Latest news with #ScottishPoliceAuthorityForensics
Edinburgh Reporter
22-05-2025
- Edinburgh Reporter
Chief constable condemns actions of those involved in gang wars
Speaking at a meeting of the Scottish Police Authority Board in Glasgow today, Thursday, 22 May 2025, she highlighted the 37 arrests following targeted attacks in the East and West of Scotland, under Operation Portaledge. She said: 'I utterly condemn the actions of those involved and thank our communities for their support and assistance in making Scotland a hostile environment for those involved in organised crime. 'A team of detectives is working closely with local policing officers and operational support colleagues. I also want to recognise and thank Scottish Police Authority Forensics for their contribution to what is one of our largest ongoing investigations. 'Our commitment to tackling organised crime is also underlined by Operation Intensity, which has resulted in 100 arrests as well as the seizure of illegal drugs and firearms. 'We'll continue to work with partners at international, national, regional and local levels to clear organised crime and build resilience in communities and I want to thank colleagues in local authorities and the Scottish Fire and Rescue and the National Crime Agency for their support. 'Of course, we work very closely with the partners, as underlined by their input today and I welcome Graeme from the NCA here today and place on record my thanks for their support and collaboration.' Like this: Like Related
Scottish Sun
21-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Tops cop pledges to create 'hostile environment' for warring Scots mobsters
Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell says officers involved in Operation Portaledge have scoured 3,000 hours of CCTV footage Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SCOTLAND'S top cop says the force is determined to create 'a hostile environment' for mobsters involved in an ongoing gang war. Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell told a policing watchdog officers involved in Operation Portaledge have scoured around 3,000 hours of CCTV footage as part of a massive investigation. 3 Chief Constable Jo Farrell spoke about the gang war at an SPA meeting. 3 Cops, fire crews were praised for their efforts in dealing with the wave of attacks 3 Forensics teams probing an attack in East Kilbride were hailed by the top cop. She revealed there had been 35 arrests linked to the carnage in Glasgow and Edinburgh amid a brutal campaign of violence involving rival mobs. She was speaking for the first time on the ongoing turf war being waged by a Dubai-based hood out for revenge over a dodgy drug deal. She described the attacks as "targeted" and said armed police were involved in arrests, as well as praising fire crews following a spate of firebombings. Ms Farrell told the Scottish Police Authority: 'This month, I provide an overview of disruption and enforcement, including dozens of arrests, in response to targeted attacks in the east and west of Scotland, under Operation Portaledge. 'I want to begin by condemning the actions of those involved and thanking our communities for their support and assistance in making Scotland a hostile environment for those involved in organised crime. 'I also want to recognise and thank Scottish Police Authority Forensics for their contribution to what is one of our largest ongoing investigations. 'We'll continue to work with partners at international, national, regional and local levels to clear organised crime and I want to thank colleagues in local authorities and the Scottish Fire and Rescue for their support. 'A dedicated team from our specialist crime division has been working since March to investigate targeted attacks in both the east and west. 'This is one of the largest investigations we have ongoing in Police Scotland. 'A total of 35 arrests have already been made, 14 stolen vehicles have been recovered, and 3,000 hours of CCTV footage has been reviewed. Two men brutally attacked at garage owned by notorious Daniel crime gang member 'Local officers have been carrying out intelligence-led patrols to disrupt the activities of criminals. 'Armed policing officers have been using specialist skills to support the operation and safely carry out arrests. 'There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes, including exploring forensic opportunities and analysis of digital devices. 'We want to thank our colleagues at SPA Forensics for prioritising this work and ensuring our officers have the results and resources to make arrests quickly and bring people to court. 'The public can be assured we are working tirelessly to build cases and are following a number of significant lines of enquiry. 'We have had a good response to our appeals and I want to thank the public for their help and information so far. 'The support of our communities is vital in tackling serious organised crime, preventing violence and getting justice for victims.' Ms Farrelk spoke just days after the latest in a wave of attacks said to have been ordered by former Union Bears member Ross McGill who orchestrated the chaos from a Dubai bolthole. We told how gangland machete nuts were spotted dumping a getaway car on Monday before speeding off in another motor after "chopping up" two men in a turf war murder bid. The pair drove four miles to Blantyre, Lanarkshire, following the lunchtime bloodbath at a car repair garage owned by Robert Daniel in East Kilbride. Detectives are understood to be examining CCTV of the two hoods abandoning it on Monday near Calderside Nursery Centre. Extensive investigations are ongoing and officers are carrying out enquiries to trace three male suspects wearing dark clothing and face coverings. In an appeal for information, Detective Superintendent Martin McGhee said: "We believe this was a targeted incident. "We believe the car that was set on fire was also used in the earlier serious assault. "We understand these incidents will be concerning for the community but please be assured we will bring those involved to justice." We told how the hoods were acting on the orders of Dubai-based ex-Rangers ultra Ross McGill - said to be connected to bitter Daniel enemies, the Lyons family. We unmasked McGill who was previously pictured with former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard when McGill left his role in 2021 as a leader in the Union Bears ultras group. It was the latest escalation of a turf war that erupted in Edinburgh in March with firebombings and has spread across the central belt. McGill's self-styled group Tamu Junto has claimed responsibility for a wave of firebombings across the central belt, targeting associates of jailed crime kingpin Mark Richardson, 38, and the Daniel family.
