Crimestoppers – Page 4 – The NEN

Stop our area becoming a firework hotspot

CRIMESTOPPERS have launched their annual campaign aiming to tackle firework misuse and deliberate fire-setting, and to encourage people to contact them 100% anonymously if they know or suspect someone is involved.

The campaign is supported by the Scottish Government’s Building Safer Communities team.

Firework misuse can have a massive impact on communities in Scotland, with some local areas experiencing ongoing and sustained anti-social behaviour and risk to life linked to fireworks.

In some communities people may be afraid to engage with those responsible for anti-social behaviour for fear of being targeted, which is why our anonymous service is so valuable.

The Crimestoppers campaign omplements two national Scottish Government campaigns, and provides extra support for areas in Edinburgh, Glasgow and West Lothian which have experienced higher levels of firework misuse. These communities have been involved in the preparation of the campaign.

National Manager for Crimestoppers in Scotland Angela Parker explained: “With no public displays this year, some communities could be at increased risk of serious firework misuse and deliberate fire-setting.

“Firework misuse puts people, property and pets at risk, so we have worked closely with a range of partners to devise a campaign that will enable local people to fully understand the law around misuse of fireworks, and the penalties.

“Last year, our charity in Scotland received 63 pieces of information that helped prevent attacks, fire-setting and serious misuse, so we know, together we can make Bonfire Night safer for everyone.”

Ash Denham MSP, Minister for Community Safety, said: “The Scottish Government’s ambition is for all of Scotland’s communities to be safe places for everyone to live, work and enjoy. We all have a part to play in making that vision a reality.

“Misuse of fireworks can be hugely damaging and distressing and will not be tolerated. I would encourage anyone who witnesses or has information about criminality relating to fireworks to report it so that action can be taken to prevent further harm to our communities.

“Crimestoppers’ unique reporting service allows people to provide information about crime entirely anonymously. By using this service people can help to prevent, detect and solve crime within their local community.”

The campaign is also complemented by a youth programme, Fearless.org, raising awareness among 11-18-year-olds about the risks, and encouraging anonymous reporting about planned attacks and deliberate fire-raising.

https://youtu.be/oK6J6-CpfhI

Underage sales of fireworks

We are also encouraging people to let us know about anyone who’s selling fireworks to underage people.

In Scotland, it is illegal to sell outdoor fireworks to anyone who is younger than 18 years old. And it is illegal to sell indoor fireworks (such as sparklers) to anyone who is younger than 16 years old.

Other contact numbers

In an emergency: contact Police or Fire on 999
Non-emergency: Police Scotland 101
Underage sales: Scotland Trading Standards Office (and for unsafe or unlicenced storage by shops and dangerous fireworks)

If you know or suspect who is misusing fireworks or causing deliberate fires in your area, or selling them illegally, you can contact Crimestoppers 100% anonymously.

Your computer’s IP addresses are never traced and no-one will ever know you contacted us. For telephone calls, we have have no caller line display, no 1471 facility and have never traced a call.

CALL ANONYMOUSLY ON 0800 555 111 OR GIVE INFORMATION ONLINE HERE

Serious assault in Boswall Loan

Did women ‘set up’ assault victim?

Police are appealing for witnesses following a serious assault in the Granton area. The incident happened in Boswall Loan at around 3am in the early hours of Saturday morning.

A 30-year-old man began speaking to two women on Great Junction Street and the group walked along Ferry Road together. Once at Boswall Loan, heading towards Granton Crescent, the man was approached and assaulted by two men.

He was taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary with serious facial injuries.

The first suspect is described as white, 5ft 7-8 inches tall, around 20 years old, with a slim build. He had short dark hair and was wearing a dark-coloured t-shirt, red shorts and white trainers.

The second suspect is described as white, 5ft 9inches tall, around 20 years old, with a slim build. He had short dark spiky hair and was wearing a dark-coloured top, dark jeans or joggers, and white trainers.

The two female witnesses are described as white, around 5ft 4inches tall, 18-20 years old, with slim builds and local accents.

One had elbow-length straight dark hair, and was wearing a light-coloured jumper, dark leggings or jeans, beige boots and carrying a large beige shoulder bag. She was possibly called “Kat”.

The other had dyed blonde shoulder-length hair. She was wearing a ¾ length grey jacket, black leggings and black boots.

Detective Sergeant Clark Martin of Gayfield CID said: “We’re conducting numerous enquiries in the local area in order to trace the suspects, and would urge any witnesses to get in touch. We believe the two men were known to the two women, and would also ask anyone who recognises their descriptions to come forward.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Elderly woman fends off knife-wielding robber in Silverknowes

87 year old sees off attacker with her mobility stick

Police are appealing for witnesses after a man wielding a knife attempted to rob an 87-year-old woman on a Silverknowes footpath yesterday afternoon. The incident happened between 4.30 – 4.45pm as the woman was making her way home.

As the woman walked on the public footpath linking Silverknowes Hill with Silverknowes Road a man approached her from behind. He said something, which the woman was unable to understand – but she turned to find he was wielding a knife.

The assailant demanded the woman’s purse but she refused – and then bravely warded off the would-be robber by waving her mobility stick at him. The man left empty-handed aand made off in the direction of Silverknowes Hill before being lost from sight.

The woman made her way home and raised the alarm with the police, who are now appealing for witnesses to the incident.

The suspect is described as white, around 6ft tall, with a thin face. He was wearing a dark hooded top with the hood up.

Detective Inspector John Kavanagh of Police Scotland said: “I am very keen to hear from anyone who has any information which might help with our ongoing investigation.

“Thankfully, the woman was unhurt but it goes without saying that we take a zero tolerance approach towards such despicable crimes.

“The incident was carried out during daylight hours and I would hope that someone may have seen the suspect in the area and can provide us with important information. Likewise, I would ask anyone who was using public transport in Silverknowes around the time of this crime to come forward if they remember seeing the man.

“We are keen to ensure that he is arrested as quickly as possible and those with relevant information can call police on 101 or, alternatively information can be passed anonymously through the registered charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Police seek four following Trinity attack

Police are appealing for witnesses following a serious assault on two people on Laverockbank Road. Four people, one of whom is a woman, are being sought following the attack.

The incident happened at around 1am on Sunday 31 May, when the two victims and four suspects left a business premises separately.

The first suspect assaulted the 34-year-old male victim, and the 28-year-old female victim was assaulted when she tried to intervene. The other suspects then joined the attack and the female victim was knocked unconscious.

Both victims sustained facial injuries, which were subsequently found to be more serious than first thought. Police attended at the time of the incident, and officers have conducted various enquiries in an effort to trace the suspects.

The first suspect is described as a white man in his 30s, 5ft 10inches tall with a medium build. He had a shaved head and a heart tattoo with a keyhole on his right forearm.

The second suspect is described a white man in his 30s, 5ft 11inches tall with a heavy build. He had short dark hair and was wearing a dark jacket.

The third suspect was a white man in his 40s, 5ft 10inches tall with a slim build. He was wearing a light-coloured shirt.

The fourth suspect is described as a white woman, 5ft 6inches tall, with a medium build. She had long dark hair and was wearing a black jacket.

Detective Sergeant Clark Martin said: “This was a seemingly unprovoked and brutal attack and we are eager to trace anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or has any information which can help with our enquiries.

“We’re also eager to speak to a taxi driver seen in the area at the time of the assault, who may be able to help with our investigations.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Horrific attack on family pets in Drylaw

Police seek information following sickening attack on chickens

Intruders have killed a family pet, seriously injured another and traumatised a third during a break-in in Drylaw earlier this week. A young family has been left ‘shocked and very distressed’ after the malicious attack on their pet chickens in Wester Drylaw Place.

The incident occurred overnight on Wednesday/Thursday when intruders first tried to break into a garden shed. They were unsuccessful but then turned their attentions to the family’s chicken coop, which they opened and killed one of the chickens.

A second chicken was also badly injured in the attack and a third was later found – fortunately unharmed – in a neighbour’s garden.

Police Scotland is conducting a joint investigation with the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Scottish SPCA), who plan to carry out a post mortem.

Police Sergeant Stuart Mitchell said: “This was a horrifying crime, which has left the family, and their children, in a state of shock. We are appealing for any witnesses who may have seen people loitering in the Wester Drylaw area last night to contact us. This type of incident is completely unacceptable and we are conducting active enquiries in the area.”

Scottish SPCA Inspector June Chalcroft said: “This appears to have been a malicious attack, resulting in the death of one of the chickens and the injury of another. Hopefully the results of the post-mortem will explain the cause of death.

“Thankfully a third chicken, which was missing, has been found safe and well. We believe someone may have heard something as the chickens would have made a lot of noise during the incident.”

Anyone with information about the incident should contact Police Scotland immediately on 101, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. The public can also contact SSPCA on 03000 999 999.

Theft puts spokes into volunteer’s work

A volunteer who has been carrying out unpaid work in North Edinburgh has had her bike stolen.

The volunteer was conducting an interview a community activist as background research for a Pilton Community Health Project initiative when the bike was stolen from outside North Edinburgh Arts and Muirhouse Library in Pennywell Court.

The victim, who asked not to be named, said: “It was stolen between 12.30 and 2pm. I’m totally gutted – I have been volunteering my free time in the community, I only work part-time and the bike gets me around for my job. Any help to retrieve my mode of transport would be greatly appreciated.”

The bike is a black and white (mans size) specialised road bike, with P2 type overendz bar ends on the handlebars. If you have any information about the stolen bike or can help in any way please contact local police or you can contact Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.

Positive public response to Made From Crime? campaign

A police campaign tackling people making money from crime has led to a significant increase in information about suspected criminals across the East of Scotland. The independent charity Crimestoppers has reported a 30% increase in intelligence reports since the “Made From Crime?” campaign launched across the area on 21 January.

Lothian and Borders Police, Central Scotland Police, and Fife Constabulary are all taking part in this phase of the campaign, which is designed to make specific use of the Proceeds of Crime legislation (POCA).

It asks members of the public to come forward and report their suspicions about people making money illegally. People are able to report information through a number of ways including telephone, online, and through specific facebook advertising that police forces are using to target communities throughout the East of Scotland.

The biggest rise in information came from the Fife Constabulary area, where there was an 80% rise in intelligence reports following the launch of the campaign.

The information has now been passed to police forces to investigate further.

A similar campaign that ran in the Lothian and Borders area in 2011 saw a 17% rise in information to Crimestoppers and allowed officers to target criminals in a series of raids across two days. During this period, over £6.4 million worth of assets were identified for seizure from criminals and 44 people were arrested.

Detective Superintendent David Gordon, Head of the Serious and Organised Crime Unit at Lothian and Borders Police, said: “Police forces across the East of Scotland are committed to targeting criminals who fund their lifestyles through crime. I am delighted that members of the public have come forward to tell Crimestoppers about their suspicions, and that they in turn have been able to provide us with vital intelligence to help us in our efforts to rid communities of crime. I know people can be scared to tell us about those who are making their lives a misery by peddling crime in their area, however please be reassured that all information will be treated in the strictest confidence.”

Kate Jackson, national manager for Crimestoppers Scotland, said: “The public response speaks for itself and clearly people are not prepared to put up with criminality so have contacted us with information. I would urge anyone else who has information about crime to contact us on 0800 555 111 where we guarantee their anonymity. No-one will ever know that they have contacted us, but they can be assured that their actions will assist in making their communities better places.”