Latest news with #PoliceScotland
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Pair charged as woman and four horses die after early morning crash on A737
The crash last September involved a Mercedes A-Class car and a MAN box van as a "number of calls around that time also reported six horses running loose on the A737". Two people have been charged after a woman and four horses died in an early morning road crash. The horror incident took place on the A737 near Howwood in the early hours of September 23 last year, involving a Mercedes A-class car and a MAN box van. Police and ambulance crews attended but a 59-year-old woman, who was a passenger in the Mercedes, was tragically pronounced dead at the scene. A 60-year-old man has now been arrested and charged in connection with the crash with a 52-year-old woman also charged. It was reported at the time four horses on the road died while two others were taken to safety. 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. A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: "A 60-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with a fatal crash on the A737 near Howwood. "Around 3.10am on Monday, 23 September 2024, officers were called to the crash involving a Mercedes A-class car and a MAN box van. "A 59-year-old woman, who was a passenger in the Mercedes, was pronounced dead at the scene. "A number of calls around that time also reported six horses running loose on the A737. "A 52-year-old woman has been charged in connection with this incident. "Reports will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal."
The National
an hour ago
- Politics
- The National
Abusive social media posts targeting MSPs soar in one year to 23,500
An initiative by the Scottish Parliament has employed two members of staff – one a former police inspector – to trawl the social media accounts of 69 MSPs who signed up to the review. The pair found 23,507 posts considered abusive in 2024-25, but which did not reach the required level to be considered criminal. The previous year, the figure was 8110. READ MORE: Scottish Government removes WhatsApp from all official devices In the most recent year, 257 posts were referred to Police Scotland – down from 461 the previous year – with one case proceeding to court. The SNP – Holyrood's largest party and the party of Government – saw the highest level of abuse, with 15,749 posts directed towards its MSPs, but which were not deemed to reach the criminal threshold. Scottish Labour MSPs were next with 4150, while the Scottish Tories were targeted in 1888 posts. Scottish Green and Liberal Democrat MSPs faced 939 and 729 abusive posts respectively, while 52 messages targeted independent members. Male MSPs received vastly more abuse than their female colleagues, with 19,511 messages compared to 3996. The Scottish Parliament's monitoring software searches social media for threatening and abusive language and can refer the posts to police if required. A briefing sent to MSPs by Holyrood's director of operations and digital, Lynsey Hamill, said: 'Whilst it is too early to draw any firm conclusions on trends and success of the scheme when comparing data from the pilot year and year one, we can see the scale of online abuse of MSPs is now readily apparent and growing. 'This chimes with feedback we have had from members for some time now.' A Scottish Parliament spokesperson said: 'The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) is acutely aware of the rising level of threat against elected representatives. 'Last year, the SPCB invested £125,000 to make permanent its online threat managing service. 'Under the service, potentially criminal threats are identified by the Parliament's security team and escalated to Police Scotland for its action.'
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Disturbing Snapchat footage of Ayr 'stabbing' as cops launch attempted murder probe
A man was found lying on the street with sickening wounds following an a vicious blade attack around 10am on the Ayrshire town's Braeside Road. Cops are probing a murder bid after a horror street 'stabbing' left a man with serious injuries. Police have launched an investigation into a brutal attack in Ayr on Tuesday. A man was found lying on the street with sickening wounds following an a vicious blade attack around 10am on the Ayrshire town's Braeside Road. The 39-year-old was airlifted to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital after mercy crews fought to stabilise him. He remains in the Glasgow hospital in a serious but stable condition. Detectives have launched an appeal for information to help trace a man seen in the area around the time of the incident. The man is described as white, mid 30s, around 5ft 11in tall and has a tattoo on his neck. Online footage emerged of the brutal assault. A Snapchat video seen by the Daily Record shows what appears to be two men involved in a struggle in the middle of the road on the residential man can be seen lying on the ground whilst the other, understood to be the attacker, is on top of 'suspect' is then spotted running off from the scene as the man on the ground lies holding their upper body and rolling around in image shows paramedics and police surrounding the victim as he holds a police officer's hand. Detective Inspector Jamie Carruth said: 'I'm aware there is information known locally in relation to the person involved in this attack on a man in broad daylight. I'd appeal to anyone who knows something, no matter how significant they think it may be, to come forward. 'I would also appeal to anyone who was in the Braeside Road area around the time and saw anything which may be of note or has CCTV or dash-cam footage, to contact us. 'Extensive enquiries remain ongoing to establish the full circumstances. Additional officers will be in the area while our investigations continue and I'd ask anyone with information or concerns to speak to officers or call 101.' Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting reference 0945 of 17 June. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Cops pledge 'it won't happen again' after Nazi gender storm
Police chiefs have been accused of 'pandering' to 'fringe activists' after backtracking on comments comparing gender-critical campaigners to Nazis. Top brass insisted the internal document drawing the 'Nazi' analogy was 'immediately withdrawn' and measures had been put in place to 'ensure it does not happen again'. The Mail revealed last month that officers were told ' gender binary' – the belief that there are only two genders – was a 'key feature' of the Nazis' ideology. It is understood the document was written by a police officer or member of civilian staff with responsibility for liaising with gay and transgender employees. Last night, Scottish Tory equalities spokesman Tess White said: 'It's disgusting such outrageous language made it into an official Police Scotland document. 'Claiming additional governance has been put in place now is no comfort to those who were smeared for standing up for basic common sense. 'SNP ministers need to get a grip and stop public bodies pandering to fringe gender activists who keep pushing self-ID.' Ms White wrote to Police Scotland demanding an explanation after the Mail disclosed the 'Nazi' document. In his reply, Assistant Chief Constable Mark Sutherland said: 'I can confirm this document was immediately withdrawn from circulation and does not represent the views of Police Scotland. 'Police Scotland drives continual cultural improvement through engagement with diverse communities to ensure we tackle discriminatory behaviours. 'Additional governance has been put in place prior to the circulation and internal publication of documents. When required, this also includes consultation with the Police Scotland equality and diversity unit. 'I trust this provides you with reassurance that this matter was quickly addressed and measures put in place to ensure that it does not happen again.' The document at the centre of the row – which mirrors material from controversial LGBT group Stonewall – focused on last month's 'Trans+ History Week'. It states: 'This week was founded in recognition of the anniversary of the Nazi raid on the world's first ever trans clinic in 1933. 'Books were burned as part of the Nazis' targeting of queer communities. Gender binary was a key feature of the Nazi racist policies. 'Right now, the gender critical movement has a strong voice. Is this movement an echo of past hostilities and does it mean we have failed to understand the lessons from history?' Last month former Police Scotland superintendent Martin Gallagher said: 'This is what happens when the police get involved in contested political issues. 'Police neutrality existed for a reason – the sooner it returns the better.' Dr Stuart Waiton, a sociologist at Abertay University in Dundee, said: 'Transgender activists are inclined to use hyperbolic statements. 'This one that attempts to associate today's gender critics with Nazi Germany is a particularly embarrassing example.'
Daily Record
5 hours ago
- Daily Record
Flames tear through Edinburgh flat as dozens of firefighters battle blaze
Terrifying footage shows a firefighter being elevated up to the third floor while battling the ferocious blaze which had engulfed a flat. Over 25 firefighters have battled a blaze which tore through a flat in Edinburgh late last night. Emergency crews, including police, the ambulance service and at least 25 firefighters, raced to the incident at a block of flats on Gunnet Court, Muirhouse. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service noted that they received the call shortly before 11pm last night (Thursday June 19) and mobilised five pump appliances and a height vehicle, reports Edinburgh Live. Horror images from the scene show a firefighter battling orange flames coming from a 3rd floor flat as black smoke can be seen billowing from the building. The height vehicle was used to extinguish the blaze as the firefighter could be seen spraying water into the flat while being elevated by the appliance while the whole apartment was engulfed in flames. The area, including Muirhouse View, was taped off by emergency services as several police cars could also be seen. It is understood residents were evacuated as a group of people could be seen standing behind a cordon watching on. Hero firefighters fought the fire for three hours before leaving the area at around 2am on Friday June 20. A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We received reports of a fire at a flat on Gunnet Court, at Muirhouse View, at 22.50 hours on Thursday, June 20. We mobilised five appliances and a height vehicle. "The fire on a third floor flat was extinguished and the last appliances left the scene at 2am. Police Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance Service were also in attendance." It is currently not known if there were any casualties. The Scottish Ambulance Service was approached for comment. Yesterday, in a separate incident, we reported that a major Scots motorway was closed in both directions after a pickup truck went up in flames. Traffic was drawn to a halt on Thursday afternoon after the white vehicle combusted into a blaze on M90 near Kinross. Hero firefighters raced to the scene and both lanes of the busy road were closed while the inferno was extinguished. Shocking images from the scene show giant orange flames towering from the shell of the white vehicle as thick grey smoke billows into the air. It is unknown if there were any casualties but by around 1.45pm on June 19 the fire was put out and all lanes were reopened to traffic. A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they received a number of calls at around 12.45pm regarding a pick up truck on fire, on the M90 near Kinross. Two appliances attended the fire and all lanes were closed. They have now left the scene and carriageway is fully open. Police Scotland has also been approached for comment. 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'.
