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A one-year increase is pounced on by the media but overall crime in Scotland has been flat for ten years after almost halving in the SNP era and who knew – drug possession down 27%, car theft down 60%, vandalism down 31%, burglary down 57% and prostitution down 74%!!???

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From Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2025-26 published two days ago, the above line graph and: The total number of crimes recorded by the police in Scotland in 2025-26 was 315,357. This is 16,246 crimes (or 5%) higher than the level recorded in 2024-25. Over the past 10 years, total recorded crime in Scotland has increased by 6%. This represents a more stable period than the previous 10 years (2006-07 to 2015-16), when total recorded crime fell by 38%. Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/recorded-crime-scotland-2025-26/pages/total-recorded-crime/ You can extract what you like from statistics like these to make a point you really wanted to make before … Continue reading A one-year increase is pounced on by the media but overall crime in Scotland has been flat for ten years after almost halving in the SNP era and who knew – drug possession down 27%, car theft down 60%, vandalism down 31%, burglary down 57% and prostitution down 74%!!???

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Three fungal infections among thousands of cancer patients treated and no proof of harm whatsoever

johnrobertson834

The Times today reporting cases of fungal infections in a QEUH cancer ward apparently declared safe by John Swinney. He’s a busy man. There’s no mention of a direct connection between these infections and deaths but a death with no mention of an infection is mentioned. What are the chances of anyone actually having been seriously harmed by these fungal infections? Near zero but it’s a popular media pursuit. Is it possible for any large hospital to be 100% free of any water ingress and mould growth and consequent fungal infections, at all, in at least one of its hundreds … Continue reading Three fungal infections among thousands of cancer patients treated and no proof of harm whatsoever

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Murrell purchases map onto established features of a mental health disorder more readily than ‘strategic’ criminality and the harms were limited

johnrobertson834

The judge clearly knows little of mental health conditions judging by his statement reported by the Scotsman, above. Looking at the purchases made by Peter Murrell over 12 years, the low-utility or barely-used nature of many of his purchases strengthens the case for significant compulsive or impulse-driven elements more than a purely rational, strategic “deliberate crime” model. In classic deliberate embezzlement or fraud for instrumental gain, funds are often deployed strategically: gifts/patronage to build loyalty or alliances, investments in assets/shares for laundering or growth, offshore accounts, property, or other mechanisms that sustain power, provide ongoing cover, or generate further illicit … Continue reading Murrell purchases map onto established features of a mental health disorder more readily than ‘strategic’ criminality and the harms were limited

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Add the DUP to the history of the Tories, Liberals and Labour in covering-up systematic child abuse by MPs that underlies the more recent inaction by government and by police on grooming gangs

johnrobertson834

The astonishing apathy of the MSM in reacting to the above sexual abuse of children contrasts with their frothing pile-on of a man clearly with a mental health problem relating to spending but it’s part of wider historical pattern. By JB Independent Inquiry Child Sex Abuse From the 2012 investigation  ‘Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse Linked to Westminster’. “This investigation concerns institutional responses to allegations of child sexual abuse and exploitation involving persons of public prominence who were associated with Westminster. Westminster is defined in this report as the centre of the United Kingdom’s government, government ministers and officials, as … Continue reading Add the DUP to the history of the Tories, Liberals and Labour in covering-up systematic child abuse by MPs that underlies the more recent inaction by government and by police on grooming gangs

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Multiple academic research studies suggest sexual crimes in Scotland are far less common than in 1971 and half the current level in England & Wales so BBC Scotland report today is tasteless, uneducated, dishonest and frankly wrong

johnrobertson834

No tasteless, titillating for some, exploitative Getty images of tearful young women victims of sexual violence here, unlike in BBC Scotland reporting. From BBC Scotland today: Sexual crimes in Scotland hit record high levels. Sexual crimes recorded by Police Scotland increased by 10% last year and are now at their highest level since 1971, official figures show. The message here is wrong, so wrong. Why? The weight of evidence (stable survey prevalence despite exploding recorded figures, increased reporting, societal improvements in women’s rights/consent norms, and parallel declines in other violence) strongly suggests actual rates for many equivalent traditional/contact sexual crimes … Continue reading Multiple academic research studies suggest sexual crimes in Scotland are far less common than in 1971 and half the current level in England & Wales so BBC Scotland report today is tasteless, uneducated, dishonest and frankly wrong

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Edinburgh TV Festival had become costly, exclusive, elitist and in decline so will not be missed

johnrobertson834

The Edinburgh TV Festival has become notoriously expensive for hotels and venues. Critics argue this prices out freelancers, emerging talent, working-class voices, and a broader range of attendees, making the event feel elitist or inaccessible. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/nov/20/edinburgh-tv-festival-could-move-cost-working-class-voices Long-time observers claim it has declined from its early intellectual ambitions focusing on ‘big’ debates about the medium, more “waffling” by commissioning editors and networking for work. The MacTaggart Lecture has drawn specific complaints about lacking the provocative edge of past years. https://deadline.com/2025/11/edinburgh-television-festival-could-relocate-bidding-process-1236624486/ Continue reading Edinburgh TV Festival had become costly, exclusive, elitist and in decline so will not be missed

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‘Woman dies after being hit by HGV in Glasgow’ but pedestrian deaths fall by a third in one year and are halved in the SNP era

johnrobertson834

From BBC Scotland today in BBC Breakfast this morning: Woman dies after being hit by HGV in Glasgow The woman was crossing Saracen Street in Possilpark about 11:10 on Tuesday morning when when she was struck by an HGV being driven by a 58-year-old man. Emergency services attended but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have asked for anyone with information to come forward. Sgt Chris McColm of the road policing unit in Glasgow said: “Our thoughts are with the family of the woman who died. Our inquiries to establish the full circumstances are ongoing. “We urge … Continue reading ‘Woman dies after being hit by HGV in Glasgow’ but pedestrian deaths fall by a third in one year and are halved in the SNP era

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A reminder of NHS Scotland’s target-busting 95% drug and alcohol treatment in three weeks or less is required today

johnrobertson834

As BBC Scotland today note a local scheme to improve the treatment of drug abusers in Aberdeen, they, of course, offer no context. Such as? This: NHS Scotland’s target-busting 95% drug and alcohol treatment in three weeks or less From Public Health Scotland National drug and alcohol treatment waiting times 1 October 2025 to 31 December 2025 today, the above and: Nationally, the Standard was met for referrals to community-based services across all substances: drugs (95.3%), alcohol and drugs (92.6%) and alcohol (90.8%). https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/national-drug-and-alcohol-treatment-waiting-times/national-drug-and-alcohol-treatment-waiting-times-1-october-2025-to-31-december-2025/ Continue reading A reminder of NHS Scotland’s target-busting 95% drug and alcohol treatment in three weeks or less is required today

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England’s first full investigation into maternity service failures publishing today will reveal such horror that their police investigation being labelled ‘Operation Perth’ shocks investigation-free NHS Scotland

johnrobertson834

Absent entirely from UK newspaper front pages today but featured in TV news broadcasts, the above story anticipates a report into maternity services in Nottingham which will be frankly horrific and which police locally have strangely labelled their investigation into criminality, ‘Operation Perth’: The largest maternity review in the history of the NHS – which is expected to detail widespread failings that led to the deaths of babies and avoidable harm – will be published later. About 2,500 families and more than 800 staff members have contributed to the review into Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust, which began in … Continue reading England’s first full investigation into maternity service failures publishing today will reveal such horror that their police investigation being labelled ‘Operation Perth’ shocks investigation-free NHS Scotland