, phone chargers.
Dodgy sellers will be trying to fool even more people into buying fakes this year, knowing that lots of us are looking for a bargain. They may look like the real deal, but counterfeits are often poor-quality imitations that aren’t guaranteed to work and can be dangerous. You might save a few pounds, but at what cost?
Use these tips to stay smart, stay savvy and stay safe.
Don’t buy fakes. Don’t blow Christmas.
Do they look official? Have you bought from this seller before, is the website or platform well known? Does the seller have a returns policy? If you are in doubt, look for a genuine online review, not just recommendations from influencers to buy the item.
Always beware of retailers asking for payment to be made via bank transfer. Well known credit card providers like Visa or Mastercard, and services like PayPal offer protection to buyers if the goods don’t arrive or are proven to be counterfeit.
Does the item on offer look and feel like an authentic product? Sellers of counterfeits often make spelling mistakes in their descriptions and sometimes on the products themselves, which is an obvious warning sign. Spelling and grammar mistakes can indicate fakes!
The safety standards of counterfeit items are poor and can be dangerous, especially when they are shipped from abroad. Do items have EU and UK safety markings? You should always check for the correct age restrictions and hazard warnings on the packaging.
Whether buying online or in person, always think about the price. Scammers often sell counterfeit goods at discounted prices to make you drop your guard. If the item is significantly cheaper than you’d expect, that’s a good reason for alarm bells to ring. If the price looks too good to be true, it probably is.
If you or someone you know has purchased a counterfeit product or suspects that a website is selling counterfeit products, report it to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.
If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crimestoppers or call 0800 555 111.
Follow @dontblowchristmas on your socials for more advice and guidance on staying safe and avoiding disappointment this Christmas.
Don’t get caught up in anti-social behaviour on Bonfire Night!
Police Officers have the grounds to take action should people be involved in such conduct, as detailed in these posters.
Please attend organised events only and always keep safe.
#OperationSoteria, Edinburgh Policing Division’s city wide Operation, have been exhausting all lines of enquiry to bring offenders to account for motorcycle thefts and associated anti-social behaviour.
Over the past week, enquiries have led to the arrest of 3 individuals with significant links to motorcycle crime across Edinburgh and the execution of a warrant. This equates to a weekly total of 30 charges, and the recovery of 4 bikes, all as a direct result of our targeted activities.
Since the commencement of #OpSoteria on 20 June 2022, we have made 27 arrests. This translates to 160 charges all relating to motorcycle theft and antisocial behaviour offences and the recovery of 76 motorcycles, bringing the total value of bikes recovered since June to more than £581,713.
Anyone with information about motorcycle crime or the dangerous use of motorcycles in the capital can speak to officers confidentially and anonymously on 101, or through the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Courier Fraud scammers will call victims and pretend to be their bank or the police.
They use every trick possible to try and get victims to part with their money, valuables or bank details. Make sure you’re aware of the signs to spot when it comes to #CourierFraud so that you can help protect those you care about.
Learn more and speak up if you think you know anything that could help to stop the criminals responsible 
If you have been the victim of a fraud in Scotland, contact Police 101
