Tag: Police Scotland

Police Scotland is recruiting Special Constables

Our dedicated team of #SpecialConstables volunteered over 820hrs in #Edinburgh during January 2025 – an incredible effort from an incredible team!

With a long and impressive history, the Special Constabulary is a part-time, volunteer body consisting of voluntary officers with identical powers to that of police officers. As a special constable, you’ll work alongside our police officers in your spare time – forging strong partnerships in the community, patrolling our streets, preventing crime, and interacting with all kinds of people to give back, keep your local community safe and make a real difference.

You can work full time and be a Special Constable in just 96 hours per year or a few hours a week. The role is diverse, demanding, and rewarding. You could be doing anything from policing a football match to assisting at a road accident. Special constables also police major sporting and public events and provide an excellent bridge between the Police Service and the public, representing both the community within the police service and the police service within local communities.

Special Constables can act as a positive force for change – bringing with them an extensive pool of skills, talents, experience, local knowledge, and diverse backgrounds – as well as enhancing the overall level of service provided by the police. So whatever your walk of life, step forward now and find out how being a police volunteer could be the perfect fit to suit your lifestyle.

If you would like to volunteer with Police Scotland , serving communities in the capital, follow the link to find out more … https://orlo.uk/z9Jrl

#ValuedVolunteers

Three arrested and charged following seizure of drugs worth £1 Million

Three men arrested in connection with the seizure of Class A drugs in West Lothian have been charged in connection with serious and organised crime and drugs offences.

They are due to appear at Livingston Sheriff Court on Monday, 10 February, 2025.

It follows an operation on Thursday (6 February 2025) where officers seized drugs worth an estimated ONE MILLION pounds.

Warrants were executed across West Lothian resulting in four people being arrested in connection with organised crime and drugs offences. 

The activity was a part of an ongoing investigation, Operation Silhouette and is led by the Serious and Organised Crime Unit to target and dismantle serious organised crime groups.

Locations visited included Fauldhouse, West Calder, Polbeth and Livingston.

Officers recovered 21.5kg of Cocaine, worth an estimated street value of £1,000,000, and seized around £80,000.

A woman aged 54 and three men aged 29, 35 and 54 were arrested. The woman was released pending further enquiries.

Detective Superintendent Steven Elliott said: “This is a significant seizure and continues to highlight our ongoing efforts to disrupt drug supply and protect those in our communities affected by illegal drugs. 

“We work every day to protect the public to prevent drugs being circulated on our streets. This is vitally important in addressing the concerns of local people.

“Our operation underlines our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country’s Serious Organised Crime Strategy.

“Information and support from the public is vital to our work and I would encourage anyone with concerns about drug activity in their area to contact us via 101.”

Police appeal following serious crash on Howden Hall Road

Road Policing officers are appealing for information following a crash involving a car and a pedestrian in Edinburgh.

Emergency services were called to the A701 Howden Hall Road near the junction with Alnwickhill Road, around 2.20pm yesterday – Thursday, 6 February 2025.

The pedestrian, an 89-year-old woman, was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh to be treated for serious injuries.

The driver of the Land Rover was not injured.

The road was closed for around three hours to allow for investigations to be carried out.

Sergeant Fraser Mitchell said “Our enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances and I am appealing to anyone who witnessed the crash get in touch.

“I would also appeal to anyone who may have dash-cam or private CCTV footage that could assist our enquiries to contact us.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 1901 of 6 February 2025.

Bonfire Night Disorder: Five more arrests

Five more people have been arrested in connection with disorder offences that took place in Edinburgh on Bonfire Night last year.

As part of the ongoing criminal investigation into the disorder that took place in Calder Road, officers executed two search warrants at addresses in the Broomhall and Saughton areas on Thursday, 30 January 2025. A 17-year-old male was arrested in Broomhall, while a 16-year-old male was arrested in Saughton.

Between Thursday, 30 and Friday, 31 January 2025, three other males aged 17, 17 and 25 were arrested in connection with offences that took place in Calder Road and Captains Road.

Four males aged 15, 16, 19 and 27 have also been reported to the Procurator Fiscal following the incidents in Captains Road.

The total number of people reported across Scotland for Bonfire Night criminality is now 61, with 41 of these individuals being linked to incidents in Edinburgh.

Chief Superintendent David Robertson said: “I will continue to reaffirm my message in the wake of the disorder we experienced on 5 November 2024, that if you were involved, you will be caught. It may take time, but you will not evade justice.

“Enforcement activity like this will continue to take place wherever and whenever we have gathered sufficient evidence.

“The public can continue to support us with our inquiries by coming forward with information, or submitting video or photographic evidence via our Major Incident Public Portal at https://mipp.police.uk/operation/SCOT24S16-PO1.”

Body of second woman recovered from River Dee

The body of a second woman was recovered from the River Dee in Aberdeen late last night (Friday, 31 January, 2025).

Officers found the body in an area of the river near to the Victoria Bridge around 9.05pm and it was subsequently recovered.

The woman has yet to be identified but the family of Eliza Huszti, 32, who had been reported missing in the area on Tuesday, 7 January, has been informed.

Enquires are ongoing to establish the full circumstances but there are no apparent suspicious circumstances.

This follows the discovery of the body of a woman in the River Dee around 7.55am on the same date and the family of Henrietta Huszti, 32, were informed.

Both women were last seen on Market Street at the Victoria Bridge over the River Dee around 2.12 am on Tuesday, 7 January, 2025.

Superintendent David Howieson said: “Our thoughts remain with the Huszti family and we are keeping them fully updated following these recoveries.

“We know how much of an impact this has had in Aberdeen and much further afield and I would like to thank everyone who has assisted with our investigation.”

Six people have received football banning orders in the last three weeks

A football banning order was issued to a 46-year-old man at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on 21 January 2025, after he pleaded guilty to a racial abuse offence which occurred at the Hearts v Hibernian game on 26 December 2024. He also received a fine.

Two men, aged 19 and 22, were issued with football banning orders at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on 15 January 2025 after pleading guilty to assaulting a teenager. This related to violence at the Dunfermline v Raith Rovers fixture on 2 January 2024.

Three other men, aged 26, 27 and 62, have also been given football banning orders this month after they plead guilty to offences including breach of the peace and assault at separate matches last year.

Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie said: “We should all be able to go to a football match and enjoy the game without fear of violence or disorder.

“We will use all available tools at our disposal to eradicate this unacceptable behaviour. Football banning orders can be instrumental in helping us keep fans, players and our communities safe.

“We will continue to work with the clubs and courts to tackle criminality.”

Calum Beattie, the SPFL’s chief operating officer said: “We warmly applaud the robust approach from the police and courts in dealing with this disgraceful behaviour, as well as the swift action taken by our clubs to identify the individuals involved.

“The fact that a football banning order was imposed in these cases is entirely appropriate and we welcome the use of this restriction as an effective deterrent to other forms of unacceptable behaviour in stadia.”

Results of festive drink and drug driving campaign 2024/25

Police Scotland carried out more breath tests and more roadside drug tests during the 2024/25 festive drink and drug driving campaign than previous years.

There were 4,779 breath tests and 963 drug wipes conducted by police officers.

Road Policing and Local Policing officers worked together to target and deter drink and drug drivers.

They did this by carrying out proactive patrols, speaking to drivers and raising awareness in communities, using data to target key areas, responding to information from members of the public and setting up roadside checks.

Over 25,000 drivers were spoken to as part of the campaign.

Road safety partnership work happened at a local and national level, including supporting a Scottish Government marketing campaign and telling the story of road crash survivor Ellen Stickle who was left paralysed by a drug driver.

Chief Superintendent Hilary Sloan, head of Road Policing, said: “Police Scotland will keep targeting drink and drug drivers and we know how important this is to the public.

“My message to people thinking about driving after taking drugs or alcohol is you will get caught. Our officers are out every day, we will arrest you and that will affect you for the rest of your life. It’s your choice and it can have a devastating impact on other road users. It changes people’s lives and it is avoidable.

“Thank you to everyone who supported our campaign and please continue to speak to family and friends to encourage changing the behaviour of drivers.”

The campaign ran from 1 December 2024 until 19 January 2025.

A pilot to give local policing officers the ability to use Drug Wipe roadside testing kit is ongoing in Shetland. The six-month pilot started during the festive campaign.

There were 12 roadside drug tests carried out using the Drug Wipe kit, with 5 positive results and one failure to comply with the test.

Three drivers failed the alcohol breathalyser test.

The small pilot will be evaluated as Police Scotland continues to work closely and carefully with Scottish Police Authority laboratories to ensure testing capacity can be managed. More information can be found here.

Have you seen Sophie?

POLICE are carrying out enquiries to trace a 19-year-old woman who has been reported missing.

Sophie Webster left her home in the Leith area around 12pm yesterday – Tuesday, 28 January, 2025. She was last seen in the South Queensferry area at around 2pm and enquiries are ongoing to trace her.

Searches are ongoing and officers are appealing for the help of the public to trace Sophie.

She is described as white, around 5ft 2in tall, of slim build with short dark hair. When last seen, Sophie was wearing navy blue trousers, a navy blue hooded sweatshirt, a blue t-shirt and white trainers.

Inspector Sean McGarvey said last night: “It is important that we make sure Sophie is safe and well, as there are growing concerns for her welfare.

“I would urge anyone who has seen Sophie, or who has any information on her whereabouts, to please contact us as soon as possible.

“I am also keen to hear from anyone who may have dash cam or CCTV footage of the area, which may help us trace Sophie.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Police Scotland on 101, quoting reference number 1644 of 28 January.

Seven people jailed for a total of 93 years for sexually abusing children

Five men and two women have been given Orders for Lifelong Restrictions and jailed for a total of 93 years for sexually abusing children in the Glasgow area.

At the High Court in Glasgow today (Monday, 27 January, 202)5 Iain Owens, 46, was jailed for 20 years, Elaine Lannery, 40, for 17 years, Scott Forbes, 51, for eight years, Barry Watson, 48, for nine and a half years, Lesley Ann Williams, 42, for 14 years, Paul Brannan, 42, for 15 years, and John Clark, 48, for 10 years.

They were convicted in November 2023 following an eleven-week trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

The offences took place between 2012-2019 and were reported to police in June 2019. Following an extensive investigation, eleven individuals were arrested and charged in October 2020.

Detective Inspector Lesley-Ann McGee said: “I hope today’s outcome can help the young victims in moving forward.

“This was a long, complex and challenging investigation for a team of officers and staff who had to work through the most harrowing evidence to bring those responsible for these despicable crimes to justice.

“Since the investigation began we’ve worked closely with a range of partners in Social Work, Health, Education, Crown Office and the third-sector to protect and support the victims.

“We remain committed to supporting victims of sexual crime and protecting children from harm and abuse. We will use all available resources to find and arrest the abusers, no matter how much time has passed.

“I would urge anyone who is a victim of abuse to speak to police in the knowledge you will be listened to, taken seriously and fully supported.”

Mary Glasgow, chief executive at Children First said: “No sentence will ever reflect the extreme cruelty and horrifying abuse that three children endured for so long. The depths of their suffering will be unimaginable to most people in Scotland, but none of us should turn away from it.

“This is one of the most extreme cases of abuse ever seen in a Scottish court, but every day children and young people in Scotland are experiencing violence and abuse. 

“Children can’t protect themselves and they need all of us to help them stay safe. And, without support to recover, the trauma of childhood abuse can be devastating and last a lifetime.

“If you have concerns about a child, Children First’s support line will listen and help you work through what’s best for the child. It’s free to call on: 08000 28 22 33 or you can speak to our team online at childrenfirst.org.uk”

STORM EOWYN: BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES AS RED ALERT DECLARED

SCOTLAND SHUTTING DOWN

The Met Office has issued a red weather warning for wind from 10am to 5pm Friday 24 January. An Amber warning is in place from 6am to 10am.

COUNCIL SERVICES:

We will publish all the latest information about Council buildings and services on this page.

Schools, nurseries and early years

All Council schools, nurseries and early years settings will be closed on Friday 24 January. Schools will communicate directly with parents.

Bin collections 

Bin collections – residents should not put their wheelie bins and boxes out for collection tomorrow. Friday collections will run over the weekend instead.

Residents should put their bins out for collection on Saturday when it is safe to do so for collection from Sunday. 

Street cleansing will not operate.

Recycling centres – any bookings for recycling centres will be rescheduled 

Special uplift services – residents who have booked a collection for tomorrow should not put the items out for collection. Appointments will be rebooked.  

Housing and homelessness

Anyone who needs to present as homeless should contact us by phone on 0131 529 7036.  

Only emergency council house repairs will take place. Non-emergency council house repairs will be cancelled and re-scheduled. 

Scaffolding will be checked and taken down if possible.  

Council buildings, services and parks

We will only run essential services on Friday 24 January.

The following buildings or parks/grounds will be closed on Friday 24 January:

  • The Registrars Office 
  • All council cemeteries, Mortonhall Crematorium, and the Mortuary
  • All museums, galleries, monuments and cultural venues (Usher Hall, Assembly Rooms, Churchill Theatre – this includes cancellation of a rehearsal and performance at the Churchill Theatre).  Building checks will be carried out before reopening.
  • Lauriston Castle grounds and Princes Street Gardens. These will also remain closed on Saturday due to extended wind warning and time needed to survey grounds.
  • Ukraine Welcome Hub at Flassches Yard.

Travel disruption

Police Scotland has issued a ‘do not travel’ notice. Police Scotland travel advice 

Lothian Buses expect significant disruption to their services and customers are advised to check the status of their service before travelling. 

Scot Rail is suspending all train services tomorrow and there will be no alternative transport available. 

For travel updates check @edintravel and @TrafficScotland on X (Twitter) as well as your travel provider.

Emergency social care service 0800 731 6969 – free phone.

NHS LOTHIAN:

EDINBURGH TRAMS:

Due to the red weather warning in place across Edinburgh tomorrow due to #StormÉowyn, Edinburgh Trams will be operating a reduced service on Friday 24 January. We will be monitoring wind speeds at key places on the track and will continue to operate in order to facilitate essential travel as long as it remains safe to do so.

Please follow @PoliceScotland guidelines and only travel if absolutely necessary.

Customers are advised to check the status of their service before travelling on Friday and Saturday, using the Bus & Tram App.

More information: https://bit.ly/3Wx6TMq

LOTHIAN BUSES

CUSTOMER INFORMATION

Service Updates

http://lothianbuses.com/service-updates/… Bus & Tram App

http://lothianbuses.com/app/