Tag: lothian and borders police

Police renew appeal following Pilrig attack

Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for witnesses after a woman was seriously assaulted during the early hours of Sunday morning. The woman was found by members of the public in Pilrig Park.

The 23-year-old had been out with friends in the city centre and left the Picturehouse nightclub around 3am on Sunday 22 July 2012 to return home. CCTV enquires have shown that she made her way onto the West End of Princes Street before walking east.

Members of the public then found the woman within a play area of Pilrig Park at around 6am and contacted the emergency services. The victim suffered serious facial injuries and was taken to hospital, where she continues to be treated. Officers believe the attack was sexually motivated and have urged anyone who can assist with their enquiries to come forward.

Detective Inspector Scott Cunningham, who is leading the investigation said: “This has been a brutal and unprovoked attack on a lone woman as she made her way home. Her injuries could only have been caused through significant and violent force and a major investigation has now been launched.

“Anyone who remembers seeing any suspicious activity in or around the Pilrig Park area in the early ours of Sunday morning is also asked to contact police immediately. We are particularly keen to trace any rickshaw drivers, who may have been on Pilrig Street at around 3.30am. They are urged to get in touch as soon as possible to assist with our enquiries.”

Anyone with any information can contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.

Files on local school pupils stolen

 

An investigation has been launched after the confidential files of 45 school pupils were stolen from an Edinburgh City Council worker’s home earlier this week. The files relate to pupils from Forthview and Granton Primary Schools and Broughton High School, who have had contact with the Education Welfare Service. 

The files were stolen during a burglary on Wednesday, BBC Scotland has revealed.

The council said the files were ‘predominantly’ about school attendance, and a city council spokeswoman added: “We are working closely with the police on this matter but believe that these files weren’t targeted by the thief. We are making contact with all the families this information relates to and have made staff available to them to help with any questions or concerns they may have.”

 

Family plea for return of Elizabeth’s bench

Elizabeth Maginnis memorial bench stolen

A bench dedicated to the memory of local councillor Elizabeth Maginnis has been stolen from Elizabeth Maginnis Court in Royston Mains, and the Maginnis family have issued a plea for information that could lead to it’s return.

Dunedin Canmore Housing Association opened the new care home complex in Royston Mains Crescent last November, and the building was named after the late Granton councillor who died in September 2008. The Maginnis family sited the engraved hardwood bench there, where it provided both a quiet and peaceful pspot for residents and visitors and also a place where Maginnis family members could remember a much-loved wife, daughter and mum.

However the bench was stolen last weekend and the family are now desperate for it’s return.

Elizabeth’s husband Michael said: “On Saturday morning Elizabeth’s mother Betty received a call from her friend Ella, who is a resident at Elizabeth Maginnis Court, to say that the bench had gone. She said the bench was definitely there at 10pm on Friday night but it had gone by 8am on Saturday morning”.

He continued: “It’s absolutely awful for the family, deeply upsetting and we’d like to hear from anyone who has any information that could lead to it’s recovery. It’s a unique bench, heavily engraved, and really it’s of no use to anyone other than our family. For us, the bench has been a focus for our family – it was touching when Elizabeth Maginnis Court was named after Elizabeth, but that’s not quite so intimate as having the bench itself. We’re devastated”.

Among the engravings on the bench are the words: ‘In loving memory of Elizabeth Maginnis. A wonderful wife,fantastic mum and great Councilllor’.

There are some indications of how the bench was removed and there are CCTV cameras in the area, but Michael hopes that local people will also come forward with information.

“We are not really interested in who took it or why, we just want the bench back and would be so grateful if local residents would get in touch if they have any information at all. Many local people knew Elizabeth and I think many people will be disgusted with what has happened. If anyone knows anything, however small, please come forward”.

If you have any information that could lead to the recovery of the bench, please telephone Drylaw Police Station on 343 3171, Fettes HQ on 311 3131 or the concierge at Dunedin Canmore on 478 8888. Alternatively you can also call Crimestoppers in complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.

Family plea for return of Elizabeth's bench

Elizabeth Maginnis memorial bench stolen

A bench dedicated to the memory of local councillor Elizabeth Maginnis has been stolen from Elizabeth Maginnis Court in Royston Mains, and the Maginnis family have issued a plea for information that could lead to it’s return.

Dunedin Canmore Housing Association opened the new care home complex in Royston Mains Crescent last November, and the building was named after the late Granton councillor who died in September 2008. The Maginnis family sited the engraved hardwood bench there, where it provided both a quiet and peaceful pspot for residents and visitors and also a place where Maginnis family members could remember a much-loved wife, daughter and mum.

However the bench was stolen last weekend and the family are now desperate for it’s return.

Elizabeth’s husband Michael said: “On Saturday morning Elizabeth’s mother Betty received a call from her friend Ella, who is a resident at Elizabeth Maginnis Court, to say that the bench had gone. She said the bench was definitely there at 10pm on Friday night but it had gone by 8am on Saturday morning”.

He continued: “It’s absolutely awful for the family, deeply upsetting and we’d like to hear from anyone who has any information that could lead to it’s recovery. It’s a unique bench, heavily engraved, and really it’s of no use to anyone other than our family. For us, the bench has been a focus for our family – it was touching when Elizabeth Maginnis Court was named after Elizabeth, but that’s not quite so intimate as having the bench itself. We’re devastated”.

Among the engravings on the bench are the words: ‘In loving memory of Elizabeth Maginnis. A wonderful wife,fantastic mum and great Councilllor’.

There are some indications of how the bench was removed and there are CCTV cameras in the area, but Michael hopes that local people will also come forward with information.

“We are not really interested in who took it or why, we just want the bench back and would be so grateful if local residents would get in touch if they have any information at all. Many local people knew Elizabeth and I think many people will be disgusted with what has happened. If anyone knows anything, however small, please come forward”.

If you have any information that could lead to the recovery of the bench, please telephone Drylaw Police Station on 343 3171, Fettes HQ on 311 3131 or the concierge at Dunedin Canmore on 478 8888. Alternatively you can also call Crimestoppers in complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.

Terror suspect arrested in Leith

A fugitive alleged to be part of the Basque separatist group, Eta, has been arrested in the Leith area – more than 10 years after he went on the run. Lothian and Borders Police arrested Benat Atorrasagasti Ordonez – who has been on Spain’s ‘most wanted’ list since 2008 – in a Friday night raid.

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said: “A 36-year-old man has been arrested in Edinburgh on two European warrants, in connection with historical crimes committed in Spain and France.

“We can confirm that no armed officers were involved and at no time was any member of the public at risk. The man will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday under the terms of the Extradition Act.”

The Basque separatist organisation ETA was formed in 1959, waging a campaign of terror that has included bombings, shootings and kidnappings costing hundreds of lives. The group declared a ‘permanent ceasefire’ in October last year – but it’s only the latest of many.

Dog’s life for wrongdoers as Zico strikes twice!

Six men have been detained in connection with alleged housebreaking and thefts following excellent work by police dogs and handlers with the Lothian and Borders Police Specialist Support Unit.

At around 4.25am this morning (Wednesday 11 July), police were called to Craigcrook Road in Blackhall after two men were spotted acting suspiciously in the area. Officers detained one man within a white Transit van but another male made off into nearby woodland. He was tracked by Police Dog Zico, a German Shepherd, who immediately picked up the scent and the man was very quickly traced hiding within foliage.

It’s been a busy old morning’s work for Zico – an hour earlier police responded to an address in Clovenstone Drive after receiving reports of men trying to steal a car. On arrival, a group of men made off from the scene and were pursued by officers. Police dogs Ellie and Zico were deployed and within a short time all four men had been traced in and around garden areas of Clovenstone Gardens.

The men detained during both these incidents are all currently assisting police with their investigations.

Police are also following a positive line of enquiry following the theft of a quad bike at Ransfield Farm in Ratho around 6am yesterday (Tuesday 10 July 2012). PD Ellie, who was deployed to assist with the search for two men seen stealing the vehicle, soon after recovered a balaclava believed to belong to one of the suspects. The item is now being analysed by police, who are warning would-be thieves to think twice before becoming involved in acquisitive crime.

Chief Superintendent Derek Robertson, Operations Division Commander said: “Lothian and Borders Police are committed to promoting preventative policing and regularly engage with our local communities to offer advice and guidance on how to keep properties and valuables safe from criminals. However, whenever a crime does occur, we will use all the resources at our disposal to identify and trace those responsible and bring them to justice.”

He continued: “Our police dogs are trained to an extremely high standard and are regularly used with great success during the various operations and day-to-day policing duties the Force undertakes. As these recent incidents have shown, those who flee the scene of a crime can and will still be brought to justice based on the competent work carried out by the our dogs, their handlers and the other specialist resources Lothian and Borders Police can utilise during an investigation.”

Call in and meet your community cops

Community police officers will be holding a drop-in session at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre on Thursday (5 July) from 7 – 8pm.

PC Sarah Hall of Drylaw’s Safer Neighbourhood Team explained: “Myself and Constable Tony Lawrence are holding regular Police Drop-In sessions at the new Royston/Wardieburn Community Centre. We hope this will be a chance for residents to informally meet their local community Police Officers and raise any questions or concerns they may have.”

Dates set after next Thursday are Thursday 2 August, Thursday 30 August, Thursday 27 September, Thursday 25 October and Thursday 22 November. All  sessions are from 7 – 8pm.

 

Park life gets Inverleith Summer Programme under way

A whole host of agencies have got together to organise and support Inverleith’s Youth and Children’s Summer Park Events, and the programme kicks off at Ravleston Park on Monday (2 July) from 1 – 3pm with a portable football pitch, games, music, sports activities and more.

Further park events are planned at Ravelston again (Monday 16 July,1 -3pm), King George V (Monday 30 July 1- 4pm) and Inverleith Park (Friday 10 August 1- 4pm).

For more information contact Anne Brown at Inverleith CLD at Broughton High School, telephone 332 6316 or email anne.brown@ea.edin.sch.uk or check out the website www.joininedinburgh.org/holidayprogramme

And the agencies who have made the Summer Programme possible? In no particular order: Edinburgh Leisure, Glenogle Swim Centre, Fet Lor Youth Centre, Scotmid Co-operative, Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership, CLD Inverleith, Library2go, Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre, sportscotland active schools Edinburgh & Lothian and Borders Police.

Drink driving – still too many dicing with death

The drink drive message is still failing to register with too many motorists, according to Lothian and Borders Police. Senior police officers have spoken out spoke out following the conclusion of the ACPOS (Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland) Summer Drink and Drug Drive Campaign, saying it is clear the dangers of driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs continue to be ignored.

During the two-week campaign (June 4 -18) coordinated by ACPOS, police forces across Scotland carried out high profile and unmarked patrols to target those risking their lives and the lives of others on Scotland’s roads.

Over the last seven days, 118 people were reported for drink driving, an additional five were detected whilst unfit through drugs and 18 vehicles were seized for consideration of forfeiture by the court. This brought the two week campaign total to 229 motorists reported for drink driving, a slight reduction on last year’s campaign (238 in 2011).

In one incident on 11 June, officers attended at Hermiston Gait, Edinburgh where a woman was seen by members of the public slumped over the steering wheel of a car in the car park. She provided a roadside breath sample of over SIX times the legal limit and was arrested, She later refused to provide a sample at the station. She was cautioned and charged, held for court and forfeiture of her vehicle was requested. The accused had earlier purchased alcohol at the supermarket and had been drinking in the car for some time.

In another incident a lorry driver transporting a shipment of beer on the M9 near Stirling was stopped and provided a breath sample of more than three times the legal limit.

Young drivers (17 to 25 years old) continue to feature and this is a cause for concern. One 23 year old male who has only held his driving licence for two weeks was found driving whilst over the legal drink drive limit in Kirkcaldy.

A 25 year old female provisional licence holder who was reportedly travelling at speeds in excess of 100mph in Aberdeen failed to negotiate a roundabout crashing her vehicle.  She was taken to hospital where she later provided a positive breath test.  As well as drink driving she has also been charged with dangerous driving and driving licences offences.

Deputy Chief Constable Kate Thomson of Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary is the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland (ACPOS) lead for drink driving and anti social use of the roads. She said: “Of course it is pleasing to note there has been a reduction in numbers of motorists found to be driving while under the influence of drink or drugs. But this is a very slight decrease year on year and I would caution against any form of complacency. It is of particular concern that so many young drivers think it is appropriate to drink and drive. Over the summer spell there are many events and occasions where people are tempted to enjoy an alcoholic refreshment. There is no problem with that as long as they do not then choose to get behind the wheel of their car.”

She continued: “Motorists have to take responsibility for their actions, the safety of their passengers and other road users. Although the campaign is over, police officers across Scotland will continue to be vigilant and you will be caught if you drink and drive. I would encourage the public who suspect anyone of driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs to contact the Police or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”