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?

BBC UK and other MSM this morning reporting on illegal waste dumping ‘loopholes’, do not refer to the situation in Scotland. Their reports are based on this from the UK Government, published today: New reforms are set to tighten the net on waste criminals with tougher sentences for those illegally dumping waste, and advanced background checks to help put rogue operators out of business.   As part of the major crackdown on waste criminals, underpinned by the government’s Waste Crime Action Plan, laws being laid this week will require waste handlers to prove they are qualified to transport waste.  The current registration system is broken and outdated, relying on a basic registration process with limited identity and background checks. This has been exploited by rogue operators with a poor track record of dumping waste and … Continue reading Scotland’s environment agency is TWICE as effective in closing illegal waste dumps

On the 40th anniversary of Chernobyl, today, BBC Breakfast visit the site and remind us that while the official death toll was just 31, according to ‘studies’, the wider health impact was likely to be much wider. Studies? Well, here’s just one. According to the UN Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation The most significant wider impact was a sharp rise in thyroid cancer among children and adolescents exposed in 1986 in Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia. By 2005, more than 6,000 cases had been diagnosed in this age group. Later data (up to ~2015) put the total closer … Continue reading On the 40th Anniversary of Chernobyl, how a Labour First Minister’s ‘day one’ plans for nuclear power will ‘present an existential challenge for local policing’ and expose our children to thyroid cancer

Image – Scottish Fire Service 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 There have been no reports suggesting that the fire service response to the Glasgow city centre fire was slow or in anyway inadequate but, in the Scotsman today: Is there any topic, as they face a near extinction even in May, that Scottish Labour will not attempt to exploit? Here’s what you need to know: In the days before the growth of the SNP and the independence movement, corporate media hacks would have … Continue reading ‘Liar, liar, pants on fire’ – Scottish Labour try to twist a fast professional and effective response by firefighters into failure

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 I’ll spare you the full detail of the Herald‘s latest sick titillation image, above. Today, they have: MSPs have pressed ministers on why they have failed to implement a female genital mutilation (FGM) law despite it being passed in Holyrood six years ago. Karen Adam, the convener of the Scottish Parliament’s equalities, human rights and civil justice committee, has written to Kaukab Stewart, the equalities minister and Siobhian Brown, the community justice minister, seeking an explanation by Friday. While I … Continue reading Unable to find a comparable brutal drug gang or child rape grooming gang based in Scotland, with only weeks to go before the election, they now wish this horror upon us