Tag: Police Scotland

Take extra care and plan ahead before heading to the hills and mountains

Police Scotland is appealing to hill users and mountaineers to plan ahead and take extra care in the coming weeks.

Mountain Rescue Teams across Scotland have been experiencing a recent increase in callouts and six people have tragically lost their lives over the last two weeks.

On Tuesday night Mountain Rescue Teams dealt with an incident on Ben Nevis when police were made aware of a number of people in difficulty.  One man, aged 28 was pronounced dead at the scene and 23 people were assisted off the mountain. Two men, aged 29 and 37 were treated in hospital.

A search for Nick Gillingham, last seen near the summit of Stob Coire Nam Beith, Glencoe, was stood down yesterday due to weather conditions. It will resume once it is safe for mountain rescue teams to do so.

Inspector Matt Smith, Police Scotland Mountain Rescue coordinator said, “The onset of spring has brought some more settled weather patterns and a welcome increase in daylight hours. 

“We would urge those seeking to venture into the outdoors to take extra care.  Challenging winter conditions still prevail in the hills with large areas totally covered in snow and ice. 

“Often these areas are completely unavoidable and snow may be rock hard with a high likelihood of a fall unless crampons and an ice axe are carried and most importantly, the group has a knowledge in how and when to use them. A slip in these situations may have very serious or fatal consequences.

“As with all outdoor activities, planning is key and a number of key partners produce resources and guidance to help keep you safe including the current #thinkWINTER campaign backed by Scottish Mountain Rescue and Mountaineering Scotland.

“It is vitally important to understand the risks of your activity, the experience of your group, the prevailing weather conditions during, and at your intended destination and that suitable equipment is carried to allow you to navigate safely over steep or icy terrain.

“Make a plan, don’t be afraid to adapt and make sure you think about what to do if things go wrong.  The photo you’ve seen on social media is not always a true reflection of what you may find when you get there.

“The volunteer Mountain Rescue Teams across Scotland are an amazing network of dedicated and highly skilled people who will do everything they can to assist you if you find yourself in difficulty but responsibility for staying safe on the mountains rest with us all and involves good planning, sound decision making and the ability to carry and use the correct equipment.

“By all mean enjoy Scotland’s spectacular scenery but do so safely.”

If you do need emergency help on the mountains, dial 999, ask for the police and then for Mountain Rescue.

Operation Pillar tackling youth disorder near city tramlines

Police are working with local partners to tackle anti-social behaviour following an increase in incidents linked with youth gatherings at Sighthill Public Park and on the tramline between Hermiston Gait and Balgreen.

Community policing teams in Edinburgh Southwest have been working closely with Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh Trams and the Fire Service to put in place a strategy to combat anti-social behaviour and protect the local community.

As part of the strategy, called Operation Pillar, police have introduced high visibility patrols at peak times and increased CCTV coverage in key locations across the area to discourage anti-social behaviour and help with identifying those responsible where incidents do occur.

Officers will also be delivering educational inputs at local High Schools and implementing diversionary interventions with local young people.

Chief Inspector Mark Hamilton said: “We know that the increase in anti-social behaviour in the area has been a cause for concern to many in the community.

“For this reason we have been working closely with our local partners to put together a comprehensive strategy so we can tackle this issue head-on

“By establishing high visibility patrols and increasing CCTV coverage we expect to see a reduction in the number of incidents occurring and be able to catch those responsible where they do.

“Officers will be providing support to Council park rangers, tram staff and colleagues at the Fire Service so that any instances of anti-social behaviour can be dealt with effectively.

“Positive engagement with young people is also a key component of this strategy and by working with local schools we hope to prevent any incidents from happening in the first place.

“If anyone does however observe any anti-social behaviour or criminality, I would ask that people report through the 101 telephone number, or if it is an emergency to dial 999.

“Members of the public are also encouraged to speak with patrolling officers when they see them to highlight any issues or concerns.”

An Edinburgh Trams spokesperson said: “The safety and wellbeing of customers and employees is always our number one priority, and we work closely with the police and other partners to reduce incidents of anti-social behaviour that are sometimes reported on the network.

“These partnerships include regular joint patrols with the police, while extensive, high quality CCTV coverage on the tramway enables us to react quickly to any incidents. Footage captured by our cameras can also be shared with the police to help them to identify those responsible.

“Trams are one of the safest forms of public transport and these measures provide further reassurance for our customers and colleagues.”

Panmure Place stabbing: two guilty

Two men have been convicted of the attempted murder of another man in Edinburgh in 2020.

Paul O’Docherty, 30 and Jake O’Docherty, 27, (pictured) were found guilty on Tuesday (1st March) following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

They attacked the man, who was 34-years-old at the time, in an alleyway off Panmure Place during the evening of Sunday, 13 September, 2020.

Detective Sergeant Keith Taylor said: “Both O’Dochertys subjected this man to a violent attack which has had lasting impact on the life of the victim.

“They will now face the consequences of their brutal behaviour following this guilty verdict.While it cannot change what happened, this will hopefully provide some closure for the victim.”

The two men are due to be sentenced on Monday, 28 March.

Drylaw’s Joy is Probationary Constable of the Year

The Chief Constable’s Bravery and Excellence Awards 2021 took place yesterday (25 February 2022) and local police officer Constable Joy Millican has been awarded Probationary Constable of the Year.

Joy has been a member of Team 3 Drylaw Response since August 2020 after excelling during her probationer training at the Scottish Police College, which led to her receiving awards for her academic achievements and officer safety skills.

Her pride in her performance is exhibited in her daily approach and enthusiasm for her role. Her professionalism impresses not only her colleagues and supervisors but also the public and professional partners. She has received feedback acknowledging her sensitivity and compassion when dealing with incidents of a delicate nature.

Joy volunteered to attend an “Anatomy of Giving Evidence” course to enhance her skills in this area and produced guidance documents for her peers to help them gain knowledge and confidence in relation to court proceedings.

Chief Inspector Sarah Taylor, Local Area Commander for the North West of Edinburgh, said: “I’m absolutely delighted for Joy and this award is well deserved.

“Joy is a credit to Police Scotland and I’d like to congratulate her on being awarded Probationary Constable of the Year. She is performing at a standard far beyond what is expected of her at this level of her service and she is a valued member of the team who offers guidance and support to colleagues of all experience and service.”

Seven years on, Police seek witness to Newmills Road incident

Police Scotland has released an image of a man they believe may be able to assist with their enquiries in connection with a serious incident which occurred in the early hours of 27 August 2015 at Newmills Road in Balerno. 

Officers are keen to speak to a man who was on the number 44 bus travelling west from Edinburgh City Centre towards the Balerno area late in the evening of 26 August, 2015. 

CCTV footage has shown that the man alighted from the bus at Newmills Road, Edinburgh, shortly before midnight and detectives believe he may have vital information relating to the incident.

Detective Inspector Jon Pleasance, of Edinburgh CID, said: “This man may have witnessed something that could assist with our investigation and therefore it is vital we speak to him.

“There is no reason to believe he was involved in the incident itself, and he may have not realised that what he potentially saw or heard could assist police.

“I would ask if you are this man, or you recognise this man, please get in contact with police.

“Although this incident took place in 2015, we are determined to bring the offender to justice and are appealing for any information that can help with our enquiries.”

Police can be contacted on 101 quoting incident 0080 of 27/08/2015. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Stenhouse death: man charged

Police Scotland have confirmed that a 37-year-old man has been charged in connection with the death of a 45-year-old woman in Edinburgh.

Dawn Trusler’s body was found around 9.30am on Monday, 21 February, 2022 after officers were called to a property on Stenhouse Gardens North.

The man is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (Wednesday, 23 February, 2022).

Police Scotland: Special Constable online recruitment event

Did you know you can volunteer with Police Scotland as a Special Constable?

Police Scotland will be hosting an online event and Q&A with the aim of offering insight into the role of a Special Constable, the recruitment process and the training involved.

The event will take place on Microsoft Teams on Wednesday, 23 February, 6.30pm – 8pm.

If you’re interested in learning more about the unique skills you can develop and how you can give back to your local community, please email:  

specialconstabletransformationproject@scotland.police.uk 

Police seek information following South Queensferry electric bike thefts

Police are appealing for the public’s help to trace two electric bikes which were stolen from the South Queensferry area.

A green Cube Cross 500 and a purple Scott Sub Active 10 were stolen from a secured garage between Tuesday 1 and Friday 4 February 2022.

Anyone who may have seen these bikes since they were stolen, or has information on their current whereabouts, is urged to contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident number 2661 of 4 February 2022 or anonymously via the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The dangers of love online

Beware of scams when looking for love online, especially if someone quickly declares strong feelings for you.

Take a moment to #Stop and #Challenge whether the person is who they say they are by reverse image searching their profile picture (possible on the search bar of some image searching engines).

In the first half of 2021 alone, over £15 million was lost to romance scams. Ahead of Valentine’s Day, Take Five to Stop Fraud and the Online Dating Association share how to spot the warning signs and keep your savings – as well your heart – safe.

TRUE LOVE OR FAKE PROFILE?

Criminals use information found on social media to create fake identities to target people with scams. They go to great lengths to build fake profiles, often stealing photos. Once fraudsters connect with you on dating sites, social media or gaming platforms, they’ll try to establish a relationship quickly. Many use the promise of buying a house together or getting married to trick you into falling in love with them.

Want to know how to spot a fake profile? Do your research first. You can check if the person you’re talking to is really who they say they are by reverse image searching their profile picture (possible on the search bar of some image search engines).

‘MONEY’ AT FIRST SIGHT?

After gaining your trust and convincing you that you’re in a genuine relationship, criminals then try and persuade you to send them money. Online daters should be aware of the actions fraudsters will use to manipulate them into parting with their money as unfortunately this is becoming more common. 38% of people who dated someone they met online said they were asked for money -. The average amount of money people were asked for was £345, although some were asked for more than £1,000.

Of those that were asked to give or lend money by someone they met online, over half (57 per cent) did so – putting them at risk of falling for a romance scam.

The three most common reasons people were asked for money were:

  • Claiming they need money for an emergency (37%)
  • To cover transport costs to visit you if they’re overseas (36%)
  • To help them make an investment (29%)

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR MONEY

If you’re ever asked for cash from someone you’ve never met in person then alarm bells should start ringing – it could be a scam. Ahead of Valentine’s Day, the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign and the Online Dating Association is advising people how to stay safe from romance scams when dating online:

  • Be suspicious of any requests for money from someone you have never met in person, particularly if you have only recently met online.
  • Speak to your family or friends to get advice and share experiences. Friends and family can watch for any change in behaviour.
  • Profile photos may not be genuine, so you should make sure to do your research first. You can do this by uploading a picture of the person you’re talking to into your search engine to check that profile photos are not associated with another name. Performing a reverse image search can find photos that have been taken from somewhere, or someone, else.
  • Stay on the dating sites messaging service until you’re confident the person is who they say they are and ensure meetings in person take place in a public place. Online dating platforms have moderation and reporting processes in place to protect daters and remove scammers.
  • Contact your bank straight away if you think you may have fallen for a romance scam, notify Action Fraud and let the platform on which you met the scammer know about the incident

DODGY DATE?

Criminals are heartlessly targeting people online to trick them into handing over their money as a sign of love.

Stop, and take the time to think about the person behind the profile, get to know your date, and don’t send money to someone you’ve only met online.

Here’s some warning signs to watch out for that your date could be a scammer:

  1. You’ve met someone online and they declare strong feelings for you after a few conversations
  2. They suggest moving the conversation away from the dating website or social media to a more private channel such as email, phone or instant messaging
  3. Their profile on the internet dating website or their social media page isn’t consistent with what they tell you
  4. There are spelling and grammar mistakes, inconsistencies in their stories and they make claims such as their camera isn’t working
  5. They refuse to video call/meet you in person
  6. They get angry or try and rush you if you insist on staying on the dating site or ask to meet face to face.
  7. Photos generally tend to be stolen from other people: check by doing a reverse image search and uploading a picture of the person you’re talking to into your search engine
  8. You’re asked to send money to someone you have not met face-to-face, either through bank/money transfer or through the purchase of gift cards or presents such as phones and laptops. You may even be asked to provide them with access to your bank account or card
  9. Upon questioning your friend or family member, they may become very secretive about their relationship or provide excuses for why their online partner has not video called or met them in person. They might become hostile or angry, and withdraw from conversation when you ask any questions about their partner

For more advice on how to stay safe from scams, visit the Take Five to Stop Fraud website and the Online Dating Association set of resources.