The territorial police force for Scotland, formed in 2013.
A fatal road crash on Friday near Coulnagower has left one person dead and two others injured. Police are investigating the incident, appealing for dashcam footage and witnesses to help establish the full circumstances.
A series of large-scale seizures across the UK have disrupted counterfeit football shirts tied to the World Cup. Authorities warn the suppliers and criminal networks behind fake gear are linked to safety risks and broader crime. Fans face higher prices for official kit as prices rise across clubs; experts urge buying official gear to protect safety.
Police Scotland’s anti-corruption inquiry into PC Alan Greer has identified eight more victims, including five sex workers, all attacked off duty. A BBC Disclosure investigation has shown Greer used hundreds of sex workers across his career. Investigations continue to establish full extent of offending and provide support to victims.
The Met Police has questioned six suspects in connection with Mohamed Al Fayed’s alleged offences, raising the total number of victims reporting sexual assault, rape, exploitation and human trafficking to 157. The inquiry is described as one of the force’s largest and most complex investigations.
Multiple fatal vehicle crashes have occurred recently across Scotland and Northern Ireland. Police have confirmed a series of investigations and are seeking dash-cam footage and witness information. Road closures have been in place and investigations are ongoing.
A nine-year-old girl has died after being found with serious injuries at Elliot Industrial Estate in Arbroath. A 35-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the death. Police say the death is treated as suspicious and investigations continue.
A nine-year-old girl has died after being found seriously injured at the Elliot Industrial Estate in Arbroath. Police say the death is suspicious. A 35-year-old white British man known to the girl has been arrested and is due to appear in Dundee Sheriff Court. The girl’s family, from West Yorkshire, were camping nearby when the incident occurred.
Highland Council has faced criticism after a rapist taxi driver was allowed to retain operator licences, triggering resignations and protests. A hearing was held as councillors debate the decision, with victims’ groups calling for transparency. Brown has appealed his conviction and sentence.
A wildfire in Cairngorms National Park near Aviemore has burned thousands of acres of moor and woodland since July 15. More than 500 firefighters have tackled the blaze. A £3 million fund administered by Highland Council is established to support businesses hit by disruption, with ongoing cordons and reopening plans.
Elisabeth-Jane Ross, known as Lisa, has been found dead in a derelict Athens building. A 26-year-old man, reportedly Afghan, has been arrested in connection with her death. Police identify suspect via fingerprints; consular support is provided to her family.
Four members of Uganda's boxing squad have failed to return home from the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Police Scotland is investigating with the Home Office, while Ugandan officials say visas remain valid until October. Some teammates have returned, but the four missing boxers are unaccounted for and may seek asylum.
Elisabeth-Jane Ross, 38, was found dead in a derelict Athens building on July 18. A 26-year-old Afghan boxer, Sharif Ahmadzai, faces homicide with intent and is accused of robbing Ross’s accounts. He has appeared in court; officials say he admitted moving the body but denies the homicide. Investigations continue; tissue analysis is awaited.
A 38-year-old woman’s body has been found inside a suitcase in an abandoned Athens building. A migrant suspect identified from street camera footage is in custody and is expected in court within 24 hours. International cooperation aided the investigation.
Elisabeth-Jane Ross, 38, has been found dead in a derelict building in Kypseli, Athens. Afghan boxer Sharif Ahmadzai is charged with homicide with intent after an incident that police say occurred around July 18. He remains in custody as investigations continue and tissue analysis is awaited.
Elisabeth-Jane Ross, an Edinburgh aid worker known as Lisa, has been killed in Athens. Afghan boxer Sharif Ahmadzai has been charged with homicide with intent and related offences after her body was found in a Kypseli derelict building on July 18. Police say autopsy points to asphyxiation; testing continues. Ahmadzai remains in custody as investigations proceed and UK authorities assist with medical records.
Minnie Merriman has died after being found seriously injured at an Arbroath industrial estate. Her father, 35-year-old Christopher Rice, has been charged with her murder. NHS Tayside is investigating a potential data breach at Ninewells Hospital related to patient records access.
Jason Arday, who resigned from the University of Cambridge after plagiarism allegations, has been found dead at his south London home. Police have said the death is being treated as unexpected but not suspicious. Family and public figures have said he faced sustained harassment; Cambridge has said it will investigate his appointment and work.
Cliff Lyons Dobbie, a restricted patient, has been traced after escaping a Perth city centre area. He is linked to a 1990 Glasgow rape and remains under police investigation. NHS Tayside confirms cooperation with Police Scotland and urges the public not to approach him.
Scottish Green MSP Q Manivannan has faced widespread condemnation after saying rape is a spectrum, prompting apologies and calls for leadership from Green co-leaders. The comments, made in a podcast last year, are being revisited as survivors’ groups reiterate there is no hierarchy of rape and demand accountability.
Two men were murdered in Scotland; a dog walker’s death has sparked questions over police handling and a murder trial. Files show delays in cordons and scene preservation. The killer remains in life imprisonment as reviews continue.
Sachie Mikawa, a Japanese‑American performer, says a treasured Bach Stradivarius trumpet and a vintage melodica have been stolen from the Rotunda Theatre during the Edinburgh Fringe. The loss follows the death of her father and a difficult year, forcing cancellations as police investigate and searches continue.
Police investigations into the May Celtic title celebrations disorder have led to multiple arrests across Glasgow and surrounding areas. Investigations continue as officers say they will bring more suspects to justice following clashes that left officers injured and members of the public hospitalised.
The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service has warned that average wait times for High Court indictments could rise to about 135 weeks by 2028/29 as crime rates and case complexity grow. Expansion of venues is planned, and digital reforms are sought to cut delays, but funding remains essential.
A guest is feared to have fallen overboard from the Ambassador Ambition during a Solar Eclipse Cruise. Lifeboats, coastguard crews and other responders are conducting a wide search as the vessel, which had been sailing from Lerwick to Dundee, has docked in the Scottish city. Next of kin have been informed and inquiries are ongoing.
Several vessels were involved in emergencies off Scotland’s west coast over two days. A man overboard and a bomb threat led to evacuations at Ardrossan harbour on the MV Caledonian Isles, with 329 people disembarking and a police search. Latest updates indicate ongoing safety protocols and cancellations of remaining sailings.
Graeme Dott has been found guilty of two counts of lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour toward a girl and a boy, with sentencing set for September. World Snooker has revoked his membership and he faces removal from Hall of Fame.
The Lockerbie bombing case has new developments as U.S. prosecutors disclose evidence prompting defense review; jury selection in Abu Agila Masud Kheir Al-Marimi's trial is postponed with a January start date anticipated. Scottish prosecutors reaffirm their pursuit of justice.
The blaze at the former Debenhams building has led to seven weeks of disruption in Edinburgh. Princes Street has reopened to pedestrians and traffic as bus and tram services resume along the corridor. Officials say the work to secure the site is complete and the city is focusing on recovery and support for affected businesses.
Linda Patterson, 58, has died after a four-vehicle collision on the A8 near Newbridge, Edinburgh. A 32-year-old man and two women have been charged and will appear in Edinburgh Sheriff Court. Police continue to request dash-cam footage as inquiries proceed.
A 16-year-old, Kenzie Carmichael, has died after collapsing near The Boathouse on Nith Avenue in Dumfries. Police say there are no suspicious circumstances and are appealing for information from those in the area. The teenager had recently left St Joseph’s College to pursue further education.
Big changes to England and Wales’ criminal justice system are moving forward as overcrowding drives policy decisions. Government plans to accelerate prison construction and expand early release schemes have been revised after public backlash and safety concerns. Officials are also deporting foreign prisoners and reviewing IPP sentences to free up space, with new measures to monitor released prisoners.
A series of updates on Scotland’s justice system include expanded GPS monitoring for high-risk suspects, a new safety fund for women and girls, and calls for tighter bail conditions. Authorities report rising charges and delays, while victims and advocates press for stronger protections and faster prosecution.
A derelict Glasgow tenement has been renovated into affordable housing. A blaze on Stonyhurst Street sparked online rumours that the flats would host asylum seekers; authorities say the claims are false. Investigations continue, with no injuries reported.
A multi-vehicle crash on the A8 near Ingliston has left a 58-year-old woman dead. Police are searching for three people who fled the scene on foot. The road was closed for nearly 10 hours as officers investigated the collision.
BBC reveals that drug gangs exploited girls from early adolescence, with patterns of grooming, coercion and sexual violence. Four women tell their stories in Britain's Forgotten Girls; authorities are criticized for failures to protect them.
Protesters at Glasgow Green face counter-demonstrators as Pink Ladies rally triggers police deployment. Leaders warn of a strong response to violence; officials stress peaceful protests and safety.
Belgian hiker Hector Patemore has not returned from a planned route in the Cuillin Mountains. He was last seen leaving Glen Brittle Youth Hostel on Sunday morning and is described as white, 6ft 4in, slim with a shaved head. Police Scotland are appealing for information as concerns for his wellbeing grow.
Three stories from BBC News show a pattern: UK nationals are being recruited to smuggle drugs abroad, with high-profile cases in Scotland, Australia, and Thailand-linked operations. The Foreign Office warns of severe penalties and harsh prison conditions for those arrested overseas. The pattern involves young Britons lured by promises of free travel or quick cash.
Highland Council faces a no‑confidence vote after disputes over licensing for David Brown, the driver jailed for sexually assaulting a passenger. Five councillors are under scrutiny for allowing him to keep an operator’s licence; the debate has split parties and sparked resignations. A by‑election will follow in Wick and East Caithness.
Billy Watson, 35, died on 12 September at a property on Harestanes Road, Armadale. Three men have appeared in court charged with murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice. Police say inquiries are ongoing and a fourth arrest has been made.
Scotland has the highest drug-deaths rate in Europe, with 1,133 drug-related deaths in 2025. The government has described the rise as unacceptable and intolerable and is pursuing harm-reduction measures, including decriminalisation in some form. Westminster controls drugs policy, limiting Scotland’s options. Leaders across parties are calling for action and accountability as the issue remains a central political flashpoint.
The SPFL has reduced ticket allocations for Aberdeen and warned Celtic and Rangers following incidents at recent cup ties. Police injuries were reported and appeals and hearings are set as clubs contest sanctions amid ongoing investigation into the events.
A round-up of recent Scottish cultural and arts funding and festival developments shows Screen Scotland's investment in film and TV; Wigtown Book Festival returns with guests; National Galleries of Scotland gains new acquisitions; RSA highlights support for artists.
The Scottish Legal Aid Board has stopped funding Peter Murrell’s legal defence following new questions about his finances. Murrell, the ex-SNP chief executive and ex-husband of Nicola Sturgeon, has been jailed for five years for embezzling over £400,000. The latest figures show 99,265 legal-aid approvals in 2025/26 with 29 withdrawn, and 1,307 refused.
Daniel Colrain, 21, has died after a 3:05 a.m. Sunday assault in Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow. A 19-year-old man has been charged in connection with the death, and a 20-year-old man has been charged over the disturbance. Police say inquiries remain ongoing and a dedicated information portal is in use.
A collision south of Inverness on the A831/A813 corridor has claimed a young life and left others injured. Police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage as seven hours of road closure are lifted and investigations continue.