Retail Crime Taskforce make 44 arrests in Edinburgh furing firth three months
Between 1 April and 14 July 2025, Taskforce officers, working alongside Edinburgh's Prevention Intervention and Partnerships Unit, and city centre policing teams, have charged 44 individuals with 228 crimes, including shoplifting, assault, possession of weapons and breaches of the peace.
As a result of these arrests, several people have been given bail conditions prohibiting them from the city centre, meaning any breach of these conditions will see them remanded in custody prior to their court hearing.
Significant intelligence has also been gathered by the Taskforce and local policing teams and will be progressed for further enforcement action.
Inspector Emma Wright from the Retail Crime Taskforce said: 'I am really encouraged with the positive start Taskforce officers have made in Edinburgh, as they work alongside divisional colleagues to identify retail crime offenders and bring them to justice.
'We cannot and will not become complacent, however, and will continue to target those involved in crimes of this nature across the country. Our role is to support and empower all local policing areas in addressing retail crime and I look forward to even more success stories in the Capital and throughout Scotland in the coming weeks and months.
'By working together, Police Scotland, the retail sector and other key partners aim to make it clear that retail crime will not be tolerated.'
Grant Stewart, Senior Manager – Projects at Essential Edinburgh, the business improvement district in the heart of Edinburgh city centre, added: 'Through our innovative retail crime initiative Check Out and our funding of Shopwatch, we are providing practical help to our retail community to fight the ongoing issues of shoplifting, antisocial behaviour and violence against retail staff.
'We know what a major impact these crimes have on our business community, and we are very encouraged by the results in such a short space of time.
'Our sincere thanks to Police Scotland and our retailers for embracing this partnership project.'
Superintendent Paul Gillespie, Edinburgh Division's Acquisitive Crime Lead, said: 'Edinburgh remains a safe place to live, work and visit, but we understand the impact retail crime has on not just the retail sector and its employees, but on the city as a whole and we have been working for quite some time to address these issues, alongside businesses within the Capital.
'The introduction of the Retail Crime Taskforce has proven invaluable, as it has provided dedicated resource to support the excellent work being undertaken by the Preventions, Interventions and Partnerships Team, as well as Response Officers working within the city centre.
'These combined efforts have seen us develop our intelligence picture, as well as helping us engage more closely with retailers to offer tailored advice on how they can safeguard their premises.
'The support of Essential Edinburgh cannot be overlooked. Their funding of Shopwatch by providing numerous businesses, police, and the City of Edinburgh Council CCTV team with radios, which allow for direct communication about ongoing incidents has been pivotal in speeding up the response in apprehending offenders.
'Other key partners at Retailers Against Crime have been of great importance too when we conduct enforcement activity or undertake high-visibility engagement patrols in the city centre.'
Like this:
Like
Related
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Scotsman
Trump visit will stretch Police Scotland resources to the limit
When Donald Trump visited his Turnberry resort midway through his first term in office, there was a heavy Police Scotland presence. Picture:Maybe it's pre-Fringe stress but we seem to have entered some bizarre parallel universe. On Wednesday morning I actually found myself agreeing with The Daily Mail. That's never happened before. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Don't worry, I didn't actually buy a copy. I've not gone totally unhinged. I just happened to glance at its front page headline in my local newsagent It was leading with a story about the scandalous waste of public money being spent this weekend by Police Scotland, who are mounting a massive security operation during Donald Trump's visit. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Around 6000 cops are going to be involved in making sure the giant orange jelly baby comes to no harm when he pops into his golf resorts in Turnberry and Aberdeenshire. 'Hear, hear' I thought. 'This is a national disgrace.' And it is. Shouldn't the polis be doing their day job of catching paedophiles, fraudsters and other criminals? Instead they are providing a protective blue line around one particular criminal, because he happens to be the President of the United States. Police Scotland have themselves admitted that their resources will be tested to the limit this weekend, so if someone stole your bike last night don't expect a bobby to come calling round any time before Tuesday or Wednesday when the human pumpkin flies back home. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad How many other offenders get the attention of a whole nation's police force? Unless, of course, the Old Bill are coming out in force to protect the Scottish public from Trump's wandering hands. Of course, Trump is not your average offender. He's also the head of state of a nation with whom the UK enjoys a 'special relationship', but he's not visiting Scotland in that capacity. He's over here to on a golfing holiday. There are a number of reason for this huge police deployment, mainly the numerous demonstrations being held in protest at his visit. At midday today, there will be rallies across Scotland, organised by the Stop Trump Coalition. Huge crowds are expected at the demo here at the American Consulate in Edinburgh, as well as Aberdeen and Dumfries. The fact that Trump is not visiting any of these cities should not stop the public from voicing their anger. Hopefully, if road closures don't keep them out, there will be a huge presence at Turnberry, scene of that famous 2016 protest by the late Janey Godley. Hopefully, many thousands will pay homage by waving banners bearing the slogan 'Trump is a c***'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Humour is an essential weapon against Trump. It's the one thing he can't handle, as can be seen by his attempts to silence American satirists like Jon Stewart and Jimmy Kimmell. CBS announced this week that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will be cancelled when its series ends next May. Catch it online over the next ten months. Many allege this is due to political pressure from the White House. Trump has already tweeted his glee, accusing the host of lacking talent. To which Colbert's response was 'Would an untalented man be able to compose the following satirical witticism? Go f*** yourself.' Those last three words well be on many banners today, I'm sure.
Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Daily Record
Police Scotland pay out £3m to stop staff taking them to employment tribunals
Concerns have been expressed over the millions paid out to staff in secret employment tribunal settlements. Cash strapped Police Scotland has paid out almost £3million in compensation payments in secret deals to disgruntled staff after being taken to employment tribunals, the Daily Record can reveal. In each of the 49 cases employees, including police officers and civilian workers, signed gagging orders or non disclosure agreements (NDA's) to settle the cases and receive the compensation. The shock figures released by Police Scotland under Freedom of Information show an average of £57,200 was paid out per claim between 2020 and 2024. Details of the eye watering sums prompted a furious reaction yesterday. Scottish Labour Justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill said 'Frontline policing is under immense pressure and all money must be spent in the best way possible. "The SNP must work with Police Scotland to ensure standards are being upheld at all times and address the underlying issues causing these claims, so that more funding can go to the frontline where it is badly needed.' The employment tribunal settlements released under Freedom of Information (FOI) show that £84,330 was paid out in 2020, £63,801 in 2021, £342,750 in 2022, £2,134.023 in 2023 and £170,000 last year. David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, added: "The majority of payments will be to our members. "The question I would have is what lessons are Police Scotland learning. "When we go to the force with cases early they don't fix them quick enough. "Which ends up in bigger claims, more payouts and increased costs." No figures have been made available for individual sums paid to claimants which police say would be a breach of confidence by the force. An NDA means that the person receiving payment is unable to discuss any details of the settlement, complaint, or time with the force. In the same FOI response Police Scotland said they had paid out compensation in more than 600 cases since 2021 - to both staff and members of the public - in a wide variety of actions raised against the force. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. In June the Daily Record revealed how a male firearms officer is suing Police Scotland for sex discrimination - at an employment tribunal - after he was suspended for taking a photo with influencer Tallia Storm while on duty in Edinburgh last year. Steve Jones, 35, claims he was unfairly suspended then demoted after a video of him and a colleague with Storm was shared on TikTok. In May the Daily Record also revealed that more than £18million in compensation was paid by Police Scotland between 2019 and 2024 following claims brought against the force by both staff and members of the public. The sums include £400,000 paid to two ex-administrators of Rangers FC David Whitehouse and Paul Clark after they were arrested during a failed fraud investigation. In May 2022, former firearms officer Rhona Malone, 43, was awarded £948,000 in damages by an employment tribunal which found she had been the victim of sexism and discrimination. Police Scotland also had to pay £118,000 towards her legal costs. More recently Police Scotland are reported to have agreed to pay more than £1million in compensation to members of Sheku Bayoh 's family. Sheku died in a street in Kirkcaldy in 2015 while being detained by police officers. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Compensation payments are dealt with on a case by case basis with a view to securing best value for the public purse." A Scottish Government spokesperson added: "It is for Police Scotland, with oversight from the Scottish Police Authority, to consider how to resolve employment disputes, including the use of confidentiality agreements. The Scottish Government expects all public bodies to conduct litigation with careful regard to the public purse."
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Daily Mail
JONATHAN BROCKLEBANK: 6,000 cops, miles of steel and the dog walkers baffled by the most expensive round of golf EVER!
Officially it is a two-centre golfing break in Scotland – the kind favoured by many a rich American crossing the pond this summer. The trip takes in a prestigious west coast course and a round on a newly complete east coast one, with the last word in luxury accommodation a short walk from the first tee at each. But no long weekend on the fairways in Scotland has ever looked quite like this one. This one has commandeered almost a third of Police Scotland's manpower to make sure things go smoothly. This one had officers in high viz vests swarming over greens, tees, fairways and rough hours before the holidaymaker even boarded his flight from Washington DC. It had police with dogs, on horseback and even officers on quad bikes as they patrolled a mile-long expanse of empty beach which they have closed off to the public. It even had a security tower with police sharp shooters atop it. US President Donald Trump is a man partial to superlatives. Well, his sojourn at Turnberry, in Ayrshire, and the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire abounds in them. It is surely the most expensive golfing trip on these isles ever contemplated. How many others involved flying in a motorcade by military jet days in advance? Further preparations have included throwing up rings of steel around the Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire courses and accommodation - all of which, of course, the vacationing president happens to own. Rounds were still being played by regular golfers (albeit paying up to £1,000 a time) at Turnberry yesterday. But the golf was happening behind miles of newly erected 10ft fences with ultra-fine mesh, and only after rigorous ID and vehicle checks. On the tee of the third hole, which lies closest to a stretch of shore still accessible to the public, the foursomes hitting their drives were easily outnumbered by police patrols. Nor, surely, has any golfing weekend boasted the epic supporting cast of this one. Up to 6,000 police officers - many drafted in from forces outside Scotland - are on some form of Trump detail this weekend. They were arriving at Turnberry yesterday not by the traditional vanload but by the coachload - three in the space of four minutes. And let us not forget the protesters. Thousands of them are expected to make the extent of their displeasure felt in Edinburgh and Aberdeen this weekend - while others hope to do so within shouting distance at his golf courses. Also among the bit part players are Prime Minister Keir Starmer and First Minister John Swinney, both of whom will be afforded audiences with Mr Trump - one in each of his Scottish residences - over the next few days. There was a time during his days as a mere billionaire tycoon when a Trump visit to one of his Scottish properties brought a splash of colour and a smattering of press to the local area. It would bring his private jet - a 727 - with the Trump name emblazoned on the fuselage in gold lettering. Today, as president, he arrives in Air Force One - and brings those same areas to a standstill. 'We came here for a quiet life,' says Bill Fletcher, 73, who moved to Turnberry from Stratford Upon Avon a year ago. 'But there's just so much security and it arrived here so early. We can't get on the beach to walk the dog. I suppose you have to expect it for the most important person in the world - or someone who thinks he is.' His view of the president is likely similar to many of the householders in this upmarket enclave of detached houses and holiday homes. 'I don't like some of his policies and he can be quite unpredictable,' he says. 'But he's got some things right and I wish we were as firm here as he is.' Along the road in the Balkenna Tearoom, staff were bracing themselves for protesters mobbing their carpark as they did during Mr Trump's last presidential visit in 2018. 'We've a sign up saying 'patrons only' this time,' says a waitress. 'It's going to be pandemonium.' On his visit during his first term as president, a protester managed to fly an aircraft trailing an anti-Trump banner over the Ailsa championship course. This time around, you cannot fly so much as a kite or model aeroplane in the area. Don't even think about a drone or a balloon. 'No Fly Zone' signs dotted all around advise people seeing anyone attempting to do so to call 999. And yet, here at least, the disruption is met with a degree of understanding. It is less than a year since there was an attempt on Mr Trump's life on a golf course. The gunman hid in shrubbery at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. Weeks earlier, on the campaign trail he was hit in the ear by a sniper's bullet. 'I don't like him personally but I suppose we have to put up with it, and it doesn't happen very often,' says David Browning, 84, who lives a few hundred yards from the Turnberry clubhouse. 'And I've got say, he does a lot for Turnberry which was looking pretty tired before he bought it.' Does he visit the spruced-up hotel much himself? 'Occasionally, but you've got to have lined pockets for that,' Mr Browning said, adding that he hopes the president is successful in bringing the Open championship back to Turnberry - even if it is 'obviously an ego thing'. There is at least a whiff of suspicion that a key objective of the Trump visit to Scotland may be to lobby for the Open to come to his course. While it remains on governing body the Royal and Ancient's roster for the championship, Turnberry has not played host since the American snapped it up in 2014 - something that clearly eats at the president. A less cynical interpretation of the visit - described as 'private' by the White House - would have Mr Trump making a long awaited return to a land that is undeniably dear to him and in which he has invested heavily. His mother Mary Anne MacLeod was from the Hebridean isle of Lewis. On this visit he is due to open his second golf course in Aberdeenshire, the New Course, which will include a new memorial garden to honour his mother with a centrepiece that will be made from stone imported from Lewis. Massive security measures were already in place at that Trump facility yesterday, days ahead of the president's arrival. In the early hours, a deer was an early casualty in the operation. It had to be euthanised after being knocked down by a police vehicle patrolling the Trump estate. Both his Scottish properties have been targeted by protesters in recent months. Activists daubed red paint over much of the Turnberry resort in March. The president described them as 'terrorists' who 'did serious damage and will hopefully be treated harshly'. In Aberdeenshire, meanwhile, a placard this week proclaimed the estate was 'twinned with Epstein Island' - a reference to the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein whose relationship with Mr Trump is under renewed scrutiny. Protests in Edinburgh are expected to target the US Consulate, which the Trump administration has threatened with closure. Alena Ivanova, a campaigner with the Stop Trump Coalition said: 'Donald Trump may shake hands with our leaders, but he's no friend of Scotland. 'We, the people of Scotland, see the damage he has done - to democracy and working people in the US, to the global efforts to tackle the climate crisis, to the very principles of justice and humanity. 'Trump is not welcome because he represents all that Scottish people reject.' She certainly did not speak for everyone. Jackie McDowall posted online that her six-year-old son Ricky was 'desperate' to see the President and his motorcade making their way to Turnberry. She wrote: 'Right, so obviously I know nobody's going know exactly where Donald Trump is going be etc, but does anyone know roughly his route to Turnberry and time or anything? 'I've a wee six year old desperate just for a tiny wee glimpse of the President or even his entourage. 'Ideally he would like to meet the man himself have a quick chat and at least get to shake his hand.' That, certainly, was what Scottish Secretary Ian Murray was waiting to do on the tarmac at Prestwick Airport last night. Where exactly it goes from there, who can tell? The president's long weekend in Scotland has begun. It will, naturally, be the biggest ever - and possibly the maddest.
