Police Scotland – Page 77 – The NEN

Renewed appeal to locate the bodies of Renee and Andrew MacRae

Detectives have renewed an appeal for information as they continue efforts to locate the bodies of Renee and Andrew MacRae.

Renee, 36, and her three-year-old son Andrew left their home in Inverness on November 12, 1976.

Their BMW car was discovered on fire in a lay-by near Dalmagarry later that evening. Their bodies have never been found.

William MacDowell, then aged 80, was found guilty of their murders at the High Court in Inverness in September 2022. He died in February 2023.

Detective Chief Inspector Brian Geddes said: “Renee and Andrew’s family and friends waited decades for justice, which was served last year.

“However, their bodies have not been found and our investigation continues to explore all possible opportunities open to us to help answer that final, most important question in order to provide Renee and Andrew with the dignity they deserve.

“We continue to review the available evidence to identify any further areas of interest, while also considering whether there are any opportunities that modern technology could assist with in identifying possible deposition sites.

“This review includes considering any properties which may be linked to William MacDowell which he could have used, possibly a derelict building, an empty one or even an occupied one he had use of.

“The time scale would be the early to mid-1970s and we are hoping someone may remember seeing Renee MacRae’s BMW car in an area perhaps with MacDowell’s company Volvo or the family white Range Rover.

“We are also considering possible sites where they may have met during their relationship, possible including the Blackfold area above Loch Ness, Inverfarigaig, and between Nairnside and Daviot.

“This case will never be considered resolved until we find Renee and Andrew. We owe it to the family and friends to make every effort to recover Renee and Andrew’s bodies and I would urge anyone who may be able to assist, no matter how small you may feel your information is, to come forward.”

Anyone who believes they can assist police is asked to contact 101 or you can email SCDHOLMESInverness@scotland.police.uk. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Have you seen these stolen cars?

POLICE are appealing for information to trace two stolen vehicles from Dundee. They believe the vehicles may be in Edinburgh.

In the early hours of Thursday, 24 August, 2023, a silver Mercedes with registration plate R50 DTT was taken from outside a premises on Westerton Avenue, Broughty Ferry. A second vehicle, a black Volkswagen Golf with registration plate RO70 RVP, was also taken.

Officers believe these vehicles may be in Edinburgh and are appealing for anyone with information which may assist them to get in touch. A Police Scotland Spokesperson said: “We are appealing to anyone who has seen these vehicles to get in touch.

“Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting incident 0570 of 24 August, 2023.”

Police appeal following fatal crash on Stevenson Drive

POLICE are appealing for information following a fatal crash in Edinburgh.

Emergency services were called to Stevenson Drive in the Balgreen area around 3.30pm yesterday (Saturday, 26 August, 2023) after a crash involving a car and a 70-year-old female pedestrian.

The pedestrian was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, where she died a short time later.

The 23-year-old driver of the car, a black Mercedes C-Class, was arrested in connection with a road traffic offence.

The road was closed while crash investigations were carried out and reopened around 9.50pm.

Officers are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

Police Sergeant Jill Kirkpatrick said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the woman who died at this very difficult time. We will continue to support them as our enquiries progress.

“I’m appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time and saw what happened to get in touch. Drivers with dashcam footage of Stevenson Drive in the time leading up to the crash are urged to review it and bring anything of significance to our attention.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police via 101 quoting reference 2403 of 26 August, 2023.

Police: Operation Soteria

POLICE officers in North East Edinburgh policing teams have been working to tackle motorcycle thefts with the activity carried under Operation Soteria, the capital’s well established, city-wide approach.

Chief Inspector Kieran Dougal, North East Edinburgh Local Area Commander, said: “Operation Soteria is our overarching response to motorcycle thefts and my Initiative Team, Response and Community officers in North East Edinburgh have been working hard and continuing their efforts to identify offenders, prevent and deter incidents, and provide community reassurance.

“Road safety and tackling acquisitive crime remains a priority in Edinburgh as a whole and such behaviour will not be tolerated.

“Partnership working is key, and our Prevention, Interventions and Partnerships team are also working with partners to raise awareness and share crime prevention and security advice.

“During the summer so far in North East Edinburgh my officers have made eight arrests, libelled 30 charges, executing numerous warrants and recovered over £400,000 in stolen vehicles.

He added: “We will continue to work to ensure offenders are dealt with robustly. To allow us to target our activities, we encourage communities to report incidents via 101, and should anyone have information as to the identity of those placing communities at risk, this can be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

#OperationSoteria

Man convicted of murder in Niddrie

A man has been found guilty of the murder of a man in Niddrie. At the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday, Ryan McCabe was found guilty following trial of the murder of Liam Maloney.

Mr Maloney, 30, died in hospital on Saturday, 7 May, 2022, two days after being stabbed by 49-year-old McCabe.

The attack happened during the evening of Thursday, 5 May, 2022 at the junction of Niddrie Marischal Grove and Niddrie Marischal Road in the east of the city.

Mr Maloney was taken to hospital but died as a result of his injuries.

McCabe was arrested and charged on Monday, 9 May, 2022 and has now been found guilty of murder and possession of a knife.

Detective Inspector Scott Roxburgh from the Major Investigation Team said: “Liam Maloney had a young family when his life was ended by the violent actions of Ryan McCabe. Our thoughts remain with his loved ones at this time.

“Violent incidents are completely unnecessary and unacceptable but are felt by the whole community. We will always act swiftly to deal with offenders to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.”

McCabe is due to be sentenced at a later date.

Police Scotland: ‘Hard Choices’ following real-terms funding cut

Police Scotland has outlined urgent action to maintain effective policing within the funding available to the organisation.

Policing’s funding allocation for 2023-24 represents a real terms reduction, meaning more than £50m of savings are required to ensure a balanced budget.

Police Scotland has been clear hard choices are necessary and we have been required to reduce our budgeted officer establishment from 17,234 to 16,600.

Deputy Chief Constable Designate Fiona Taylor QPM provided an overview of work to prioritise resources to keep people safe and protect the vulnerable and was clear our service to the public will be impacted.

DCCD Taylor said: “Our financial planning in March made it clear that our funding allocation for 2023-24 represents a real terms reduction, meaning we have been required to reduce the number of police officers we have from 17,234 to around 16,600.

“Of necessity, we will reduce police staff costs in proportion to the reduction in officer numbers and reduce overtime spending.

“Hard choices are being taken now to maintain effective policing within the funding available to us. Action is being taken to achieve savings and deliver a balanced budget for 2023-24. Areas which encounter the greatest demand and which carry the greatest risk are being prioritised to ensure we continue to effectively reduce harm and protect the vulnerable.

“As part of this urgent action we have paused police staff recruitment other than for reform or externally funded posts; for roles based in our Contact, Command and Control (C3) Division or Resource Deployment Unit; for Police Custody and Security Officers; and for Public Enquiry and Support Assistants.

“Recruitment of Probationary Constables will continue and our commitment to no compulsory redundancies for police staff remains.”

DCCD Taylor also said funding challenges underlined the need to accelerate changes which made savings or supported operational policing, including the successful transformation of the police estate.

DCC Taylor said: “This work will shape our Service and define core policing. It seeks to reduce demand and increase capacity, and accelerate those changes which save money and provide benefits to operational policing. This includes the ongoing transformation of our estate. We will also review support services and our command structures.

“Consequently, some of the things that we do may need to be done differently or take us longer. The level of service we provide in some areas will reduce.”

Police Scotland returns more than £200m to the public purse every year compared to legacy arrangements.

The Scottish Government’s budget for 2023/24 confirmed an £80m core funding uplift for policing, with £37m required to fund the ongoing cost of the 2022-23 pay award, leaving £43m to fund unavoidable pay and other inflationary costs for the current financial year.

Aberdeen cannabis cultivations: Two arrested in Edinburgh police swoop

Two men aged 27 and 35 have been arrested following a pre-planned police operation in the Muirhouse and Niddrie areas of Edinburgh yesterday (Tuesday, 22 August, 2023).

Aberdeen officers were supported by colleagues in Edinburgh in this operation.

It resulted in both men being charged in connection with a number of cannabis cultivations discovered in the Aberdeen area between Tuesday, 4 July and Tuesday, 15 August, 2023. They have an estimated street value of over £800,000.

Both men are due to appear at Aberdeen Sheriff Court today.

Detective Inspector Andrew Machray from the CID Proactive Unit in Aberdeen said: “A significant amount of cannabis has been taken off the streets and I hope this operation highlights our determination to tackle drugs activity.

“We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to disrupt those involved in serious and organised crime who are intent on bringing harm and misery to our local communities.

“The majority of cultivations that we uncover come from information given to us from our communities. We rely on the support of the public, so if you have any information or concerns about drug misuse, do not hesitate to contact Police Scotland on 101 or report this anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

HAVE YOU SEEN DEAN?

TEN YEAR OLD BOY MISSING FROM WEST PILTON TRACED

* UPDATE *

!! Dean Campbell, 10, who was last seen in the Pilton area has been traced safe !!

Original message:

POLICE are appealing for your help to trace Dean Campbell aged 10 who was last seen at Forthview Primary School, West Pilton Place, Edinburgh, around 10am yesterday (Wednesday 23 August 2023).

Dean is described as white, 4ft tall, slim build with short blond hair.

When last seen he was wearing black tracksuit bottoms with yellow markings, a white polo shirt and black trainers.

Sergeant Michael Thomson said: “There are growing concerns for Dean’s welfare. Anyone who may have seen Dean since this time, or who has any information on his whereabouts, is urged to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident number 1065 of 23 August 2023.”

Craigmillar Park incident: Police urge Good Samaritan to come forward

POLICE are appealing for a man who took an injured man to hospital in Edinburgh on Saturday (19 August 2023), to contact them.

Around 6.20 pm, a 17-year-old seriously injured youth was assisted to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh by the man who left before any details were taken by staff.

The man is described as white, in his 50s, had receding hair and was wearing glasses, a blue Adidas top and was carrying a rucksack.

Detective Sergeant Keith Morrison said: “At this time, we don’t know how the young man sustained his injuries, so it is imperative that we trace the man who took him to hospital so we can find out what he knows.

“From our enquiries, the injured man was at an event in Craigmillar Park the previous evening and had become separated from his friends. They were unable to get a hold of him, and it was only when he was admitted to hospital that his family were made aware of where he was.

“If you are the man described, or have any information that may assist our investigation, please call officers at Gayfield CID via 101, quoting incident number 2960 of Saturday, 19 August 2023. Alternatively, details can be given in confidence on 0800 555 111.

Witness appeal following Chambers Street assault

POLICE in Edinburgh are appealing for information following a serious assault. The incident happened in Chambers Street around 9pm last night (Saturday, 19 August, 2023).

A 23-year-old man suffered serious injuries and was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment.

Officers are working to identify two males as part of the ongoing investigation.

The first male is described as being aged between 16 and 17 years old, 5ft 5ins tall, with buzz cut style, dark hair. He was wearing a black and grey tracksuit jumper and grey tracksuit bottoms.

The second male is described as white, between 17 and 18 years old, 5ft 7ins tall, with short blonde/ginger beard and dirty blonde curly hair. He was wearing a football top.

Detective Sergeant Steven Gray, of Gayfield CID, said: “Our enquiries into this incident are ongoing and I would urge anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has any information about those involved to get in touch.

“Anyone who can help is asked to call 101, quoting incident number 3799 of 19 August, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

*** UPDATE ***

* UPDATE *