Tag: Police Scotland

Mummy’s Boy: Driving home the message about motorcycle crime

‘Mummy’s Boy’ was premiered at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on the High Street in Edinburgh on Thursday.

The short film is a collaboration between several organisations including Creative Scotland, Transport Scotland, Screen Education Edinburgh, Police Scotland Edinburgh Division and students from Broughton, Holyrood and Drummond High Schools.

The students played a very active part in making the film which delivers a message to young people about the potential consequences of becoming involved in crime.

PC Greig Stephen hosted the event and there were speeches from Superintendent Richard Thomas, Sean Young from Screen Education Edinburgh and Louise Lothian who lost her 14-year-old nephew Brad Williamson in June 2016 after a motorbike he was riding was involved in a collision.

Louise gave a first-hand account of the impact of losing a loved one in tragic circumstances and at such a young age.
Superintendent Thomas said: “Tackling all forms of motorcycle crime and anti-social behaviour across Edinburgh remains one of our top priorities and through Operation Soteria, we continue to conduct enforcement activity.
“We are working in partnership with City of Edinburgh Council deploying officers on off road motorcycles, and have pioneered new methods of crime detection, such as the use of DNA tagging spray to identify those involved in these offences and bring them to justice.

“We have also worked hard with third sector organisation Aid & Abet and with people personally affected by the tragic consequences of recent incidents to impress on young people the real dangers of dangerous motor cycle riding.

“We know from experience that prevention is better than cure and this very impactful film provides a hard-hitting insight into the impact and devastation that can be caused if you are involved in the theft or criminal use of a motorcycle.

“Mummy’s Boy may be a short-film, but its message is very poignant and clear and I wish to thank all of the young people involved, as well as Sean Young from Screen Education Edinburgh, for their dedication and hard work in pulling this altogether.

“The production will be of great use to not only officers in Edinburgh, but across the country, where motorcycle crime is an area of concern for local communities.”

The students were all involved in the production of the film both in front of, and behind, the camera. They hope to reach out to other young people to think twice before making a decision which could have fatal consequences.

Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith said: “I have long been a supporter of the creative and collaborative approach taken by Police Scotland to address motorcycle related anti-social behaviour in the north of the city.

“By working with the local youth organisations and seeking to positively engage with the young people, we have seen significant results – not just in the crime statistics but, even more importantly, in a shift in attitudes to this kind of reckless behaviour from the young people themselves.

“‘Mummy’s Boy’ is a wonderful example of this approach and will leave an educational legacy which will help other communities all over Scotland follow the example of the young people in my constituency.”

Please take 5 minutes to watch ‘Mummy’s Boy’ on Vimeo: 
https://vimeo.com/359020419

Police recognised as Living Wage employer

The Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland have been formally accredited as living wage employers by Living Wage Scotland.

The Living Wage commitment will see everyone who works either directly for, or who is contracted by, the SPA or Police Scotland earn more than the minimum rate of £9 an hour  – significantly higher than the government minimum wage for over 25s of £8.21 per hour. Continue reading Police recognised as Living Wage employer

Police raise awareness of online fraud after incident in the Borders

Police Scotland is urging people to be on guard against online fraud after a Borders man was tricked into parting with more than £20,000.

The 67-year-old man, who lives in the Galashiels area, was contacted on social media and persuaded to click a link suggesting he had “won” £150,000.

He was then encouraged to part with a combination of cash and gift cards totalling £21,000 to pay for “delivery fees” and later “taxes”. Continue reading Police raise awareness of online fraud after incident in the Borders

Police Scotland: Discover YOUR Journey

Discover YOUR Journey

Scotland is an increasingly diverse country and Police Scotland want to represent this change.

Police Scotland is running one day events aimed at encouraging you to ‘Discover your Journey’ towards considering a career in policing. The courses are designed to provide an insight into the role of a police officer/special constable

During the day attendees will receive inputs from specialist departments, speak to police officers and learn about the recruitment process.

DATE: Tuesday 8th October 2019

ADDRESS: Fettes Police Station, Fettes Avenue, Edinburgh, EH4 1RB

For more information and to reserve a space please email:

recruitmentpositiveactionteam@scotland.pnn.police.uk

providing your name and contact number or request to join our closed Facebook page at: ‘Police Scotland Positive Action’

Body of missing man Stanislaw Zajac found

Police have confirmed that the body of missing man Stanislaw Zajac has been found.

The 51-year-old was last seen on Saturday 31st August in the Leith area.

On Sunday (15th September) officers responded to a report that a body had been found on an East Lothian beach. The body has now been formally identified as that of Mr Zajac and his family have been informed.

There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and a report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

 

Sharp rise in Scotland’s crime figures

Violent crime in Scotland has risen by 10% in the year to last March, official figures revealed yesterday. It’s the highest level for seven years, with a 16% rise in robberies.

The figures show there was also an 8% increase in sexual crimes, including rape, to  to the highest level ever recorded.

Despite these statistics the Scottish Government says violent crime is much lower than a decade ago. Continue reading Sharp rise in Scotland’s crime figures

Man jailed for theft and reset of thousands of university books

A man responsible for the high-value theft of books from Edinburgh’s universities has been jailed for stealing nearly 7000 books from Edinburgh colleges.

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday Darren Barr, who is also known as Alexander Van De Kamp, was given 25-months in prison for stealing and resetting thousands of pieces of literature from Edinburgh Napier University, Heriot Watt University and the University of Edinburgh. Continue reading Man jailed for theft and reset of thousands of university books

PC Murdoch returns to the Capital

One of Scotland’s most beloved bobbies has returned home to Edinburgh after travelling around the country as part of Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail.  

PC Murdoch – a mini Oor Wullie sculpture painted in the style of the comic strip constable – has been on a tour of all of Police Scotland’s 13 regional divisions this summer in recognition of the work carried out by Scotland’s children’s hospital charities.  

The special sculpture visited all five Scottish cities taking part in the charity trail, before returning to Edinburgh just in time for Oor Wullie’s BIG Farewell Weekend at St Andrew Square, which took place from 13-15 September.  

Community Policing Inspector Bob Innes said: “We’re proud to be involved in this event and everyone has really enjoyed spotting the other Oor Wullie sculptures around Edinburgh this summer.  

“It’s been great to see our residents and visitors of the city sharing their fun photos online as they follow the trail around Scotland. Oor Wullie’s PC Murdoch joined us in Edinburgh recently during his tour of the country and spent time out and about with local officers.  

“The Farewell Weekend event at St Andrew Square was an amazing opportunity to see all of the big and small statues from the Edinburgh trail in one place before they’re auctioned off next week to raise funds for Scotland’s children’s hospital charities.”

A total of 200 life-sized Oor Wullie sculptures were installed around Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee and Inverness as part of the trail, as well as a further 350 miniature versions decorated by school pupils.  

The Edinburgh auction takes place tomorrow (Thursday 19 September) at Prestonfield House, with all 60 sculptures from the city going under the hammer to raise funds for Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC).  

Roslyn Neely, CEO of ECHC, said: “We would like to say an enormous thank you to Police Scotland for their efforts and kindness in supporting Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail.

It has been wonderful to follow PC Murdoch’s adventures this summer and we’re glad he has now safely returned to his forever home in Edinburgh.  

“Thanks to this project and the funds it will raise, we are able to continue the vital work we do in supporting children, young people and their families to have a positive hospital experience.”  

ECHC believes that nothing should get in the way of being a child and works to make sure children and young people’s lives are less interrupted by illness. It distributes around £1.5 million per year to support the RHSC and other children’s healthcare settings across Scotland.     

For more information or to donate, visit https://echcharity.org/