Serious assault in Boswall Loan

Did women ‘set up’ assault victim?

Police are appealing for witnesses following a serious assault in the Granton area. The incident happened in Boswall Loan at around 3am in the early hours of Saturday morning.

A 30-year-old man began speaking to two women on Great Junction Street and the group walked along Ferry Road together. Once at Boswall Loan, heading towards Granton Crescent, the man was approached and assaulted by two men.

He was taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary with serious facial injuries.

The first suspect is described as white, 5ft 7-8 inches tall, around 20 years old, with a slim build. He had short dark hair and was wearing a dark-coloured t-shirt, red shorts and white trainers.

The second suspect is described as white, 5ft 9inches tall, around 20 years old, with a slim build. He had short dark spiky hair and was wearing a dark-coloured top, dark jeans or joggers, and white trainers.

The two female witnesses are described as white, around 5ft 4inches tall, 18-20 years old, with slim builds and local accents.

One had elbow-length straight dark hair, and was wearing a light-coloured jumper, dark leggings or jeans, beige boots and carrying a large beige shoulder bag. She was possibly called “Kat”.

The other had dyed blonde shoulder-length hair. She was wearing a ¾ length grey jacket, black leggings and black boots.

Detective Sergeant Clark Martin of Gayfield CID said: “We’re conducting numerous enquiries in the local area in order to trace the suspects, and would urge any witnesses to get in touch. We believe the two men were known to the two women, and would also ask anyone who recognises their descriptions to come forward.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

More government funding to support MVP programme

Schools violence prevention initiative ‘goes from strength to strength’

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson yesterday announced a further £450,000 of funding to provide extra training staff for the innovative Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) Scotland programme. Mr Matheson made the announcement during a visit to Tynecastle High School, where he met the programme’s American founder Jackson Katz (above) and some of the young people benefitting from the scheme. Continue reading More government funding to support MVP programme

It’s not fair: ‘many people are being left behind’

More young people than ever living in poverty

The most comprehensive review ever carried out on progress towards greater equality and human rights protection across Scotland and the rest of Britain has been published. Continue reading It’s not fair: ‘many people are being left behind’

Domestic Violence: let’s talk

WHAT CAN WE DO TO TACKLE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?

Stop Domestic Violence meeting

Wardieburn stabbings: one victim ‘critically ill’

‘This was an appalling attack’ – DCI Stuart Houston

Police in Edinburgh are appealing for witnesses following the attempted murder of two men in Wardieburn. The incident took place at around 6pm on Wednesday evening in Wardieburn Place West. The area was busy at the time and police are hopeful that potential witnesses will come forward.

The men had travelled down from the Aberdeen area to buy a car, but on arrival they were attacked and stabbed after being lured into a common stair by two men. The suspects, who may also have robbed their victims, made off, possibly via the large grass area at the rear of the block.

Both victims were left with serious injuries and one – a 43-year-old man – is in a critical condition.

Officers are eager to speak to any witnesses who may have seen the two suspects.

The first suspect is described as a white man aged 17-19 years old, with a local accent. He has light coloured short hair which is shaved at the sides and was wearing a light coloured sky blue hooded sweatshirt and grey jogging bottoms.

The second suspect is a white man in his mid-twenties with a stocky build. He was wearing a striped top.

Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Houston said: “This was an appalling attack on two men who came to the address in good faith. This attack happened in daylight and we believe there may be a number of witnesses who may have seen the suspects in the area. Anyone with information that can help with our enquiries is urged to contact police immediately.”

Those with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Two in hospital following Wardieburn knife attack

Two men stabbed in Wardieburn in broad daylight

Two men are being treated in hospital following a knife attack in Wardieburn Place yesterday. The incident happened in broad daylight at around 6pm.

An investigation is underway to establish whether a Vauxhall Astra abandoned at the scene was involved in the incident.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Police in Edinburgh responded to a report of a serious assault on two men in the Wardieburn/Pilton area of the city around 6pm on Wednesday. Enquiries are ongoing into the full circumstances of this incident.”

If you have any information about the incident call Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Read all about it: local Forum lifts literary prize!

We-CTV Award for North Edinburgh Young People’s Forum

North Edinburgh Young People’s Forum (NEYPF) has won second prize in a national competiton organised by the Scottish Youth Parliament. Josh, Laura and Brandin’s entry was the only submission from Edinburgh to win an award at this week’s presentation ceremony (writes Dave Pickering).

Launched last June, the We-CTV Competition asked young people to address issues of interpersonal violence in communities. Groups were asked to produce a piece of creative work on themes like knife crime, abuse and online bullying in one of three categories: Art (drawing, painting, textiles), Literary (creative or discursive writing) or Multimedia (video or audio).

NEYPF decided to take part in the competition and agreed to write a piece on bullying.

It’s been a long process. Entrants were first asked to submit an expression of interest by the end of August 2014. The creative concept deadline was 31 October and a National Creative We-CTV Production Day took place on 11 November, giving entrants an opportunity to meet with creative experts and share ideas. The final submission deadline for ‘creative solution’ entries was 16 January and this was followed by an online vote.

The group has had an anxious wait since voting closed on 8 February, but the NEYPF were rewarded for their hard work when they were announced as runner-up in the Literary category at Wednesday evening’s awards which were held in Glasgow’s Film Theatre.

Josh Ward (13), Laura Hulbert (14) and Brandin Sharpe (13) – all of whom took part in a training session with NEN last Autumn – attended the gala event with NEYPF youth worker Danielle Ward and were delighted to win second prize in their category. As well as the Award, each team member received a certificate and vouchers from Pizza Express and Vue Cinemas.

Their certificates read: ‘Their contribution helped raise awareness of interpersonal violence against young people‘.

Prizes aside, the highlight of the event for the Forum members was meeting Sanjeev Kohli, Still Game’s Naveed, who was MC for the evening! His quote: ‘I am just a monkey in a suit’ was the group’s favourite.

The final words, quite rightly, go to the NEYPF members. “It was an emotional rollercoaster!” said Brandin, while Josh added: “It was fun and I met Navid and we came second!”

Short and sweet but says it all! Well done, NEYPF!

Be_the_Hero

Jail for PIlton attempted murder pair

Two men have been sentenced for the attempted murder of a Chinese takeaway owner in West Pilton last year. Gary Reid (19) was sentenced to seven years in a young offenders institution and James Hogg (24) was jailed for eight years three months at the High Court in Aberdeen.

Reid and Hogg last month admitted attacking Jie Yu, 38, near his takeaway restaurant in Ferry Road Drive on 1 October last year. Mr Yu suffered a near fatal neck wound during the vicious attack as he tried to stop the pair stealing his car.

Reid and Hogg had stolen Mr Yu’s delivery vehicle from outside his Peking Garden takeaway after he left the keys in the ignition. Mr Yu then chased after the men on his daughter’s bike. When he caught up with the pair and remonstrated with the men, he was punched, kicked and repeatedly stabbed by both men in what was described as a ‘vicious and unprovoked attack’.

Both Reid and Hogg, who both have previous convictions, pled guilty to attempted murder when they appeared at the High Court in Glasgow last month. At that hearing Reid also admitted his behaviour was racially motivated: his older brother John was jailed for the high-profile killing of Chinese takeaway driver Simon San in Edinburgh in 2010.

More MVP training

I saw the NEN’s piece about the MVP (Mentors in Violence Prevention) training on 24 March at Pilton Community Health Project.

There is also a session for parents on

Monday 23 March

at 6pm in Craigroyston Community High School.

A couple of senior pupils from the school will help to take parents through the approach, which promotes positive relationships and gives young people the confidence and skills to challenge bullying, violent or anti-social behaviour.

It’s aimed at parents of older primary school children who will be trained in MVP when they start at Craigroyston or Broughton High School, and parents of High School children are also welcome.

The session shouldn’t take longer than an hour and a half, and child care is available if planned in advance. If anyone is interested they can book through me on the details below.

Sarah Neal

CLD Worker (Community Learning & Development & Total Craigroyston)
Royston Wardieburn Community Centre, Pilton Drive North. Tel: 0131 552 5700

Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) training

MVP Training

Tuesday 24 March 10am-1pm

Pilton Community Health Project

You might have seen the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) programme in the news last week, when the Justice Secretary Michael Matheson visited Craigroyston Community High School to find out more about the training for High School students, which has a proven track of promoting a positive climate and reducing bullying and other violent behaviour in both schools and communities (writes Rachel Farrier).

The minister’s visit was featured on the NEN’s blog on 5 March (‘Craigroyston initiative tackles bullying and violence’)

We are really fortunate to have this highly-acclaimed training going on in our area, and there is a one-off session which has been adapted for adults happening on 24 March 10am-1pm here at Pilton Community Health Project which you can still book a place for – but space is limited so please let Rachel at PCHP know ASAP if you would like to come along, and do let her know if you might need childcare.

It is open to anyone from the local community, as well as those working professionally in the area.

The training uses a ‘bystander approach’ which helps individuals to work out practical and viable responses when they encounter harassment, abuse or violence – both aimed at themselves and others. You can read more about the programme in Scotland here (scroll down the page to find out about MVP).

Call Rachel on 551 671 or email lih@pchp.org.uk to book a place.