Tag: Police Scotland

Amber weather warning for snow

The transport network is expected to face a further period of disruption following an upgraded amber warning for snow in central Scotland.

The Met Office has issued an upgraded amber warning for parts of Central, Tayside and Fife, as well as West Lothian, East and West Dunbartonshire, and North Lanarkshire. It runs from 3am on Tuesday morning until 9pm tonight.

A yellow warning for snow remains in place for parts of central and eastern Scotland until midnight on Wednesday.

The current COVID restrictions mean that people should not be making journeys unless they are for an essential purpose.

Potential impacts of the amber warning include long delays and cancellations on bus and rail travel. Roads may be affected by deep snow, particularly over higher routes, and some rural communities might be cut off. Interruptions to power supplies and telephone networks could also occur.

Our operating companies are continuing to closely monitor the trunk road network, pre-deploying resources and carrying out dedicated patrols and treatments, as well as providing assistance to motorists where necessary.

Specialist snow plans have been activated for key routes, such as the M8 and M80, and the Multi Agency Response Team will be operational throughout the warning period.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Michael Matheson said: “We’re being warned that parts of Scotland are expected to face another period of  challenging weather, with the Met Office issuing an amber snow warning for Tuesday.

“The current COVID restrictions mean you should only be leaving your home for an essential purpose, so please consider if your journey is absolutely necessary before setting off. The forecast conditions will likely cause difficult driving conditions and disruption to the wider transport network.

 “If you do have to make an essential journey, then the advice remains the same as it has throughout this winter – plan your route in advance, drive to the conditions and follow Police Scotland travel advice. There may be disruption on other modes of transport, so you should check with your operators before setting off.

“Motorists can check with Traffic Scotland to make sure that their route is available. The Traffic Scotland mobile website – my.trafficscotland.org – lets people get the latest information on the move and the Traffic Scotland twitter page is also updated regularly.”

Chief Superintendent Louise Blakelock said: “Government restrictions on only travelling if your journey is essential remains in place and so with an Amber warning for snow, please consider if your journey really is essential and whether you can delay it until the weather improves.

“If you deem your journey really is essential, plan ahead and make sure you and your vehicle are suitably prepared by having sufficient fuel and supplies such as warm clothing, food, water and charge in your mobile phone in the event you require assistance.

“The Met Office, Traffic Scotland and SEPA websites and social media channels have valuable information about weather disruptions and we would encourage people to check these sites before setting off on their journey.”

Community Police to launch Beat Hunger campaign

North East Edinburgh Community Policing Team will be launching the ‘Beat Hunger’ campaign in the coming weeks aimed at tackling food inequality and food poverty in the area.

Sergeant Elaine McArthur-Kerr, from Leith Community Policing Team said: “The Beat Hunger campaign will initially be open to identified groups within the foodbank community who will receive additional support to their foodbank emergency food boxes.

“We are building on positive relationships that exist between the police and the wider community for this project which has been funded by Deputy Chief Constable Will Kerr’s Local Partnership and Initiative fund.

“Police Scotland is committed to working with communities and protecting those who are vulnerable. Our aim is to adopt a joint approach with our partners who are participating in the campaign, to help improve physical and mental health while positively promoting healthy eating and assisting with lifelong learning.

“Additional support supplied in the ‘Beat Box’ by police will include a recipe book by Edinburgh-born Michelin star chef Martin Wishart from local ‘Restaurant Martin Wishart’ containing simple nutritious meals cooked using basic utensils with step-by-step instructions.”

The recipes will accommodate those with no cookery skills & provide activity for those with families. The book also includes tips on food management and budgetting. In addition, the recipe book will contain signposting to additional support, such as mental health and family support.

There will be a selection of basic cookery utensils and fresh nutritious ingredients to supplement long life items typically issued by foodbanks and items typically found within the household.

Keep an eye on Edinburgh Police social media for updates on the #BeatHunger campaign.

Three die in Kilmarnock incidents

Detectives are continuing enquiries following three incidents in the Kilmarnock area last night.

The first incident occurred around 7.45pm outside Crosshouse Hospital, when a 39-year-old woman was found injured in the car park.  She received medical care but she died at the scene.

The second incident occurred twenty minutes later on Portland Street, where a 24-year-old woman had been stabbed. Emergency services attended and she was taken to Crosshouse hospital where she later died.

A further incident, a fatal road crash, occurred on the C50, a road between the B7036 and the A76. Emergency services attended but the 40-year-old male driver of the car was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Family relatives have been made aware. 

Enquiries carried out so far have indicated that the incidents were linked and an investigation is under way to establish the exact circumstances of what happened. 

Officers are not looking for anyone else as part of their investigation and there is no ongoing threat to the public.

Chief Superintendent Faroque Hussain said: “A number of locations remain cordoned off as officers continue to conduct enquiries.  We are working to confirm the full circumstances of what has happened. If anyone has any information which could assist our enquiries, please do contact us.

“Understandably, people will be shocked by what has happened.  We are still in the process of establishing the full circumstances, however, I would like to reassure people that there is no wider threat to the community.  Officers will be on patrol and anyone with any concerns can approach these officers.

Local diversions are in place as a number of areas remain cordoned off in the town centre and ear on the road between the B7036 and A76.

If anyone has any information which could assist this investigation, please do contact police on 101.

Have you seen this stolen van?

Police in Edinburgh are appealing for the public’s help to trace a van which was stolen from the Portobello area.

The silver VW Transporter van, registration number VX66SYU, was stolen at about 11pm on Saturday 30 January 2021 while stored within a business address on Portobello Road.

The van is distinctive, with black wheel rims, tinted windows, black VW badge on front and rear, a black front grill, and a black roof box and a solar panel on roof.

Anyone who may have seen the van since it was stolen, or has information on its current whereabouts, is urged to contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident number 4425 of 30 January 2021 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Electric scooter rider injured in Ferniehill – man charged

Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was found injured in the south of the city after riding an electric scooter.

Shortly before 12.15am this morning (Wednesday, 3 February, 2021), a witness contacted emergency services after finding a man injured in the roadway on Ferniehill Road.

Officers and the Scottish Ambulance Service attended and the 40-year-old rider was taken to hospital with serious, but not life threatening, injuries.

Enquiries are ongoing to establish how he came to sustain his injuries and officers are asking anyone who may have seen the rider prior to him being found injured to contact police.

Police Constable James Lamb from Police Scotland’s Road Policing Unit based in Edinburgh said: “First and foremost we are seeking to understand how the man became injured. He suffered a head injury and was found in the eastbound lane of Ferniehill Road, just off Gilmerton Road, near to the junction with Ferniehill Avenue.

“I would ask anyone in the Moredun and Gilmerton areas who may have seen a man riding an e-scooter late last night, or any properties who may have private CCTV covering the area, to check their systems to see if this can help our enquiries.

“Similarly any drivers in the area who may have seen the rider prior to him being found injured, and especially if recording with dash cam, should provide any relevant information or footage to officers as soon as possible.”

Those with information should contact Police Scotland on 101 and quote incident number 0019 of 3 February. An anonymous report can be given to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Following a previous appeal regarding a man found injured after riding an electric scooter in the Ferniehill Road area of Edinburgh on Wednesday, 3 February, Police Scotland can now confirm that a 48-year-old man has been charged in connection with a number of road traffic offences.

A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

Police seek witnesses to serious assault in Pilton

Police are appealing for the help of the public following a serious assault in the East Pilton Farm area. 

At around 8.25pm on Monday (1 February) a 35-year-old man was walking alone near to the junction of Pilton Drive and East Pilton Farm Place when he was approached and assaulted by a group of males. 

The victim was knocked to the ground where the assault continued. He was later taken to hospital where he is being treated for a serious facial injury.

Detective Constable Zaira Marker said: “At this stage we are unsure of the motive for this appalling attack.  The victim has suffered a serious injury to his face and is still in hospital. We have no further information regarding the description of his assailants, other than they were four men in their 20s and were all wearing dark coloured clothing. 

“I am appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this attack or may have information which might help the investigation to get in touch with us.  

“I would also ask anyone who was driving in a vehicle in the area which has a dash-cam fitted to examine the device to see if it holds any footage which might assist in this case.  Anyone wishing to pass on information can do so through 101, quoting reference number 3200 of 1 February. 

“Anyone wishing to pass on any information while remaining anonymous can do so through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Czech man convicted of money laundering offences

A 42-year-old man from the Czech Republic has today, Monday, 1 February 2021, been convicted of money laundering offences after being arrested at Glasgow Airport as part of a Police Scotland and National Crime Agency (NCA) intelligence-led investigation into the export of cash from the United Kingdom to Dubai.

On 8 November 2020, Lukas Pokorny was stopped and arrested by Border Force officers as he was about to board a flight bound for Dubai.

A search of three suitcases in his possession revealed a large quantity of cash in each – totalling over £860,000. He was unable to provide keys to unlock the luggage, or say who they belonged to or what they contained.

Officers from the Organised Crime Partnership (Scotland) charged Pokorny and today he pled guilty to three charges under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 at the High Court in Glasgow.

Pokorny claimed he was flying to the United Arab Emirate to stay with a friend and the money was to allow him to teach people to jet-ski.

Detective Inspector Tom Gillan of the Organised Crime Partnership (Scotland) said: “Targeting the movement of criminal cash and profits from organised crime groups in Scotland remains a priority.

“The arrest and conviction of Pokorny is another excellent example of the value of partnership working between Organised Crime Partnership, Border Force and National Crime Agency officers.

“I welcome his conviction and the significant amount of laundered cash that has been taken out of criminal circulation.”

NCA regional head of investigations for Scotland Gerry McLean added: “This was a significant seizure of criminal cash, the proceeds of organised crime. Taking it out in has prevented that money being invested into further criminal activity, violence and exploitation on the streets of Scotland.

“Working with partners including Police Scotland and Border Force we are determined to do all we can to disrupt the flow of illicit finance.”

The Organised Crime Partnership (Scotland) is an investigation team comprising of officers and staff from Police Scotland and the National Crime Agency.

Missing person: LORNA FOUND

Police in Edinburgh are delighted to report that 71 year old Lorna Ferguson, reported missing earlier from Pilrig Street, Edinburgh has been TRACED SAFE AND WELL In the East Lothian area.

Police are releasing a further image of 71-year-old woman, Lorna Ferguson, missing from Bathgate this morning. The image shows Lorna near Pilrig Street.

Officers are also checking a reported sighting of Lorna in Portobello Road this afternoon.

Lorna Ferguson was last seen exiting out of Pilrig Park, Edinburgh, around 11am this morning, Saturday 30 January, 2021.

She is white, around 4 ft. 10 inches in height, with a medium build, and short silver hair. She was wearing beige coloured trousers, walking boots and a green Rab puffer jacket. She was walking her dog, a brown coloured cockapoo, with a luminous yellow, extendable lead.

Lorna has dementia and her family is extremely concerned. She has never gone missing before and they just want to know she is safe and well.

Extensive enquiries are under way to locate Lorna, but efforts so face have provide unsuccessful. Officers are checking CCTV footage for any additional information which could assist in the inquiry.

Anyone who has seen or has any knowledge as to Lorna’s whereabouts is asked to call Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 1733.

Police: Be alert to COVID scams

People across Scotland are being reminded of the need to be vigilant to avoid becoming a victim of fraudulent messages claiming to be related to the COVID-19 vaccine programme.

Scams can be circulated via text messages, phone calls and emails, as well as in person through cold callers presenting at people’s homes. 

Chief Inspector Anton Stephenson, of Police Scotland’s Safer Communities Division, said: “We are asking the public to continue to be alert to potential scam messages connected with coronavirus vaccines. These include text messages, phone calls and emails. 

“Messages suggest people are eligible for the coronavirus vaccine and in some cases ask for payment. People should be aware that unsolicited emails, text messages and calls may not be from the person or organisation which they appear to be from.   

“The NHS, and indeed other government departments, will never ask for any form of payment for a vaccine or to confirm your identity. I would urge anyone who is concerned they may have provided personal or financial information via a link in a message of this sort to contact Police Scotland on 101.

“Similarly, if someone comes to your property claiming to be offering coronavirus vaccines for a fee, do not engage with them, close and secure your door, and call Police Scotland. 

“We are working closely with partners to deter this kind of scam and make Scotland a hostile environment for scammers. We will pursue anyone who sets out to cause this kind of harm and anxiety to our communities, especially linked to a national health when people are understandably anxious as the vaccine programme is rolled out across Scotland.  

“If you receive any communications relating to vaccines that you are in anyway concerned about please contact your GP who will be able to confirm your status regarding a vaccine and do not give out any personal details or payment information.”

Silverknowes fires: man charged

A 30-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with a series of fire raising incidents in North Edinburgh.

He has been charged in connection with a number of fires in the Silverknowes area in the early hours of Wednesday, 27 January and he is expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court later today (Thursday, 28 January).