Tag: incidents

Eight more arrests as police take action following spate of incidents

Detectives investigating a number of linked incidents in the East and West have arrested and charged eight people in the past week as officers take action across Scotland.

This brings the total number of arrests in connection with this investigation to 20.

On the evening of Wednesday, 23 April, 2025, a 16-year-old male youth and a 20-year-old man were arrested and charged in connection with five incidents of attempted murder and one of culpable and reckless fire-raising.

This follows a series of fire-raisings that have taken place across Glasgow in recent weeks. Both are due to appear in Glasgow Sheriff Court on Friday, 25 April.

On Thursday, 24 April, 2025, officers executed warrants at two properties in South Queensferry. Firearms were seized from both addresses. Two men, aged 36 and 38, have been arrested and charged in connection with firearms offences. Both men are due to appear in Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Friday, 25 April.

These are in addition to four other arrests across the country in recent days.

Shortly after 2.35am on Saturday, 19 April, 2025, a vehicle failed to stop for officers in the Robroyston area of Glasgow following disruption activity. The car then left the scene before being abandoned on an offroad track near to Chryston a short time later.

Two men, aged 23 and 24, were arrested and charged in connection with conspiracy and a number of road traffic offences, all related to serious and organised crime. Both appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Tuesday, 22 April.

On Wednesday, 23 April, 2025, a 38-year-old man was arrested and charged in Edinburgh in connection with reset of a stolen vehicle, theft of fuel, road traffic offences, culpable and reckless behaviour and being in possession of weapons.

He was due to appear in Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday – Thursday, 24 April.

A 16-year-old male was also arrested and charged with reset of a stolen vehicle and culpable and reckless behaviour.  He was due to appear in Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday (Thursday, 24 April).

A dedicated team from our Specialist Crime Division is working alongside divisional officers to gather hundreds of pieces of evidence and build solid cases against those responsible for these targeted attacks.

Meanwhile, local officers have been carrying out intelligence-led patrols to disrupt the activities of criminals and build reassurance in our communities.

Detective Chief Superintendent David Ferry said: “The arrests over the past week highlight the ongoing work that officers have been doing to target those responsible for these attacks.

“While we believe these incidents are linked to rival groups who are targeting each other, I want to make it clear this violence will not be tolerated.

“As well as carrying out these days of action and disruption activities, there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes, including exploring forensic opportunities and analysis of digital devices.

“While this may not be as visible, please be assured we are working tirelessly to build cases and are following a number of significant lines of enquiry.

“We have had a good response to our appeals and I want to thank the public for their help and information so far.

“The support of our communities is absolutely vital when it comes to tackling serious organised crime, preventing violence and getting justice for victims. Your information really can make a difference.

“If you know anything about who is responsible for these dangerous and abhorrent acts, please do the right thing and speak to us.”

Anyone who can assist our enquiries is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident number 0562 of Friday, 21 March, 2025.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.

Scottish fox hunts trying to get around new law, report shows

Scottish hunts are attempting to ride roughshod over new anti-hunting laws, according to a new report released by national animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports.

It comes as the first season draws to a close since the Hunting With Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023 was introduced.

Files have been passed to Police Scotland to investigate six incidents from the season, and at least one person has been charged with activities related to illegal hunting.

Robbie Marsland, director of League Scotland, said: “Scottish fox hunts appear to be trying to ride a coach and horses through the new law. 

“Whether they’re sneaking around with multiple dogs or saying they are drag hunting, it’s good news that Police Scotland are responding to the League’s evidence and that at least one person has been charged with illegal hunting. 

“This will be a clarion call to anyone who thinks they can get round this new law.”

The League’s investigators, who have decades of experience in monitoring and recording hunting, carried out field observations over six months, looking at patterns of behaviour of several hunts.

The Berwickshire, Jed Forest, Lauderdale, Duke of Buccleuch, and Dumfries and Stewartry mounted hunts were visited.

The charity, which this year will mark its centenary, lobbied Holyrood for tighter hunting laws in order to properly protect animals such as fox and hare that are chased and killed by packs of hounds.

It says one of the excuses three of the hunts are using – that they are following an artificial, non-animal-based scent – could be a smokescreen for illegal hunting. None are members of, or abide by the rules of, the Master of Blood Hounds and Drag Hunts Association.

Drag hunting has been an established pursuit for decades, typically takes place away from the natural habitats of hunted animals, and uses bloodhounds rather than fox hounds.

The League has evidence that at least one hunt is using fox hounds trained to follow animal scent rather than artificial scent, and is operating in areas where wild animals would be located.

Robbie said: “The next thing that needs to happen is that the Scottish Government should use its executive power to clamp down on bogus drag hunting and the League is seeking a meeting with the Minister to discuss just that.”

The full report and video footage are available at: https://www.league.org.uk/annual-hunting-report-scotland/

Bonfire Night: Three firefighters injured in eight attacks on crews

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) received more than 1000 calls from the public during an eight hour period

Firefighters across Scotland dealt with more than 370 bonfires on one of their busiest nights of the year yesterday.

Initial figures indicate that crews responded to approximately 374 bonfires across the country between 3.30pm and 11.30pm on Friday, November 5.

Meanwhile, Operations Control handled more than 1020 calls from members of the public.

There were also eight reported attacks on crews, with three injuries reported.

With public events cancelled amid continuing Covid-19 restrictions – and in Glasgow due to the evening coinciding with the COP26 event – the Service had appealed to the public to be aware of the dangers of both fireworks and deliberate fire-setting and to also consider the impact of their actions on communities and emergency services.

Assistant Chief Officer Stuart Stevens is Director of Service Delivery for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. He said: “Bonfire Night is traditionally one of our busiest nights of the year.

“I would like to pay tribute to the professionalism and resilience of our frontline and Operations Control firefighters and our support staff who have shown extreme dedication over this period.

“I must also thank our partners, and indeed communities across Scotland, for their continuing support in sharing and heeding our safety messaging.”

Libby Logan is the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Area Commander for Operations Control. She said: “This was a busy and challenging evening, but I would like to praise our Operations Control staff who have once again worked tirelessly to ensure we respond to those who need us the most.

“Their dedication has allowed us to meet this challenge and continue to protect communities throughout Bonfire Night.”

Condemning attacks on crews, Assistant Chief Officer Stevens added: “Attacks on our firefighters are completely unacceptable.

“This type of behaviour not only prevents our crews from bringing any emergency to a safe and swift conclusion, but it can impact on our emergency service colleagues – including the police when they must escort us at the scene.

“This type of behaviour is, of course, carried out by a very small minority and we once again thank our communities for their continuing support and working together with us to stay safe.”