Police seek witnesses following Marine Drive incidents

Police in Edinburgh are appealing for witnesses following two bogus caller incidents in Marine Drive yesterday (Wednesday 27 February).

The first incident happened around 12.45am, when the suspect called at an address in Marine Drive and asked for a drink of water. She pushed her way into the premises and was given a drink, before leaving empty-handed.

The next incident happened ten minutes later, at another address in Marine Drive. This time, the suspect asked to use a phone to call a taxi, and was allowed into the premises. She appeared to use the phone, and then made her way to the homeowner’s bedroom where she began looking through several trinket boxes before leaving, again empty-handed.

The suspect is described as white, 28 to 35-years-old, 5ft 5ins tall, stocky build, with light brown hair, wearing a dark jacket with hood, and carrying a tan coloured handbag. She spoke with a local accent.

Detective Constable Gavin Watson, from Lothian and Borders Police, said: “While no items were stolen in these incidents, it is likely that the suspect had called at these addresses with the intention of stealing any items of value that she could. We want anyone who received a similar call at their home address yesterday to contact police, and if anyone recognises the description of the suspect then they should also get in touch.

“At this time we would urge anyone who receives an unsolicited call at their home address by anyone asking for access to the property to refuse, unless they are completely satisfied that the caller is genuine. Anyone who has any suspicions over the intentions of any cold caller should contact police immediately.”

Anyone with any information should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 101, or Crimestoppers and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.

Man charged over Gumtree assaults

An eighteen year old man has been arrested and charged in connection with alleged robberies from people who posted items for sale online.

The man was held by police investigating a series of alleged incidents at McDonald’s car park off Telford Road, where three people have had electrical goods stolen after arranging to meet a “buyer”.

The man will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court tomorrow.

101 – the new non-emergency number for the Police

101 is the new number to contact the police when it’s less urgent than 999.

The 101 non-emergency number will make it quicker and easier for you to contact the police when you don’t need an emergency response, for example to:

•speak to your local police officer
•report a crime that’s already happened, such as a theft or damage to property
•get crime prevention advice
•make us aware of any policing issues in your area

101 will replace our current non-emergency number/s and provides one easy-to-remember number to contact the police wherever you are in Scotland, or elsewhere in the UK.

The 101 non-emergency number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It costs a flat rate of 15p per call from both landline and mobile networks, no matter how long you are on the phone or what time of day it is.

When you dial 101, the system will determine your location and connect you to the service centre covering your area.

By having one easy to remember number, 101 should make the police more accessible while reducing pressure on the 999 system.

Deaf, deafened, hard of hearing or speech-impaired callers can access the service via TextRelay on 1 800 1 101.

In an emergency always dial 999 – when a life is in danger, a crime is in progress or a suspect is nearby.

Frequently asked questions:

1. What is 101?

101 is the new number for you to call to contact the police when it’s less urgent than 999.

101 replaces our (insert current non-emergency number(s) for your force) number and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

2. What should 101 be used for?

You should call 101 if you want to talk to your local police officer, get crime prevention advice, or report a crime that does not need an emergency response, for example:

•if your car has been stolen
•your property has been damaged
•you suspect drug use or dealing
•you want to report a minor traffic collision, or
•you want to give the police information about crime in your area

3. Why is 101 being introduced?

101 is being launched to improve public access to the police by giving you a single, easy-to-remember phone number, for when it’s less urgent than 999.

4. How does 101 work?

When you call 101, you’ll hear a recorded message announcing that you’re being connected to your local police service centre. The system will determine your location and connect you to a call handler in the service centre for your local area. This ensures staff with local knowledge answer and deal with your call in a way that best meets your needs and the needs of your community.

If you are calling from the boundary between Scotland and England then you may be offered a choice of force to be connected to. If the system cannot locate where you are calling from, then you’ll be connected by the operator to the appropriate service centre, where the call will be handled in the normal manner.

Calls to 101 will be prioritised in the same way as calls to existing non-emergency numbers.

5. If I am deaf, deafened, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment, can I call 101?

If you are deaf, deafened, hard of hearing or speech-impaired then you can access the service via TextRelay on 1 800 1 101.

6. If English isn’t my first language, can I still call 101?

Service centre operators have access to professional interpreters who can quickly translate if you cannot speak, or have difficulty speaking, English.

7. How much does it cost to call 101?

Calls to 101 will cost 15p, no matter how long the call, what time of day it is made or whether it is from a landline or mobile phone.

8. Why is there a charge for calls to 101?

There has always been a cost associated with non-emergency calls. Introducing 101 allows this cost to be standardised across the country and in many cases the single, flat rate charge of 15p replaces previous higher charges. The police do not make any money from calls to 101.

9. Does 101 replace existing direct dial numbers?

If you want to speak to someone specific – for example your community officer – and you have their individual contact details, their direct dial number is still the best number to contact them on.

10. Does 101 replace 999?

No. 101 is the number to use to contact the police in situations that do not need an immediate response. 999 is still the number to call when an immediate response is needed – when a crime is in progress, when someone suspected of a crime is nearby, when a life is in danger or when violence is being used or threatened.

11. What happens if I call 101 but it is an emergency situation?

If you call 101 and it is deemed to be an emergency, or during the call your situation becomes an emergency, service centre staff are fully trained to deal with all emergency and non-emergency situations.

Always dial 999 when an immediate response is needed – when a crime is in progress, when someone suspected of a crime is nearby, when a life is in danger or when violence is being used or threatened.

12. Is 101 available outside of Scotland?

Yes, 101 is a national service that is also available across England and Wales.

13. What are the benefits of 101?

•101 provides one easy-to-remember number to contact the police anywhere in Scotland
•For the first time there will be a single flat rate charge
•The cost of the call will be transparent to the public and, in many cases, cheaper than current non-emergency numbers
•101 can potentially reduce pressure on the 999 system, allowing the police to prioritise the most urgent calls for help.

Public warned over Gumtree scam

Police in Edinburgh are investigating a series of robberies and assaults on people selling electronics online. Two of the thefts involved computers and a third involved a mobile phone – which had been advertised on the Gumtree website – and the robberies took place after sellers agreed to meet potential buyers in McDonald’s car park on Telford Road.

The most recent incident happened on Monday (18 February) when a 24-year-old man was threatened and robbed of an Apple computer he was attempting to sell. The other two incidents happened on Sunday 20 January and Monday 21 January.

Inspector Mark Rennie, from Lothian and Borders Police, said: “While no victims were injured, all were understandably distressed as a result of their respective ordeals, and we are carrying out inquiries in order to establish whether these incidents are linked. At the same time we are warning anyone conducting any transaction over Gumtree, or any similar website, to take precautions to ensure their safety.”

Lothian and Borders Police have issued advice for anyone who sells goods online, including to meet in a well-lit public place and get full contact details for any potential buyer you agree to meet.

Anyone with any information about these crimes should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Positive public response to Made From Crime? campaign

A police campaign tackling people making money from crime has led to a significant increase in information about suspected criminals across the East of Scotland. The independent charity Crimestoppers has reported a 30% increase in intelligence reports since the “Made From Crime?” campaign launched across the area on 21 January.

Lothian and Borders Police, Central Scotland Police, and Fife Constabulary are all taking part in this phase of the campaign, which is designed to make specific use of the Proceeds of Crime legislation (POCA).

It asks members of the public to come forward and report their suspicions about people making money illegally. People are able to report information through a number of ways including telephone, online, and through specific facebook advertising that police forces are using to target communities throughout the East of Scotland.

The biggest rise in information came from the Fife Constabulary area, where there was an 80% rise in intelligence reports following the launch of the campaign.

The information has now been passed to police forces to investigate further.

A similar campaign that ran in the Lothian and Borders area in 2011 saw a 17% rise in information to Crimestoppers and allowed officers to target criminals in a series of raids across two days. During this period, over £6.4 million worth of assets were identified for seizure from criminals and 44 people were arrested.

Detective Superintendent David Gordon, Head of the Serious and Organised Crime Unit at Lothian and Borders Police, said: “Police forces across the East of Scotland are committed to targeting criminals who fund their lifestyles through crime. I am delighted that members of the public have come forward to tell Crimestoppers about their suspicions, and that they in turn have been able to provide us with vital intelligence to help us in our efforts to rid communities of crime. I know people can be scared to tell us about those who are making their lives a misery by peddling crime in their area, however please be reassured that all information will be treated in the strictest confidence.”

Kate Jackson, national manager for Crimestoppers Scotland, said: “The public response speaks for itself and clearly people are not prepared to put up with criminality so have contacted us with information. I would urge anyone else who has information about crime to contact us on 0800 555 111 where we guarantee their anonymity. No-one will ever know that they have contacted us, but they can be assured that their actions will assist in making their communities better places.”

Police offer security advice to local businesses

Police in North Edinburgh are offering free crime prevention surveys to businesses in the area.

Officers from the Safer Neighbourhoods Team at Drylaw Police Station will be delivering letters to businesses and offering security surveys to highlight additional measures that can be taken to maximise security, following a spate of night-time break-ins which have occurred since Christmas.

Five men have been arrested and charged in relation to separate alleged break-ins in the last three weeks and additional police resources have been patrolling the area during the night to check premises. Despite this, thieves have continued to target businesses and on occasions returned to several premises that have broken into previously.

In an effort to raise awareness, the police have also alerted other night-time private security staff and council workers to encourage them to immediately report any suspicious or unusual activity when they are working in the area.

Inspector Mark Rennie of Drylaw Police Station said: “It’s really important that businesses review the robustness of the security measures they have in place and ensure all equipment is working. We hope that by offering free surveys and highlighting appropriate measures to take, businesses will do everything they can to make themselves a hard target.

“We’ve informed a lot of local people of the issue but worryingly we haven’t always had calls from residents when noises have been heard emanating from premises during the night. I’d like to encourage people to phone us immediately so that we get officers there quickly.”

Anyone with any information should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Man in court following Ferryfield drug find

A man has been charged after a quantity of herbal cannabis and plants with a combined street value of more than £28,000 were discovered at a property off Ferry Road yesterday (January 31). More than £2000 in cash was also seized during a search of the flat in West Ferryfield.

The 37-year-old is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (February 1).

East of Scotland forces join to launch crime initiative

Criminals across the East of Scotland who fund their lifestyles through crime are being targeted in a major new campaign launched yesterday. Lothian and Borders, Central Scotland and Fife Constabulary will work together in the latest phase of the successful ‘Made From Crime?’ initiative.

It is designed to make full use of the Proceeds of Crime Act, specific legislation that allows officers to seize assets that have been purchased through criminal activity, and the campaign asks communities throughout the East of Scotland to report their suspicions via Crimestoppers about those making money illegally through crimes.

People can voice their concerns over the the telephone, online using the secure Crimestoppers website or through specific facebook advertising that is geo-targeted to communities throughout the East of Scotland.

‘Made from Crime?’ is the only POCA (Proceeds of Crime Act) initiative of its kind in Scotland, and has the backing of both the Scottish Government and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill joined Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone, who will oversee the crime portfolio for the upcoming Police Service of Scotland, David Harvie (Director of Operations from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service) and Crimestoppers Chairman Bill Matthews to launch the campaign.

Monday’s launch marks an extension of the previous ‘Made From Crime?’ campaign which ran to huge success across the Lothian and Borders region in 2011 – during that phase of ‘Made from Crime?’ 44 people were arrested and charged in connection with POCA offences, and over £6.4 million of cash and assets were earmarked for seizure from criminals.

The joint working between Central Scotland Police, Fife Constabulary and Lothian and Borders Police comes in advance of the Police Service of Scotland launching on 1st April. These forces will join to form “East Command”, and will share services and resources.

Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said: “The launch of this campaign today sends out a strong message that the police in Scotland will not tolerate criminals profiting from crime. We know there are people living beyond their means on the proceeds of crime, be it through the purchase of flash cars, designer clothes or expensive jewellery, and that communities are suffering from the side affects of drug dealing, violence and other associated crimes.

” I would assure people who are trapped by those threatening them with violence or retribution, either associates or partners, that we will help them and tackle the violence and criminality they face. We will act on information and bring offenders to justice.

“Criminals don’t care or respect policing boundaries and it’s crucial that where they go, we go. This joined up working between Fife, Lothian and Borders and Central is the first step in stripping away the artificial barriers that force boundaries put up and tackling crime in a leaner, meaner and sharper way.”

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: “‘Made From Crime?’ is a great initiative in the fight against organised crime and I welcome it being expanded across the east of Scotland. There should be no hiding place in our neighbourhoods for those who cash in on crime.

“More than £6.4 million worth of dirty money and assets was earmarked for seizure through the first phase and I look forward to this second phase building on that. The Proceeds of Crime Act in Scotland has allowed over £60 million to be recovered from criminals, and we are investing this money through the CashBack for Communities Programme to put that bad money to good use.

“With Lothian and Borders, Central and Fife joining forces to build on the progress made 12 months ago, the net is closing in on those responsible for crimes that cause serious harm to individuals and communities. With the public’s help, more of those profiting from crime should and will be firmly brought to justice.”

Director of Operations for Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service David Harvie said: “We know that organised criminals are ever more resourceful and we need to be one step ahead of them. To do that, we need to know what is happening on the ground. Law Enforcement and prosecutors can’t do that alone. Our biggest allies in this are the decent, hardworking people who see first hand the devastation that organised crime brings to communities and the profits made by those criminals from the misery of others. We have to make sure, together with one another and with the help of Scotland’s communities, that crime does not pay.”

Bill Matthews, Chairman of Crimestoppers said: “Crimestoppers are delighted to be playing a key role in ‘Made from Crime?’. As the charity celebrates its’ 25th anniversary, we are proud of our unblemished record in support of those who wish to report crime anonymously”.

Police seek masked knifeman following local robbery

Police are looking for help to trace a masked thief who made a knifepoint robbery at a shop in Pilton last night (Sunday). The incident happened at about 20:40 at the Day Today shop in Boswall Parkway.

A 23-year-old man was working behind the counter when the thief demanded money, jumped over the counter and stole a plastic box containing a three-figure sum of cash and international telephone cards worth £200.

The thief is white 20 to 30-years-old, between 5ft 2ins and 5ft 5ins tall and of stocky build. He was wearing a black hooded top with the hood up, light-coloured trousers, black Converse-style trainers with a black balaclava covering his face.

Constable Alistair McLeod, of Lothian and Borders Police, said: “This was a frightening experience for everyone within the store and we are conducting local enquiries to identify the suspect. A male matching his description was then seen within a garden in Pilton Avenue at about 21:00 before making off.

“We are now asking anyone who remembers seeing anything suspicious in either Boswall Parkway or Pilton Avenue on Sunday evening to contact police immediately. Similarly, anyone with any other information that can assist with our investigation is also urged to come forward.”

Last night’s incident follows another knifepoint robbery at St Mark’s Park last Friday.

Police appeal over Warriston knifepoint robbery

Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for witnesses following a knifepoint robbery near St Mark’s Park in Warriston this morning (Friday).

The incident happened at around 7.30am. A 42-year-old man was walking near the entrance of St Mark’s Park when a male on a red motor scooter and another male who was on foot approached him. The male who was on foot then presented a knife and both demanded the man hand over his possessions.

After the victim gave his phone, he fled from the suspects and contacted police. Detectives are now keen to speak with anyone who was in or around the park this morning and can assist with their enquiries.

The first suspect is described as having a slight build and wearing a motorcycle helmet and dark clothing.

The second suspect is described as white, around 18-years-old, 5ft 9ins tall with a slight build. He was wearing a dark hooded top with the hood up, light trousers and a white chequered bandanna covering most of his face.

Both men spoke with local accents.

Detective Constable Graham McIlwraith said: “At no time during this incident was the man assaulted with the knife. Nevertheless, it was a frightening ordeal and resulted in the theft of his phone. We are conducting local enquiries in the area and would urge anyone who remembers seeing the distinctive red Vespa-style scooter, or the suspects to come forward.

“The victim spoke with a man walking his two dogs just after the robbery and this individual may have witnessed the incident. He is asked to contact police immediately. Similarly, anyone who can help us trace those responsible is asked to come forward.”

Those with information can contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.