Queensferry Road will be closed in both directions between Drumbrae North and Clermiston Road North from 10pm on Thursday, 19 June until 1am on Friday, 20 June, 2025.
The closure is to allow for a collision reconstruction as part of enquiries into a crash which happened on Tuesday, 8 April, 2025.
Diversions will be in place and motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible.
Police Scotland thank the public for their patience and their understanding.
A man has been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison in relation to drugs offences in Edinburgh.
Ardit Mazrreku, 27, was sentenced today at the High Court for being concerned in drug dealing in the capital in September 2024.
On 19 September 2024, officers acting on intelligence, officers searched the property on Ratcliffe Terrace in the city during the morning of Wednesday, 25 September and recovered cannabis and cocaine with an estimated street value of £165,000.
Sergeant Mark Walker said: “Police Scotland is committed to removing illegal substances from our communities and we will take all measures to disrupt those involved in the drug trade.
“This arrest and conviction underlines our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country’s Serious Organised Crime Strategy.
“Recoveries such as this rely on information from people who do not tolerate the scourge of drugs in their neighbourhoods.
“Anyone with concerns about drugs in their community can contact us via 101, or calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
More than £8 million worth of drugs have been removed from Scotland’s streets since the beginning of May.
In the last week alone, more than £3 million worth of illegal substances have been seized following significant recoveries across the country.
Cannabis worth £640,000 was found after officers executed warrants in the Church Street area of Alloa on Tuesday, 10 June.
On Wednesday, cocaine worth £250,000 was seized after officers stopped a car on the M74 near Lockerbie and £340,000 worth of cannabis was discovered at an address in Uphall.
Almost £1 million worth of cannabis was also seized from an address in the High Street area of Shotts on Thursday.
And in the Simshill area of Glasgow on Friday, officers discovered a cannabis cultivation with plants worth £120,000.
Almost £5 million worth of drugs were seized in total from across Glasgow, Oban, Aberdeen, Denny, Cowdenbeath, Ayrshire, Stepps and Dunfermline last month (May).
Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Ferry said: “Some of these were significant seizures and highlight our dedication to tackling drug crime in Scotland.
“Controlled substances are dangerous and cause real harm to individuals, families and communities. They are illegal for that very reason.
“Working closely with our partners, we remain focused on targeting individuals and organised crime groups, who selfishly exploit vulnerable people solely for their own financial gain.
“Results like these shows our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country’s Serious Organised Crime Strategy.
“We rely on information from the public and anyone with information or concerns about drugs should contact Police Scotland on 101 or make a call anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
A further three men have been arrested in connection with Operation Portaledge, the ongoing investigation into violent incidents in the East and West of the country.
These arrests bring the total so far to 47.
On Monday, 16 June, 2025, officers arrested and charged two men, aged 26 and 20, in connection with the attempted murder of a 54-year-old man on Pitcairn Grove in Edinburgh on Thursday, 22 May.
They were due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday, 17 June.
A 26-year-old man was arrested in connection with outstanding warrants after officers attended at a property in the Muirhouse Drive area around 6pm on Sunday, 15 June. He was also charged in connection with a wilful fire at a premises in Albert Street in Edinburgh on Thursday, 6 March.
He was due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, 16 June.
Officers from local divisions and a dedicated team of officers from our Specialist Crime Division, continue to carry out extensive enquiries to gather vital evidence and reassure the public with intelligence-led patrols.
Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Ferry said: “Further to these arrests, we have also recovered a vehicle and a firearm, both of which are believed to have been used in recent incidents.
“This activity highlights our continued commitment to tackling organised crime and we are following a number of positive lines of enquiry.
“We still require further support from local communities as our investigation progresses. If you know anything that could assist our ongoing investigation, please do the right thing and speak to us.”
Anyone with information 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.
A man has been jailed for the serious sexual assault of a teenage girl in Edinburgh.Valentin Tica, 24, was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on Tuesday, 17 June 2025 to eight years in prison, backdated to November 2023.
He previously pleaded guilty on Tuesday, 20 May, 2025. Tica was also given a non-harassment order for an indefinite period.
Detective Inspector Keith Taylor said: “Tica will now face the consequences of his despicable actions in prison.
“I would like to commend the victim for her strength during the investigation, and I hope today’s sentencing brings some sense of closure.
“We would encourage anyone who has experienced any form of violent or sexual offence, regardless of when it happened, to report it to us.
“We will investigate thoroughly and have specially trained officers and partner agencies who will support you throughout.”
A former Assistant Chief Constable and Chief Human Resources Officer have been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours 2025 for their significant contribution to policing.
Recently retired Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie was awarded the King’s Police Medal (KPM). Chief Officer of Human Resources Nicky Page received an MBE.
Chief Constable Jo Farrell said: “I want to warmly congratulate Gary and Nicky on this well deserved recognition of their outstanding careers in public service, leadership and collaboration across sectors.
“Police officers, staff and volunteers work hard to deliver for our communities and these awards are an opportunity to thank them and celebrate their huge contributions to society.”
Gary Ritchie joined Strathclyde Police in 1991 and retired in April 2025 after 33 years’ police service.
He was appointed as an Assistant Chief Constable in 2019. Gary was instrumental in the roll-out of naloxone to all frontline police officers in 2020, making Police Scotland the first force globally to implement a nationwide roll out of the medication used to reverse the effect of opioids.
He was the Gold commander for the COP26 climate summit held in Glasgow in 2021. Gary was also the Gold Commander during COVID-19, actively engaging with partners across health, social care and government. He played a key role in facilitating information sharing and supporting the Independent Advisory Group to ensure the police response remained aligned with human rights requirements.
Gary had the responsibility to develop innovative approaches, based around the principles of embedding a public health approach to policing and leading public sector wide collaboration, to improve safety and wellbeing and achieve better outcomes for communities. In 2021, he significantly contributed to the creation, development and delivery of Police Scotland’s International Academy.
Gary Ritchie said: “I am both delighted and humbled that I have been awarded the King’s Police Medal.
“Any personal achievements which have led to me receiving this award have only been made possible by the many people inside and outside the service who have contributed to the successful initiatives, projects and operations that we have undertaken over the years.
“The award is much more a recognition of their contributions and, at times, wise counsel and advice. I will be forever grateful and proud of what we achieved together.”
Nicky Page joined Strathclyde Police in 2010 and has provided strategic human resources leadership for over 22,000 people in Police Scotland.
This included playing a key role during the transition period that brought together eight legacy forces to form Police Scotland. She delivered a single national HR function achieving public sector savings of around £200 million annually since 2013.
She led the Staff Pay, Reward and Modernisation Project, aligning pay and conditions across the organisation. This contributed to a reduction in the gender pay gap. Since 2017, Nicky has also volunteered as a Community First Responder with the Scottish Ambulance Service, contributing over 1000 hours of service while balancing the demands of her role and family life.
Nicky Page said: “I am both grateful and surprised to receive this honour. I’m deeply appreciative of the support I have received from my colleagues in policing, the Ambulance Service and fellow responders within the Bathgate Group.
“This honour reflects the shared commitment and teamwork that have made my contribution possible.”
Officers investigating the violent incidents in the East and West of the country have made two further arrests, bringing the total to 44.
Following the recovery of a firearm in the Roseburn Path area of Edinburgh on Wednesday, 11 June, 2025, a 25-year-old man was subsequently arrested and charged in connection and was due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today, Friday, 13 June.
Officers also executed warrants this morning at addresses in South Queensferry and Edinburgh.
A 22-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with fire-raising of a vehicle on Peacocktail Close in Edinburgh on Friday, 16 May. He is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, 16 June.
A 21-year-old man has also been reported to the Procurator Fiscal in connection with wilful fire-raisings at two properties in Glasgow and one in Shotts in April.
A dedicated team of officers from our Specialist Crime Division, with support from local divisions across the country, continue to carry out extensive enquiries to gather vital evidence and reassure the public with intelligence-led patrols.
Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Ferry said: “Our continued activity and arrests show our commitment to targeting organised crime and bringing those responsible to justice.
“We continue to investigate and follow a number of positive lines of enquiry. The support and response from the public has been excellent, and I am grateful for the assistance given to us and that continued support from local communities is crucial as we progress our enquiries.
“If you know anything that could assist our ongoing investigation, please do the right thing and speak to us.”
Anyone with information 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.
