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Crime

Superintendent Shepherd

The rural policing challenge

Police in the Western Isles are advised to concentrate more on tackling drugs misuse.

Combatting drugs should be top policing priority in the islands

David Carrick has been sentenced to more than 30 years in prison

Rapist ex-police officer David Carrick jailed for at least 30 years

Councillors expressed concern over the situation.

Youth offending twice the Scottish average

MSPs heard there was a backlog of cases right throughout Scotland, including in Stornoway.

Concern expressed over courts system backlog

Chief inspector Alasdair MacLeod: "We are taking these crimes seriously"

Petition calls for action against unruly kids

Police in Stornoway have recruited an analyst to get a better understanding on the rise in assault

Police report marked increase in assault cases

The boys were relatively unperturbed as the Peatlemania phenomenon continues to grow

Thieves target Peat n Diesel van during their UK-wide tour

Concern was raised about the cycle "gangs" at the comhairle's communities and housing committee

Police to crack down on town cycle ‘gangs’

College cyber-attack is still causing problems

Assistant Chief Constable Pat Campbell said: "This strategy represents the next step forward in tackling this criminal activity."

Scammers targeted in Scotland
A new national partnership is to be established to tackle the on-going threat of scams.

Martin Kennedy pictured on his farm.

New bill is aimed at protecting sheep and other livestock from dog attacks

The deployment of Police Scotland quad bikes in some parts of rural Scotland has made a positive contribution to the ongoing challenge of rural crime in these areas.

Rural crime in Scotland is a blight

Assistant Chief Constable Pat Campbell, Police Scotland, said: “Criminals don’t care about the hurt or damage they cause, they only care about money."

Sextortion on the increase

There's no excuse for speeding highlights new TV ad

New campaign with hard-hitting car crash advert doesn't pull any punches.

UK laws are constantly changing and modernising, however some have remained in place despite society changing around them (Photo: Shutterstock)

10 weird and wonderful UK laws that might surprise you

Firefighters have fought 24 fires in the space of three days.

Firefighters tackle 24 wildfires in Hebrides in three days as crews continue wor...

Salmon farms dot the seas and bays around the Western Isles.

Watch the video and make your own decision if fish are being treated humanely!

Is your car among the UK’s most stolen models?

Councillors rejected the proposals at a recent meeting

Could this mean it's a green light for the town's 'boy racers'?

Don't get caught out, double check everything.

Don't fall foul of scammers, check everything, and then check again!

Police officers have found the woman in breach of Covid guidelines on four occasions now.

Stornoway woman has breached the Covid-19 rules about meeting indoors - FOUR tim...

Residents on the Western Isles are urged to be aware of possible scams.

Warnings issued over Covid scams

How does your area compare?

Homes in these UK towns and cities are most at risk of burglary

Alternative arrangements in place for reopening of Stornoway Primary following v...

The school suffered serious damage as a result of the wanton vandalism.

Shocking behaviour as Stornoway Primary is targeted by teen vandals.

Island police will be enforcing the law to keep the roads safe for all.

Island prosecutions are on the up since lockdown restrictions eased

Carleston Street, Sprinburn, Glasgow. Image copyright: Google Streetview

A Stornoway woman has been found lying dead in a Glasgow street.
And now her distraught family are fundraising to return her body to the island for burial.

Fake telephone chargers have always been a worry for trading standards departments.

Take care if buying electrical goods online this Christmas

Joanne MacLean

Police appeal for your help

Court backlog at Stornoway due to coronavirus

Accused and their complainers are waiting on justice

The law may have to be changed if the recommendations are accepted.

New rules on fireworks are called for

Officers dealt with a significant number of calls to house gatherings over the weekend. Photo: John Devlin

Police make arrests after breaking up house gatherings across Scotland

Consumer champion...Matt Allwright is raising awareness of a new hotline which aims to stop fraudsters illegally targeting Covid-19 support schemes.

Crimestoppers launches new Covid Fraud Hotline

The Scottish Solicitors’ Discipline Tribunal (SSDT) convened a panel to hear the case.

Stornoway solicitor is struck off by panel

Efforts are being made to address the anti-social behaviour of a small group of young people.

Group of youths in Stornoway causing concern as vandalism rises in the area

Police seized a number of packages of illegal drugs sent to the Western Isles.

Spike in interception of packages of illegal drugs in the Western Isles

Local officers, special constables and national resources, including Road Policing and Dog Unit officers, as well as British Transport Police, took part in the activity throughout the day.

Drugs, cash and weapons seized in Scotland-wide County Lines day of action

Eye in the sky...criminal gangs are using drones to target specific areas so farmers are being warned to ‘pin it or pen it’ to safeguard their tractor GPS systems.

Gangs targeting Scottish farms for rich pickings

Police are appealing for information about the damage, believed to have been caused by vandals.

Damage to equipment at Stornoway landfill site likely to be deliberate

This was the 11th incident of poultry being dumped in the same spot on the Isle of Lewis. (Photo: Scottish SPCA)

Eleventh bird illegally abandoned at Isle of Lewis ‘dumping ground’

Detection rates and confidence in the police have both increased, but there is concern over rises in anti-social behaviour and fraud.

Public confidence in policing increases in Highland and Islands during Covid-19 ...

Police closed the road for a short period following the crash.

Man charged following three-car crash on Isle of Lewis

The public consultation will now close on Friday, August 21.

Your views sought on how young people are sentenced in Scotland’s courts

During lockdown, the charity launched a series of publicity campaigns.

Record number of calls from Scottish public to crime charity during lockdown
The last three months have seen record high numbers of calls in Scotland concerning domestic abuse, drug dealing and child harm or neglect, according to the charity Crimestoppers.

Jurors were located in a separate room from the trial courtroom at the High Court in Edinburgh.

First physically distanced trial ‘a success’ at the High Court in Edinburgh

One in 28 drivers were detectedby Police Scotland officers for drink/drug offences

Almost 30 drink drivers were caught by police ‘the morning after’

Update - concern over no face-mask scam

Non-mask wearing scam concern

A range of measures to protect the safety of all involve at the High Court in Edinburgh (pictured) and Glasgow.

Safety measures introduced so High Court trials can resume in Scotland

Hundreds of officers executed more than 50 warrants as part of Operation Venetic. Photo: John Devlin

£25 million in illegal drugs seized in cross border operation

Better protection...for domestic, wild and working animals across Scotland will be passed into law thanks to MSPs voting in favour of the Bill. (Pic: SSPCA)

Scotland to introduce five year jail term for animal cruelty

Young Scots are fearless in tackling scourge of drugs

Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie at the Don't Tolerate Hate campaign which was launched earlier this year.

Victims of hate crime in Scotland praised for the courage in reporting experienc...

Reported crime in Scotland fell by 29 per cent in April, when the coronavirus was at its peak.

Police Scotland records 29 per cent drop in reported crime in April