Police Scotland – Page 9 – The NEN

Man arrested and charged following football disorder

Around 6.50pm last night – Tuesday, 30 December, 2025 – Police were made aware of disorder in the Albion Road area of Edinburgh ahead of the Hibernian v Aberdeen match.

Officers attended and a 26-year-old man was arrested for behaving in a threatening and abusive manner. He will appear at court at a later date.

An investigation is under way to identify further individuals involved in the disturbance.

Anyone with any information, or concerns, can approach officers or call 101 quoting incident number 1861 of Tuesday, 30 December, 2025.

A 20-year-old man was also arrested during the match in connection with a pitch invasion at the Edinburgh derby on Saturday, 27 December, 2025.

He was charged and will appear in court at a later date.

Man sentenced for serious sexual offences against children in Edinburgh

A man has been jailed for serious sexual offences against children which took place in Edinburgh.

Brian Stobie, 70, was sentenced to 12 years and nine months at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday – Tuesday, 30 December, 2025. He was convicted at the same court on Wednesday, 3 December, and also pleaded guilty to indecent communication offences.

Detective Inspector Steph Garnett said: “Stobie’s actions caused immeasurable harm to his young victims. Over several years he deliberately exploited children, and such behaviour is abhorrent in every sense. He will now face the consequences of his despicable actions.

“We remain committed to ensuring offenders like him are brought to justice.

“We know it is difficult to come forward and report sexual crime, but be assured you will be fully supported by our specially trained officers and partner agencies. There is no time bar to reporting, regardless of when it happened, please contact us so we can fully investigate.”

Air restriction in place for Torchlight Parade in Edinburgh from 5pm today

As part of the policing operation for the Edinburgh Hogmanay Festival a temporary airspace restriction will be in place covering the city centre between 5pm on Monday, 29 December, to 1am on Tuesday, 30 December, 2025, for security and public safety.

It will be an offence for any unmanned aircraft to fly below 2000ft above sea level and within one nautical mile of Edinburgh Castle.

Restrictions include drones.

More: https://skywise.caa.co.uk/alerts/restricted-airspace-temporary-edinburgh-29-december-2025-01-january-2026-drone-only/

Details by NOTAM and in a Briefing Sheet BFS 076/2025 on the NATS website.

Operation Portaledge: Man convicted of Wilful Fireraising

A 24-year-old man has been convicted of wilful fireraising in Edinburgh.

Logan Carlin pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh today, Tuesday, 23 December, 2025.

The incidents took place on Thursday, 6 March, 2025 and Sunday, 16 March, 2025 in Albert Street and Milton Road East.

Carlin was arrested and charged in connection with wilful fireraising and reset of a stolen vehicle.

He is due to be sentenced at a later date.

Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Ferry, Specialist Crime Division, said: “While this was established as a targeted attack, we understand that it was a concerning incident for the local community.

“I want to make it clear to those intent on being involved in serious criminality that we will not give up and you will be brought to justice.

“This conviction is testament to the hard work and dedication by detectives, specialist officers and partners across the country and highlights our commitment to the Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce and its national strategy.”

Operation Portaledge is the ongoing investigation into violent incidents in the East and West of the country.

Appeal following robbery in Old Town

POLICE are appealing for information following a robbery in Edinburgh.

Around 8.25pm on Saturday, 20 December, 2025, a man entered a newsagent on Keir Street with a knife and stole a three-figure sum of cash.

The man made off along Keir Street.

He is described as male, of slim build, and was wearing light grey trousers, a three-quarter length black jacket, a black face covering, black baseball cap and red gloves. He spoke with a Scottish accent.

Detective Constable Gary Lipscombe, Edinburgh CID said: “This was an extremely alarming incident for the staff, and it is vital we trace the man responsible.

“Keir Street would have been busy at the time, and I would ask anyone who was there and who may have seen this man, to get in touch with us.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting incident 1198 of 21 December.

Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Police Scotland seizes £14million worth of drugs in record week

Police Scotland has seized drugs worth a combined value of almost £14million in the run up to Christmas, marking a record week for recoveries across the country.

One of the largest busts of cocaine, worth more than £8million, was made when officers executed a warrant in Bellshill on Thursday, 11 December.

Significant quantities of ecstasy, amphetamine and mephedrone were also seized in Fraserburgh, worth more than £3.5million, on Friday, 12 December.

In Perthshire, officers acting on intelligence recovered cocaine worth £1.2million on Thursday, 18 December, from an address in the Dunning area. On Sunday, 14 December, £560,000 worth of cocaine was also discovered at a business premises in Bridge of Earn.

Cocaine and cannabis, worth more than £500,000, were found in the loft of a property after a warrant was executed on Thursday, 18 December, in the Lhanbryde area of Elgin.

Officers stopped a car on the M74 near Moffat on Wednesday, 17 December, and a quantity of cocaine, estimated to be worth £175,000, was recovered from inside.

Fifteen people have been arrested and charged in total in connection with drugs offences following the recoveries.

Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston said: “These significant seizures mark one of our most successful weeks for removing drugs from the streets of Scotland, and they will have a huge impact on the cocaine supply across the country.

“Policing does not stop just because it’s Christmas time and we remain relentless in our fight against drugs.

“Controlled substances are dangerous and cause real harm to individuals, families and communities. Working closely with our partners, we remain focused on targeting individuals and organised crime groups, who selfishly exploit vulnerable people for their own financial gain.

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

“Action like this is only possible with the continued support of our communities. Anyone with information or concerns about drugs should contact Police Scotland on 101 or make a call anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Statement from the Jewish Council of Scotland on the terror attack in Bondi Beach, Sydney

OUR hearts go out to the victims of yesterday’s attack in Sydney and their families.

It is intolerable that in the current climate of antisemitism, Jews cannot gather publicly or celebrate religious festivals in any part of the world without fear of attack.

The news from Sydney yesterday is also a dreadful reminder of the risks facing our Jewish community here in Scotland. There must be no place for anti-Jewish hate – in any guise – anywhere in Scotland.

We will not be deterred by antisemitism or acts of terror, and we will celebrate Chanukah throughout Scotland.

We are liaising closely with Police Scotland and with the Community Security Trust (CST) to ensure that appropriate police and security arrangements are in place, and we thank them for their continuing support.

We will also continue to engage with the Scottish Government and local authorities to put in place longer-term measures to ensure the safety of the Jewish community in Scotland.

We wish our community and friends across Scotland a happy – and peaceful – Chanukah.

Timothy Lovat, Chair

Jewish Council of Scotland

POLICE SCOTLAND STATEMENT:

Statement from ACC Steve Johnson following terrorist incident in Australia

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Johnson said: “Our thoughts are with the Jewish community, the victims, families, and everyone affected by the incident in Australia.

“Officers are already carrying out additional and dedicated patrols around synagogues and other Jewish venues as part of our existing policing plan for Hanukkah.

“Following the incident, we are actively communicating with faith leaders and community leaders.

“We are also engaging with a wide range of local, national and international partners to ensure our communities are safe.

“While there is no intelligence to suggest any specific threat in Scotland, I want to take this opportunity to ask the public to remain alert but not alarmed. You should remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to Police Scotland.

“Policing in Scotland has strong relationships with the public and we are grateful for the ongoing support of all our communities.”

Man arrested and charged in connection with the death of a man in Edinburgh

WATSON CRESCENT VICTIM NAMED AS ELVIS PALLA

A 34-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of man in Edinburgh.

Around 6.10am on Saturday, 13 December, 2025, we were called to a report of a death at a property in Watson Crescent.

Emergency services attended and a 34-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 34-year-old is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (Monday, 15 December, 2025).

The 34-year-old man who died at a property in Watson Crescent, Edinburgh on Saturday, 13 December, 2025 has been named as Elvis Palla.

A 34-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with the death and appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, 15 December, 2025.

Three arrested following £8 MILLION cocaine recovery

Three men have been arrested and charged in connection with one of the largest ever drugs recoveries in Scotland, worth more than £8 million.

On Thursday, 11 December, 2025, officers executed a warrant at a premises on Melford Road in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire and cocaine with an estimated street value of more than £8m was recovered.

The men, aged 29, 46 and 65, were arrested and charged in connection and they are due to appear at Hamilton Sheriff Court tomorrow – Monday, 15 December, 2025.

Enquiries into the full circumstances are ongoing.

Detective Superintendent Steven Elliot said: “This was a sizeable recovery – one of the most significant we’ve seen in Scotland.

“This work underlines our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country’s Serious Organised Crime Strategy. Taking drugs off the street is a priority for Police Scotland.

“Drugs cause misery in our communities, and the public has a vital role in helping us to trace those involved in the supply of illegal substances.

“Anyone with information or concerns about drugs should contact us via 101 or make a call to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Action Porty to buy former police station

We have HUGE news to share! Scottish Land Fund have announced that they will fund 100% of the price for Action Porty to buy the former police station building from Police Scotland via a Community Asset Transfer.

We at Action Porty are absolutely thrilled!!! (Actually, that’s an understatement. We were dancing on the tables when we heard the news!)

When Action Porty bought Bellfield on behalf of the community, Scottish Land Fund (SLF) awarded us 90% of the purchase price.

It’s partly our strong track record that led to this amazing result, but its mostly the incredible work, which has been happening behind the scenes, by a group of very dedicated volunteers: Frazer McNaughton, Mark Boggis, Justin Kenrick and Kieran Gaffney, with Kieran and the team at Konishi Gaffney architects and local structural engineer James Lewis, Hive Structural Ltd, providing pro bono services.

Background – what has led us to here?

Aug 2024: Police Scotland announced plans to sell the building. (Operational police officers haven’t been stationed there since 2016).

Oct 2024: 97% of Community Council survey respondents supported community ownership.

Nov 2024: Community consultation event overwhelmingly endorsed Action Porty’s proposal.

Jan 2025: Action Porty submitted the Community Asset Transfer request.

Jul-Sept 2025: Police Scotland agreed to request and price and Scottish Ministers gave their approval.

Dec 2025: with SLF deciding to fund the purchase, we are in reach of the finishing line!

The actual finishing line will be March 2026 when the sale completes.

To meet the funding conditions and complete the sale we need to get the necessary planning permissions and building warrants in place. There’s lots to do!

Watch this space – we’ll share more news as we get it.

What’s next for this iconic public building which has served the community for almost 150 years?

Find out here: https://www.bellfield.scot/heart-of-porty

Any questions, comments or feedback that you’d prefer to not post on social media? Email heartofporty@gmail.com

#ScottishLandFund

#communityownership

The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland

Development Trusts Association Scotland