Lothian and Borders Police Press Releases 7 Sep - 13 Sep

 LOTHIAN AND BORDERS POLICE SUPPORT SUICIDE PREVENTION WEEK, EDINBURGH       



Press Office, Fettes


 
Police in Edinburgh are working with Scotland's mental health phone
line, Breathing Space, to try to offer more support to vulnerable people
in custody.
The Breathing Space phone number and website address will be painted on
cell walls in St Leonards custody suite as a contact for people who are
feeling down, depressed or anxious.
On leaving the cell, vulnerable individuals will also be given a
Breathing Space card so they can contact the service's trained advisers
who will talk to them about their problems or direct them to other
support in their area.
22,000 people a year pass through the custody suite at St Leonards
alone.Many of the people who come into custody share the same
characteristics of those most at risk of suicide - males between the
ages of 18-44 with drug or other problems in their life.
In 2008, there were 843 undetermined deaths and deaths by suicide in
Scotland and 75 per cent of those were men, with younger men being at
particular risk. People living in areas of deprivation are also at the
highest risk of suicide.
The launch of the initiative coincides with Suicide Prevention Week,
which runs from September 7th to 13th. World Suicide Prevention Day is
on September 10th.
The scheme will be piloted at St Leonards Police Station, where the
majority of vulnerable prisoners are taken to, however Lothian and
Borders Police plan to roll out the scheme in the other custody suites
throughout the force - Livingston, Dalkeith, and Hawick.

It is the first time a Scottish Police Force has introduced such
measures, and it compliments the existing set-up at St Leonard's, where
NHS nurses have been working in the custody suite for the past three
years. 


The nurses provide care and intervention with prisoners who are
identified as vulnerable either through their behaviour or circumstances
of their arrest.
Force Custody Manager, Chief Inspector Tony Beveridge, said: "There is
an opportunity to intervene in a positive sense in some people's lives
whilst they are in custody. A large proportion of the prisoners we see
here are young men who have physical or mental health problems including
drug and alcohol abuse and in many ways they are very vulnerable. 
"We deal with a lot of cases where prisoners try to harm themselves and
we carry out individual risk assessments and have specialised clothing
and cells to try to minimise instances of self harm. 
"Our nurses all have significant experience in working in mental health
or custodial environments and they do an excellent job in providing
advice to prisoners and trying to divert them from self-destructive
habits.
"Our partnership with Breathing Space offers another route for diversion
and is aimed at providing prisoners with information about where they
can get help when they leave custody. Painting the Breathing Space
website and phone number in the cell will hopefully remind them that
there are people who are willing to help and we will reinforce this by
supplying them with a card with those details on their departure."
Breathing Space national coordinator Tony McLaren said: "This increased
support for people in custody is a simple but effective way to offer
help and advice to individuals who are struggling with complex problems
and often living difficult and chaotic lives. 
"The new service reinforces the message that help is available for some
of the most vulnerable in our society at a period in their lives when
they may be experiencing extreme anxiety or feelings of isolation.
"On leaving custody, we'd urge anyone who is struggling to cope to pick
up the phone and speak to one of our advisers, who can listen, offer
advice and give information. Our phone line is free, confidential and
anonymous.
"We are delighted to be working alongside the police at St Leonard's to
provide this opportunity for people to access the help they need. No
matter how desperate a situation seems, it is our belief that people can
recover and get their lives back on track."
Sandra de Munoz, Choose Life Coordinator for Edinburgh has also been
involved in this initiative.  She said, "we are aware that there are
certain groups of people who are at higher risk of suicide.  These
include people living in poor areas and people with drug and alcohol
problems as well as those with mental health problems. 
"For those who end up in the Custody Suite they may feel very vulnerable
due to the circumstances that have brought them into contact with the
police and they may also have a number of problems they find difficult
to talk to their family or friends about.  
"It is encouraging that the police are working in partnership with
Breathing Space and Choose Life to offer support to those in custody by
making them aware of the confidential service of Breathing Space". 


 

MISSING PERSON, WEST LOTHIAN       





Press Office, Fettes

Police in West Lothian are making a fresh appeal for information
regarding the identity of an individual who was seen to fall from a
bridge into the River Almond, a week to the day since the incident
happened.
Officers will this morning revisit the scene of the incident, which
happened at a footbridge close to Simpson Parkway, in the Kirkton Campus
area of Livingston, at around 9am last Thursday (August 3).
Searches of the area have continued over the course of this week,
however as yet no body has been recovered. Officers have also have been
visiting homes and businesses in a bid to identify anyone with
information that can assist their enquiries.
This morning, officers will be handing out appeal leaflets to motorists
in Simpson Parkway, and further searches will take place along the River
Almond.
On Saturday, officers from the Lothian and Borders Police Marine Unit
will be combing the waterway in a bid to recover the body, and an appeal
announcement will also be broadcast to spectators during half time at
Saturday's match between Livingston FC and Elgin City.
Inspector Stephen Elliot, who is leading the search, said: "A week on
from this incident we are still trying to identify the individual, and
we remain keen for anyone with information that can help us to come
forward.
"Anyone who was in the area of Simpson Parkway at around 9am last
Thursday morning, and noticed an individual dressed in dark clothing and
wearing a jacket, possibly with the hood up, should contact police.
"Similarly, anyone else with any information that can help our enquiries
should also get in touch as soon as possible."

Anyone with information should contact Lothian and Borders Police on
0131 311 3131, quoting incident number 153 of 3rd September 2009.


Website address: www.lbp.police.uk

MISSING PERSON, WEST LOTHIAN       



Press Office, Fettes 

Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for information to trace a
missing man from West Lothian.

John Boylan, aged 22, from Gareloch Way, Whitburn was last seen on the
2nd September near his father's home in Loch Maree Way, Whitburn.

John is described as white, 5ft 7ins tall with a medium build and short
fair/blonde hair. He is clean-shaven and speaks with a slight speech
impediment. 
He was last seen wearing a blue tracksuit top with a white band across
the chest, blue tracksuit bottoms and white training shoes. 
A police spokesman said," Mr Boylan lives alone and is someone who
normally keeps in regular contact with his family. The fact that he has
not been in touch is out of character. 
"He is a keen walker and has been known to walk as far as West Calder on
occasions.
"Mr Boylan is originally from Woolfords in Lanarkshire where he resided
until his late teens before moving to Motherwell for 18 months. 

"It is unclear at this stage if he still has friends in those areas and
we are asking for any person who has been in contact with Mr Boylan
since 5th September to contact police immediately."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Livingston Police Station on
01506-431200 or their nearest police station. 


 
Press Office, Fettes


A major new advertising campaign by Lothian and Borders Police will
encourage the citizens of Edinburgh to ‘Lock Up' and deter
housebreakers

A 10foot high ad trailer will be displayed in shopping centre car parks
across the city in order to encourage people to take basic crime
prevention measures to keep themselves and their property safe. 
The initiative aims to educate people that over half of all thefts from
the home are through open or unlocked doors and windows.
In addition to the trailer, posters will be displayed throughout public
buildings in the city, and postcards will be sent to households with
crime prevention tips.
Housebreaking is an opportunist crime and a few simple steps are often
enough to deter these opportunist thieves.


*        Fit deadlocks to external doors

*        Fit locks to all windows.

*        Lock up - whether you're in or out.

*        Remove keys from locked doors and windows.

*        Keep door keys and window keys out of sight.

*        Consider a burglar alarm.

*        Leave a light on or use timer switches whilst out.

*        Keep valuables and car keys out of sight.

*        Restrict access to your back garden. Don't make it easy for
thieves.

*        Keep sheds locked to prevent criminals using tools to access
your property. 

This new campaign builds on the successes of the recently established
Housebreaking Investigation Units. These dedicated teams use specialist
intelligence methods to target known individuals.
Superintendent Martin Gordon said ‘while we have made some positive
progress towards reducing the number of housebreakings across the city,
we hope this new campaign will alert people to take at the very least,
basic crime prevention measures that will assist in keeping themselves
and their property safe.

By taking simple steps such as keeping their property locked and their
valuables hidden from view, they are making it much harder for these
opportunist thieves to strike.'

For more information on keeping yourself and your property safe, please
call Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131

SERIOUS ASSAULT, EDINBURGH - MEN ARRESTED


Press Office, Fettes

Two men have been arrested and charged in connection with an alleged
serious assault that happened in the Restalrig area of Edinburgh on
Thursday, August 27.

The men, aged 21 and 22, will be appearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court
today (Monday).

Website address: www.lbp.police.uk  

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