Tag: Police Scotland

Police Scotland launches campaign targeting sexual perpetrators

Police Scotland in partnership with Stop It Now! Scotland has launched a new campaign targeting sexual perpetrators who groom and abuse children online.

The #GetHelpOrGetCaught campaign targets men who are either already offending or at risk of offending and directs them to support to help them stop.

Reports of online child abuse continue to increase, with nearly 2,000 crimes recorded by Police Scotland between 1 April 2022 – 31 March 2023.

During this same period, Police Scotland carried out 700 investigations resulting in 500 arrests, and 800 children were protected.

And so far this year, (1 April and 31 August), specialist officers have investigated 290 online child sexual abuse cases resulting in 149 arrests and 269 children protected.  

Featuring a film produced by the charity Stop It Now! Scotland, the campaign highlights the consequences of offending for perpetrators and urges them to stop and seek help by contacting Stop It Now! Scotland.

Launching the campaign, Detective Chief Superintendent Martin MacLean from Police Scotland, said: “Tackling online child abuse remains a key priority for Police Scotland, and this includes working with partners to prevent abuse and divert potential perpetrators from committing offences.

“Online child sexual abuse is not virtual; its repercussions are real, for the victims of these horrific crimes, but also for perpetrators. Grooming, indecent communication and causing children to participate in sexual activity, are all serious criminal offences.

“We continue to build our cyber capability and expertise to identify child victims. Offenders need to understand they will be identified, arrested and will face the consequences of their actions: not just a conviction but the potential loss of family, reputation and livelihood.

“Abusers are responsible for their actions, it is up to them to take action and stop, to get help or get caught.”

Police Scotland consulted with Stop It Now! Scotland on the campaign.

Stuart Allardyce, Director of Stop It Now, Scotland, said: “There is help to stop. It is easier for people to successfully change their behaviour through support than trying to change on their own.

People who are worried about their sexual behaviour online can call us on our helpline. They can remain completely anonymous. We provide non-judgemental, confidential support to help someone stop their behaviour and keep children safe online.

“From the many people we work with and our research, we know that their frequent use, over long periods of time, of online legal pornography escalated to barely legal or extreme types of pornography and the viewing of illegal sexual images of children.

“Some of the people we work with discuss becoming more desensitised to adult pornography as time went on. Often, they feel trapped in a cycle of behaviour and require help with their mental health as well as their compulsive behaviours to take positive actions to break this cycle.

“If this is happening for you, don’t leave it until it’s too late to call. Many individuals who are arrested for this type of offence tell us they wish they had known there was support to help.

“We also work with families and friends impacted by the arrest of a loved one for viewing illegal images or engaging in illegal conversations online.

“From our experience, we know the devastation that can ensue once someone is arrested and the number of lives that can be changed forever.” 

Keeping people safe and secure online

£500,000 funding for communities

Projects providing practical help to support people tackle the growing risks posed by online crime will share a £500,000 fund aimed at ensuring a digitally secure and resilient Scotland.

Organisations including Scottish Union Learning and Community Enterprise, will use the money to provide workshops aimed at tackling scams and internet safety, deliver training to upskill under-represented groups into careers within cyber security and provide digital advice in different languages.

The projects will be targeted at specific groups, including disabled people and those with specific learning needs, minority ethnic groups, people living in areas of social deprivation or in rural or remote communities and those for whom English is not their first language.

Since  2019- 20 cyber crimes (crimes committed using the internet) have risen with an estimated 14,890 cyber-crimes recorded by Police Scotland in in 2022-23 almost twice the level in 2019-20 (7,710). This £500,000 fund is part of £1.16 million invested by the Scottish Government in 2023-24 to improve preparedness to withstand, defend against, manage, and recover quickly from cyber incidents.

Justice and Home Affairs Secretary Angela Constance said: “Cybercrime such as fraud and data theft can have a devastating impact on people, communities and businesses. 

“The Scottish Government is committed to building cyber resilience within all our communities and this funding will enable many more people across the country keep themselves safe and secure when going online by supporting them to gain practical knowledge and skills to recognise and avoid cyber-attacks.

“We will also continue to work closely with Police Scotland and the National Cyber Security Centre to ensure Scotland’s public sector is resilient to cyber threats.“

Post office robbery: Man Charged

POLICE are appealing for information following a robbery at a post office in Edinburgh which took place yesterday (Sunday, 24 September).

Around 7.20am a man entered Milton Road West Post Office, threatened a male member of staff and demanded he hand over money.

The suspect then left the premises with a two-figure sum of cash before making off in the direction of Duddingston Park and heading north towards the crossroads of Duddingston Road.

The member of staff was not injured during the incident.

The suspect is described as a white male, late teens to early 20’s, 5’7” to 5’8” and of slim to medium build.

He was wearing a two-tone black and grey hooded zipper top, light blue Nike Joggers with a white motif on the left thigh, black and white Nike trainers, and was carrying a cross-body black ‘man bag’.

Detective Inspector Kevin Tait from Edinburgh Division CID said: “The member of staff has been left badly shaken by this incident and it is vital that we trace the person involved.

“We are appealing for anyone who may have seen the suspect in the surrounding area before or after the robbery this morning to please get in touch.

“We would also urge any motorists with dash-cams who were nearby to check their footage in case they have captured anything which could be of significance to our enquiries.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 0788 of Sunday, 24 September, 2023. Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

+++ UPDATE +++

A 19-year-old man has been arrested and charged following a robbery in Edinburgh. The incident happened around 7.20am on Sunday, 24 September, 2023, at a Post Office on Milton Road.

The man is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday, 26 September, 2023.

Detective Inspector Kevin Tait said: “We would like to thank the public for their assistance with our enquiries.

“There has been increased police patrols in the area to provide reassurance to the local community.”

Have you seen Michael? UPDATE

UPDATE

The body of a man was found in the early hours of Monday, 25 September in Edinburgh during enquiries to trace missing person Michael Toner, 52.

The body is yet to be formally identified but his family has been made aware.

There are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in due course.

Police are appealing for assistance to trace a man who has been reported missing. Michael Toner, 52, was last seen in the Caledonian Crescent area of Edinburgh at 2.15pm on Wednesday (20 September, 2023).

Michael, who has links to Edinburgh and Arbroath, is described as white, 5ft 8, of slim build with a shaved head.

He wears glasses and was last seen wearing a navy Nike jacket, faded blue jeans and white trainers.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting incident number 2098 of Friday, 22 September, 2023. 

Two men convicted for non-recent sexual abuse of children

Two men responsible for the non-recent sexual abuse of children have been convicted.

At the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday (Tuesday, 19 September), Alexander Philip, 57, and Craig Hodgkins, 52, were found guilty of sexual offences against five young people aged between six and 13-years-old between 1978 and 2008.

The conviction followed a Police Scotland investigation after survivors came forward.

Following significant inquiry, the pair were arrested and charged in connection with the crimes, which took place in Edinburgh, Hamilton and Airdrie.

Police Scotland’s Detective Inspector Jonny Wright, who led the investigation, said: “Over the course of three decades, Alexander Philip and Craig Hodgkins subjected their victims to sustained levels of sexual abuse, sometimes together, and other times separately.

“Their offending may have gone undetected had it not been for the survivors coming forward and reporting the circumstances to police.

“The convictions of this pair should serve as a reminder that time is no barrier for Police Scotland to investigate any report of criminality and we will utilise all resources at our disposal to bring perpetrators of sexual abuse to justice.”

Philip and Hodgkins will be sentenced later.

Three youths sought following Tollcross assault

POLICE are appealing for information after a 19-year-old man suffered serious injuries after being assaulted in Tollcross. The incident happened shortly after 12am yesterday (Friday, 15 September) in Brougham Street.

The man was approached by a group of three male youths and subsequently assaulted. He required treatment at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh to injuries sustained in the incident.

One of the youths is described as about 16-years-old, clean shaven, tall with brown hair and a fringe. He was of stocky build and wearing a black jacket, grey bottoms and black shoes.

The second was also about 16-years-old, white, clean shaven and wearing a grey hooded top with grey jogging bottoms. He was riding a dark coloured bike with white writing

The third was a younger male, white, small and of thin build with blonde hair. He was wearing a black hooded top and black tracksuit bottoms.

Detective Sergeant Steven Dick said: “Our enquiries into this incident are ongoing and I would urge anyone who may have information which could help to get in touch.

“Enquiries so far have established the three youths had been in the city centre on Lothian Road and the Meadows prior to and after the assault.

“If you believe you have may have seen them or have any other information relating to the assault please come forward. We would also be keen to speak to anyone who may have dashcam or private CCTV footage from the area.

“Anyone who can help is asked to call 101, quoting reference 0226 of 15 September, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Craigroyston football match assault: Police issue appeal for witnesses

POLICE are appealing for information following reports of an assault at the football pitches on Muirhouse Parkway during a Craigroyston Community Youth Football game on Sunday, 10 September, 2023.

Anyone who witnessed this incident is asked to contact 101 and ask to speak to Gayfield CID or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Two charged over production and supply of illicit diazepam

POLICE in Midlothian have charged two men and seized a significant quantity of controlled drugs following an intelligence-led operation.

On Tuesday, 12 September, 2023, officers attended a property in the Danderhall area suspected of being involved in the production and supply of illegal drugs.

Seized from within the address were items believed to be involved in the production of diazepam, including a pill press, along with approximately 900,000 tablets.

A range of other substances, including powders currently undergoing further forensic testing, were also recovered.

It is anticipated that the items recovered had an estimated street value of over £1 million.

Two men, aged 42 and 60, were arrested at the scene and have since been charged. Both are due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (Thursday, 14 September, 2023.)

Detective Chief Inspector Bryan Burns said: “Officers discovered a sophisticated criminal enterprise believed to have been producing vast amounts of illegal drugs with a significant quantity, and mechanisms to produce more, successfully seized.

“Our officers are removing drugs from communities right across Scotland day in, day out. In addition we will continue to do everything in our powers to strip those responsible of their criminal assets using the Proceeds of Crime Act, so they do not benefit from criminal activity.

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

Crime rates rise in Edinburgh

Edinburgh Q1 Performance Data published

The total number of crimes taking place within the Capital has risen, as Police Scotland makes hard choices to maintain effective policing within the funding available:

The Q1 Management of Information data was published on Thursday, 7 September, covering the period of April to June 2023. This shows that during this time that the total number of recorded criminal incidents has risen from 7,081, to 7,136.

While serious assaults have fallen from 80, to 69, and there have also been seven fewer attempted murders, there have been three murders recorded within the division – two more than the same period last year.

While there has been an increase in the number of robberies recorded, the detection rate for these offences has also risen, with 19 more incidents solved.

Sexual crime has also risen, with an additional 32 incidents reported, including two more reports of rape or assault with intent to rape. Indecent and sexual assaults have, however, decreased from 143, to 119.

In addition, the detection rate for sexual crime has also increased by over nine percentage points.

Another area that has seen a rise in reported offending is acquisitive crime, which is up from 3,806, to 3,946.

However, the total number of housebreaking, including attempted break-ins has fallen from 293, to 249. Motor vehicle crime has also reduced from 586 reports, to 514.

The city has also seen a significant reduction in the number of road casualties, which have more than halved, when compared with the same period of 2022.

In total there have been zero fatalities – three fewer than last year, as well as 26 fewer serious injury collisions and 67 fewer slight injury collisions.

Overall motoring offences have also fallen from 2,380, to 2,232.

Chief Superintendent Sean Scott, Divisional Commander for Edinburgh, said: “I acknowledge and accept that the current quarterly data, which shows a rise in recorded crime for the Capital, may be of concern to our communities and I want to reiterate my commitment to ensuring we dedicate our policing resources appropriately to address developing crime trends and provide the best level of service we can to the public.

“However, as T/Deputy Chief Constable Speirs has stated, Police Scotland is facing sustained levels of demand, with over 600,000 calls received from the public in the first quarter of 2023 and over 420,000 incidents recorded.

“This, coupled with the reduction in personnel numbers and budget restraints, means the service must make hard choices and Edinburgh is not immune to this. We must look closely at the resource we have and how it can be best utilised to address developing crime trends and support the needs of Edinburgh’s public.

“The public have an important role to play in helping us shape policing priorities by taking our Your Police Survey which is available on the Police Scotland website at www.scotland.police.uk.”

The 2023-24 Quarter 1 Performance Report was presented at the Scottish Police Authority Policing Performance Committee yesterday.

The report and associated Management Information is available here.

Stolen car found in Granton

Following Police Scotland’s previous appeal on two cars stolen from outside a property on Mill Road, Stow in the early hours of Wednesday 30 August, please note:

The Volvo XC60 was traced in a car park in the Granton area by road policing officers on Saturday, 9 September.

Enquiries are continuing into this incident and Police re-appeal to anyone with information that may assist to contact 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting incident number 0441 of Wednesday, 30 August, 2023.