Tag: crime

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‘Panic’ and fear of ‘serious sexual or violent re-offence or even murder’ in England because of the demands on probation staff with only half the level in Scotland

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BBC UK online and repeated across BBC Breakfast today, has dramatic and deeply disturbing news: The chief inspector of probation for England and Wales has told the BBC the early release of thousands of prisoners could lead to “a serious sexual or violent offence or even murder” because of the demands on probation staff to monitor offenders. and One probation officer told the BBC the upcoming releases had put him and his colleagues into “a state of panic”. We can’t cope with this – we’ve been saying that to anybody who will listen. At the minute I think it’s pure … Continue reading ‘Panic’ and fear of ‘serious sexual or violent re-offence or even murder’ in England because of the demands on probation staff with only half the level in Scotland

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Utterly stupid scaremongering headline on knife crime from BBC Scotland’s David Cowan

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From BBC Scotland today: Three senseless killings in the space of six months, all involving teenagers and bladed weapons, have raised concern over youth-related knife crime in Scotland to a level not seen for many years. The deaths of Amen Teklay, Kayden Moy and John McNab last year left many wondering whether the country was going backwards to the shameful time when Scotland endured one of the worst homicide rates in western Europe. The above cluster took place in 2005 with the last in September. Despite two very warm and dry periods this year, there have been no such cases … Continue reading Utterly stupid scaremongering headline on knife crime from BBC Scotland’s David Cowan

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A more than 3 000 extra violent crimes surge in Scotland’s once low crime areas is more in the public interest than going to a murder pub in Spain over 84 ‘offences’ in Scotland

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BBC Scotland today, surprisingly, given the Widdicombe murder obsession of all the press, has headlined: Gang feud ended with ‘resolution of differences’ between rivals – police – Ross McGill (centre), the former head of Rangers Football Club’s ultras fan group the Union Bears, was a key figure in the feud – Police have revealed that a violent gangland feud spanning six months came to an end through dozens of arrests and a “resolution of differences” between rival groups. The trouble began in Edinburgh last March and led to a series of fire-raisings and attempted murders across the central belt, totalling … Continue reading A more than 3 000 extra violent crimes surge in Scotland’s once low crime areas is more in the public interest than going to a murder pub in Spain over 84 ‘offences’ in Scotland

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Rapists and sex offenders among 5 000 prisoners to be released early only in England – SNP Government will not release any such offenders early in Scotland

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Thanks to Dottie for alerting me to this. In the Guardian yesterday: Opponents of plans to release rapists and sex offenders early from prison have “no solutions” to halt the criminal justice system’s possible collapse, David Lammy has said. Under pressure from Labour MPs – including the former safeguarding minister Jess Phillips – to curb the early release scheme, the deputy prime minister said failing to implement it could leave no capacity across jails in England and Wales in November. Killers, rapists and sex offenders will be among more than 5,000 prisoners freed early from September. They include those convicted of manslaughter, rape, grievous … Continue reading Rapists and sex offenders among 5 000 prisoners to be released early only in England – SNP Government will not release any such offenders early in Scotland

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As Sky News worries about killers and rapists released early from prison in England re-offending in Scotland plummets to 5%, due to more prison officers and more police officers

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Both Sky News and BBC Breakfast today have reported concerns about early prisoner release in England including killers and rapists. BBC Scotland has no equivalent today though they have tried before to be Reporting Scotland Down this way. They struggled. Here’s why: On 17 June 2026 officers is raising concerns about the early release of hundreds of prisoners over the past two years. The early release scheme has been prompted by concerns over prison overcrowding and does not include prisoners convicted of sexual offences or domestic abuse. In a speech to the association of Scottish Police Superintendents, Rob Hay will … Continue reading As Sky News worries about killers and rapists released early from prison in England re-offending in Scotland plummets to 5%, due to more prison officers and more police officers

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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

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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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Did the media get Murrell 5 years in jail? In 2019 a Labour councillor stole from a charity which then collapsed, causing great harm to locals, and did not plead guilty yet she still avoided jail

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From BBC Scotland in 2019: A former [Labour] councillor has been convicted of taking more than £8,000 from a local charity where she worked. Yvonne Kucuk, 52, was the company secretary for the People’s Development Trust in Dalmarnock, Glasgow. The trust ran the £3.5m Commonwealth Games legacy hub in the area, which was launched by football legend Sir Kenny Dalglish in 2015. But, later financial concerns led to auditors looking over the organisation’s books. Kucuk – ex-Labour councillor for the city’s Calton area – and the trust’s project manager William Faulds, 55, were eventually held by police. A trial heard … Continue reading Did the media get Murrell 5 years in jail? In 2019 a Labour councillor stole from a charity which then collapsed, causing great harm to locals, and did not plead guilty yet she still avoided jail

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England’s drug gangs have been cuckooing the vulnerable in Scotland for years now

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There’s no mention of Scotland in the above BBC UK story today, but we’ve known for some time how present this plague is in Scotland: Regulars here will recognise the rarely enlightening thinktank headed up by Lord McConnell, Chris Deerin and their totally non-academic, guide-leader, BBC average housewife interviewee, Research Director, Alison Payne. In May 2026, they had the above and: The recent passage of a new criminal offence of cuckooing within the Crime and Policing Act marks a significant milestone after years of sustained advocacy by the Centre for Social Justice and Justice and Care. It is a reform … Continue reading England’s drug gangs have been cuckooing the vulnerable in Scotland for years now

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BBC Scotland admit County Lines drug gangs are another plague from England but try to contain it in the Highlands

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Charity workers have raised concern about the number of vulnerable youngsters in the Highlands being targeted big city drug dealers from England. Barnardo’s staff say they’re being exploited and threatened by County Lines drug gangs in Inverness. The charity runs the Anchor project in the City, which is trying to help tackle the problem. Police reckon 12 organised crime groups are operating in the Highland capital. BBC Scotland, in their BBC breakfast insert this morning, with a second only explicit mention of where the County Lines drug gangs are from. I must say, I’m puzzled by this openness after 7 … Continue reading BBC Scotland admit County Lines drug gangs are another plague from England but try to contain it in the Highlands

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Clear up rate for all recorded crimes goes up and remains far higher than in England & Wales

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Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON From: the Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Monthly Data Report: February 2026, published today: Increase in crime clear up rate. The clear up rate for all recorded crimes was 56.0% in 2024-25, up from 54.1% in 2023-24. Crimes against society (93.8%), non-sexual crimes of violence (68.4%) and sexual crimes (56.9%) continued to have higher clear up rates in 2024-25 than crimes of dishonesty (35.1%) and damage and reckless behaviour (31.0%). https://www.gov.scot/publications/safer-communities-and-justice-statistics-monthly-data-report-february-2026/pages/statistics-on-crime-in-general/ The clear-up rates in England and Wales, for the … Continue reading Clear up rate for all recorded crimes goes up and remains far higher than in England & Wales