Three men have been arrested and charged following the recovery of a six-figure sum of Class A drugs during a proactive operation in North Edinburgh.
A warrant was executed at a property in Pilton Drive North yesterday (Tuesday 14 June). Officers searched the property and seized a quantity of heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine, with an estimated street value of £130,500.
Three men – aged 29, 38, and 56 – have been arrested and charged in connection with the incident.
They are expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today – Wednesday, 15 June.
Detective Inspector Bob Campbell, of Edinburgh CID, said: “Tackling serious and organised criminality is a priority for Police Scotland and this significant recovery reinforces our determination to target criminals.
“Drug misuse brings nothing but misery to our communities and people’s lives can be ruined.
“I want to reassure the public that we will continue to use every tool and tactic at our disposal to remove these illegal substances from our streets.
“Serious and organised crime has no place in our society and we will continue to disrupt this, and any other criminal activity, which impacts on our lives and our communities.”
Chief Inspector Sarah Taylor, local area commander, said: “We depend on the continued support from our local communities and I would like to thank members of the public who have come forward with vital information, which assisted our investigations.
“I would urge anyone who has any information, or concerns surrounding drugs in their area, to contact police.
“Anyone with concerns can call officers on 101 or alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
A 31-year-old man has been charged with six offences related to housebreakings and theft.
Officers responded to a call from a member of the public in the Barnton area during the early hours of Tuesday morning (18 January) regarding suspicious activity.
Officers attended and arrested the man nearby. The charges relate to offences which took place between 15 and 18 January 2022.
The man will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court at a later date.
A man has been arrested and charged following an attempted robbery at a convenience store on West Granton Road.
The incident happened around 7.45am yesterday (Sunday, 10 October). The 31-year-old man is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court tomorrow (Tuesday 12 October).
Detective Inspector Kevin Tait said: “Fortunately no one was hurt and there was no threat to the wider public. I would like to thank the public for their patience.”
The Moderator of the General Assembly Lord Jim Wallace has embarked on a ten-day schedule to learn more about the life and work of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh.
Lord Wallace said he is looking forward to attending events organised by the Presbytery of Edinburgh which will see him meet people from all walks of life and learn how they have coped during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Presbytery visits provide Moderators with an opportunity to offer encouragement and support to church members and the communities they serve.
Due to the lockdown, this is the first fully in-person visit to take place since 2019.
Lord Wallace, Moderator of the General Assembly
Lord Wallace, a QC and former MP and MSP, said the city is close to his heart. “I am very much looking forward to my first presbytery visit, not least because it is Edinburgh where I went to university, trained as a lawyer, practiced as a lawyer, sat in the Scottish Parliament and where I met my wife, Rosie,” he said.
“I am very grateful to the presbytery for putting together a very comprehensive programme, which will allow me to engage with a whole range of people who reflect my interests and background.”
Candidates
The programme will see Lord Wallace visit churches, hospitals, universities and a prison and meet ordinary church members, politicians, senior figures in the judiciary, ministers, chaplains and interfaith and ecumenical leaders.
Lord Wallace was ordained as an elder at what was St Bernard’s Church in Stockbridge in 1981. It is now called Stockbridge Parish Church and Lord Wallace joined the congregation there yesterday (above).
In the evening, the Moderator led worship at Holy Trinity Church in Wester Hailes.
Lord Wallace will meet with Councillor Frank Ross, Lord Provost of Edinburgh, at the City Chambers today and will later attend an event at New College to mark their 175th Anniversary and meet candidates for the ministry.
This evening, the Moderator will attend a civic event at the City Chambers for members of the Edinburgh Area Children’s Panel who make sure that a young person is at the heart of legal decisions that affect them.
Many church members are involved in this work and Lady Wallace, who will be accompanying her husband, was a panel member for many years until recently.
Courts and prison
On Tuesday, Lord Wallace, who is currently sitting on the non-affiliated benches in the House of Lords, is visiting the Charteris Centre run by Greyfriars Kirk, which is based in a refurbished church building at The Pleasance which is nearing completion.
It is a social enterprise initiative which seeks to provide a place for connection with communities of all kinds.
Afterwards he will visit Edinburgh Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Courts to hear more about the administration of justice, especially during the pandemic.
Lord Wallace will then travel to HMP Edinburgh in the Saughton area of the city where he will be given a tour and introduced to staff, prisoners and the chaplains who support them.
On Wednesday, he will visit Napier University’s Sighthill campus where he will meet Principal Andrea Nolan and be given a tour of the Clinical Centre in School of Health and Social Care.
He will meet staff, students, members of the university’s chaplaincy team and Professor Gary Hutchinson and Liz Aston from the School of Applied Sciences to discuss work with Scottish Institute For Policing Research.
In the afternoon, the Moderator will visit the Granton Goes Greener project at Granton Parish Church to learn more about an innovative clothes upcycling project which is part of work to reduce consumption as part of efforts to tackle the climate crisis.
He will later attend a special Presbytery service in St Giles Cathedral on the Royal Mile, which will be attended by the church’s ecumenical and interfaith partners, as well as national and civic leaders, and will be followed by a reception in Parliament Hall which will bring people from the worlds of religion, politics and legal profession together.
On Thursday, the Moderator is visiting Edinburgh Airport with Rev Moira MacDonald, minister of Corstorphine Old Parish Church and Workplace Chaplain, Esther Elliot, to hear about the work of workplace chaplains.
He will later meet with the Principal of the University of Edinburgh and visit the law school – the place where he studied – to speak with students and staff.
Frontline chaplains
In the evening, the Moderator will attend a Presbyterial Guild event in Craiglockhart Parish Church, speaking on the theme of “Look forward in Faith”.
On Friday, he is visiting the Royal Blind School, the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and will attend an evening reception at Edinburgh Castle for chaplains who serve in a wide variety of contexts – hospitals, the military, universities and the workplace.
Lord Wallace said: “I am looking forward to meeting people engaged in chaplaincy, many of whom have been at the front line during the COViD-19 crisis.
“I will be very much in listening mode and hope to provide them with encouragement.”
Polwarth Parish Church is the Moderator’s next stop where, on Saturday, he will visit the new All Aboard canal boat that the congregation jointly own with a charity called People Know How.
It is used for spiritual and educational pursuits on the Union Canal, which links Edinburgh and Falkirk.
The Moderator will take part in worship at Tron, Moredun and Gilmerton Church on Sunday and join members of Leith Churches for a special service in the evening.
He will visit the Richmond’s Hope bereavement project for children and young people at Richmond Craigmillar Church the following day.
Very Rev Dr Derek Browning, Moderator of Edinburgh Presbytery, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming Lord Wallace.
“Presbytery visits allow Moderators to meet local Christians and gain a wider perspective of how the Church, and the communities we support, engage.”
Detectives from Edinburgh have made a number of arrests in a day of action aimed at disrupting “country lines” drug supplies into the city.
Six men, aged 38, 30, 29, 24, 22 and 21, were arrested in Edinburgh and Wolverhampton today (Wednesday, 21 July) and charged in connection with various drug offences.
All are expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in due course.
Small quantities of crack cocaine, heroin and cannabis, along with a four figure sum of cash recovered during the operation.
Detective Inspector Kevin Tait said: “We are committed to identifying the supply chain which brings drugs into Edinburgh and disrupting the activity of people intent on bringing harm to our communities.
“The county lines model shows crime does not respect borders. “Activity such as this cross border operation shows the benefit of working closely with partner agencies in response to concerns raised by local communities.
“Intelligence is the lifeblood of investigations such as this. Communities should not have to tolerate the damage caused by drugs and I would urge anyone with information which can help us deal with those responsible to pass this on.”
“If anyone has any concerns regarding the abuse of controlled drugs, or anyone who may be involved in the supply of controlled drugs, they are urged to contact Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
Three men charged in connection with an attempted murder in West Pilton are expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court later today (Thursday 15 July).
The men were arrested and charged after a 34-year-old man was found seriously injured in a communal stairwell in West Pilton Grove on Friday 18 June.
Chief Inspector Sarah Taylor, said: “We would like to thank those who have come forward and assisted with our enquiries. “I would like to reassure the members of the community that this was an isolated incident and there is no threat to the wider public. “Our officers and partners will continue to engage with local residents to provide reassurance and I would encourage anyone who has any concerns surrounding crime in the area to get in contact with police. “Police can be contacted on 101 or alternatively the charity Crime stoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
A 17-year-old male youth has been arrested and charged in connection with an attempted murder and serious assault which happened in Edinburgh on Saturday (3 July, 2021).
The incident happened at Granton Square at around 1.10am.
Two men, aged 19 and 21, were found with serious injuries and taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment.
He is expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Wednesday, 7 July, 2021.
Detective Sergeant Mark McGraw of CID in Edinburgh said : “I want to reassure the public that this was an isolated incident and at no point were they at risk. Enquiries are continuing and I would like to thank the public for the assistance already provided.”
At round 6.30pm on Monday (7 June), Police Scotland Officers acting on intelligence stopped a Volkswagen van on the A720, Edinburgh city bypass at Old Craighall.
During a search of the vehicle, officers recovered a large quantity of heroin and cocaine as well as mixing/bulking agents.
The drugs have an estimated combined street value of £73,000. A 47-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the recovery and is due to appear before Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (Wednesday 9 June).
A full report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.
