The national police service of Scotland
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.
More than 80 firefighters and about 30 trucks have contained a fire at a single building on Victoria Street, Richmond. The blaze affected adjacent shopfronts; the premises was unoccupied. Victoria Police are investigating a ram raid and arson. Thick smoke has prompted VicEmergency alerts and road closures.
David Brown has been jailed for six years and nine months for raping an 18-year-old passenger. Highland Council’s licensing committee sparked anger by allowing Brown’s operator’s licence to continue, prompting resignations, suspensions and calls for a full council review. The political fallout continues as the council faces scrutiny over safety and governance.
John McMonigle, 45, has been found dead at a property on Glenhove Road, Cumbernauld. Police say he sustained serious injuries and have launched a murder inquiry. A 37-year-old man has been arrested; inquiries are ongoing as officers appeal for witnesses and CCTV footage.
Yes Scotland’s full accounts have been handed to Police Scotland amid questions over a £1.5m discrepancy, with officials denying misappropriation and stressing the organisation was audited. The SNP-linked former chief executive Peter Murrell’s conviction looms in the background as the broader political dispute intensifies.
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.
Following the death of former MP Ann Widdecombe, police confirm a counter-terrorism inquiry is running in parallel with the murder investigation. A 28-year-old man has been arrested and a University of Aberdeen staff member’s online comments are under review. Victim Widdecombe is described as having sustained serious injuries.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and partners have extended a very high wildfire risk warning in central Highlands, southern, and eastern Scotland. Fire crews remain at multiple sites, including the Cairngorms and Arthur’s Seat, as temperatures stay hot and dry. The alert is in effect into the week, with officials urging the public to avoid outdoor fires and to stay vigilant.
The independent review into March’s Old Firm clash has highlighted near-misses, planning failures, and a call for stronger sanctions and accountability for clubs. Hearings are set for August 13 as the SFA publishes its findings.
Grass fire on Salisbury Crags near Arthur’s Seat is being tackled by firefighters. Six appliances are on site; residents are advised to avoid the area as hot, dry conditions persist. A separate Cairngorms wildfire is largely surrounded but remains active.
A woman has died in East Craigs, Edinburgh, after being found seriously injured at a Craigievar Square property. A 46-year-old man has been arrested and is facing charges as police continue inquiries and reassure residents.
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.
A wildfire in the Glenmore area near the Cairngorms has forced Nethy Bridge residents to evacuate and seek refuge at the Macdonald Aviemore Hotel. Firefighting teams, supported by police and multi‑agency resources, are contending with changing weather and winds that have driven flare‑ups and smoke drifting toward Aberdeen.
Police in Scotland have described a deliberate attack on two officers as they carried out inquiries in Larkhall. The incident involved a white Renault Trafic van driving at the officers, sending both to hospital with serious injuries. The suspect remains at large as investigations continue and extra patrols are in place.
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.
Emergency services attended Loch Fyne after concerns for two female divers. A 26-year-old woman died at the scene and a 24-year-old woman was later recovered. Police describe the deaths as unexplained and a post-mortem will be held. Coastguard and lifeboat crews were involved; other incidents at beaches also affected by strong currents and heat.
Two people have been found dead at a Houston property. Police say one death is being treated as murder while the other is unexplained. Investigators are at the scene and are searching for further information.
Deputy Chief Constable has urged more funding and a public health approach to tackling violence against women and girls, amid a string of high-profile cases and police contact investigations. The Police Investigations & Review Commissioner is examining prior police contact linked to Vikki Soloman’s death, while the regulator notes rising violence and online risk.
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.
38-year-old Elisabeth-Jane Ross has been found dead in a derelict Athens building. A 26-year-old Afghan boxer, Sharif Ahmadzai, is facing charges including homicide with intent and robbery. Greek authorities say he admitted moving the body but denies murder. Investigations involve CCTV review and tissue analysis; temperatures during the time of death reached around 36C.
An Afghan migrant has been ordered jailed pending trial on murder charges after the body of 38-year-old Elisabeth Ross was found in a suitcase in Athens. He was identified from security footage, with police detailing his background and conditions of detention.
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 remains unsettled as U.S. prosecutors disclose new evidence prompting defense to request additional review; jury selection in the Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi case is postponed with a January start date expected, while Scottish authorities reaffirm commitment to pursuing justice.