Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 In the Daily Express two days ago, the above and: County lines drug gangs are becoming ever more dangerous in affluent areas, with police seizing weapons in Home County areas. New figures show five in eight home county police forces recorded higher weapons possession rates than the London average in the last year. The findings come as the Home Office announced a record year for the largest number of drug lines closed, making 7,381 arrests following a crackdown on county lines gangs. Despite a rise in arrests, heightened policing … Continue reading English County Lines drug gangs increasing crime in the posher English counties after practising their dark arts in Scotland’s posher parts?

Help Talking-up Scotland keep going Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 As Andy Burnham pushes ahead with his ‘tough enough’ kneejerk reaction to early prisoner release, he’d do well to look North (real North) for tips. From the Guardian in February 2026: Record numbers of offenders are being recalled to prison in England and Wales with union officials claiming that some are deliberately breaking the terms of their probation in order to deal drugs in prison. Prison sources said that after the implementation of early release schemes, as many as 5,000 men were recalled in December alone – more than a … Continue reading More than ten times as many, per head, early release prisoners being recalled in England & Wales due to half the staffing in Scotland

Help Talking-up Scotland keep going Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 In his BBC interview yesterday, aimed at reassuring voters than violent offenders would not be released early, PM Burnham suggested that ending ‘controversial indefinite sentences’ might free up space in prisons. However, the BBC notes – Ending indefinite sentences will require new legislation, meaning it could be years before space is freed up. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdx5zw4e2x9o Are there indefinite jail sentences in Scotland? Scotland uses Orders for Lifelong Restriction (OLRs), introduced in 2006 under the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003. These are indeterminate (no fixed release … Continue reading There are no plans in Scotland to end indefinite sentences where there is a high risk of violent re-offending

From clear liability for a looming health disaster in 2001 to a media transferring the blame to an innocent party in 2017 Help Talking-up Scotland keep going Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 By stewartb The full transcript of this debate in the Scottish Parliament on 17 January 2001 can be read here: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament/meeting-of-parliament-17-01-2001?meeting=4278&iob=28854 What is abundantly clear from the record is substantial cross-party discontent with the nature of and response to the public consultation undertaken by the health board regarding options for the proposed new south Glasgow Hospital, including in particular its location. The issues concerning location … Continue reading How in 2001 Labour’s Malcolm Chisholm MSP condemned Glasgow and it’s child cancer patients to the only major hospital in the world within secret but easy breathing distance from millions of litres of stirred raw sewage sludge

In the P&J, two days ago, the report on the left suggests a puzzling change of heart by a senior judge. It’s really difficult to understand this given what he said in July, on the right, and what it must have been based on: Police report a notable increase in drug offences in Inverness. Gangs target the region because of demand, less competition, and vulnerable people. Cases involve women and sometimes children being coerced into the networks. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy0xdxdl40o How widespread and how damaging have county lines gangs been in the Highlands? They are not as pervasive as in major English cities … Continue reading Inverness Sheriff says county lines gangs from England exploiting vulnerable women and children must be stamped out then spares them jail – got at?

In the Guardian today, the above, and: Illegal dumps in West Yorkshire, Surrey and Kent will be cleared up using taxpayer money, Andy Burnham has announced, as the prime minister promises a new drive to tackle toxic waste. Ministers have identified dumps in Bradford, Runnymede and the Isle of Sheppey, which collectively contain about 22,000 tonnes of illegal waste, to be cleared in the next phase of the government’s national clear-up effort. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/19/taxpayers-to-fund-clear-up-of-dumps-in-west-yorkshire-surrey-and-kent Why will this not be paid for by a waste management budget for England? The money comes from the UK Treasury’s pooled revenues, which include taxes raised across … Continue reading Twice as effective closing their own illegal dumps but Scots taxpayers to pay for Burnham’s clear-up of illegal dumps in West Yorkshire, Surrey and Kent and there will be no Barnett consequentials

In their long-running report on the early release of the killers of PC Andrew Harper and that on a hit-and-run driver (below), there’s not one mention of rehabilitation, probation or of recidivism by BBC UK. BBC Scotland have not even linked to these stories. What don’t they tell us? First, ‘recidivism’, re-offending is 5 to 6 times more prevalent in England than in Scotland: The return-to-custody rate [not just re-offending but also breaching licence conditions] for the early 2025 tranche was only 5%. This was based on a Scotsman newspaper report1 as official data are not yet published. The kinds of re-offending breakdown is not … Continue reading Two prisoner release stories make no mention of rehabilitation in England for obvious reasons

In the P&J today, the above. What has driven his demand? Police report a notable increase in drug offences in Inverness. Gangs target the region because of demand, less competition, and vulnerable people. Cases involve women and sometimes children being coerced into the networks. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy0xdxdl40o How widespread and how damaging have county lines gangs been in the Highlands? They are not as pervasive as in major English cities or urban Scotland, but their impact is disproportionately damaging due to the region’s vulnerabilities. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy0xdxdl40o The harm extends far beyond drug sales, involving exploitation, violence, and community disruption: Exploitation of vulnerable people: … Continue reading Inverness Sheriff says county lines gangs from England exploiting vulnerable women and children must be stamped out

Aberdeen-born, former Royal Marine Commando and MP for Birmingham Selly Oak, Al Carns, is being platformed as a ‘dark horse’ in the Labour leadership story. From BBC England today: Former defence minister Al Carns has said a major economics speech due to be given by Andy Burnham will help him decide whether to challenge the Labour leadership favourite. Carns resigned as Armed Forces Minister earlier this month due to concerns over the defence budget, a pressing issue for the next prime minister. The government is expected to reveal its Defence Investment Plan ahead of a Nato summit on 7 July, despite the … Continue reading 8.1% of the population but only 3.9% of the defence spending – does this Aberdonian Scottish Labour leadership ‘dark horse’ even know that?