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Post by LLady on Nov 28, 2005 8:20:43 GMT 10
Scotland's Police Don't Need Guns The most senior police officer in Scotland issued a statement this week aimed at heading off any discussion of providing firearms to the police as a matter of course. In the wake of terrorist attacks in recent years, the public has certainly become more aware of armed police in special circumstances, such as at airports. And there are specially trained armed police officers who attend incidents when they are needed. But generally police have only a (large) wooden truncheon and a knife-proof vest with which to defend themselves - plus training in unarmed combat. Over the years, although there has been an increase in England and Wales in the number of crimes recorded by the police in which guns were reported to have been used (up from below 14,000 in 1995 to over 24,000 in recent years), the number of such incidents fell in Scotland from under 1,800 to around 1,000 over the same period. And the number of deaths caused by firearms in Scotland is 0.1 per 100,000 of the population. That compares with 0.3 in Australia, 0.5 in Canada, 0.8 in Italy - and 4.4 in the US.
I wonder how will the powers that be keep the numbers from going from 0.1 to 4.4?
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Post by dreamy on Dec 15, 2005 2:09:25 GMT 10
Capital shops left counting £7.4m cost of G8 upheaval
IAN SWANSON AND BRIAN FERGUSON CITY retailers lost an estimated £7.4 million in sales during the G8 summit, according to a new report which insists the event made a profit for Scotland. Consultants commissioned by the Executive to analyse the benefits of hosting the world's most powerful leaders at Gleneagles in July concluded G8 was worth £65m to the Scottish economy, while the net cost to the Executive was £60m. And it claimed worldwide media coverage would be worth £618m in the long term. Finance minister Tom McCabe today confirmed Edinburgh will be paid back the full £3m it racked up in costs for hosting a series of protest marches and demonstrations during the summit. But retailers have been left counting the cost of the summit, with the report by Capital-based consultant SQW Ltd claiming city centre businesses lost £7.4m in sales. It claimed most of that business was displaced either to other areas of the city or Scotland or took place later in the month. It also claimed the Make Poverty History march and the Live 8 concert at Murrayfield together attracted 100,000 visitors to Scotland and generated new expenditure of £10.2m. The report acknowledged many companies in the Capital invested in increased security during the G8 and had their business disrupted, but it said it was "impossible to estimate" the cost of such disruption. Mr McCabe said the report showed the additional spending in Scotland as a result of G8 outstripped the net costs of organising the summit. He said: "There were, of course, costs to the Executive associated with hosting a high-profile event of this magnitude and these are published in detail in this report. But the summit delivered immediate economic benefits which were far greater than these costs - with the potential for further longer-term benefits." Ron Hewitt, chief executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, was surprised by the claim the business lost during G8 was merely displaced. "It's wonderful if they can find that," he said. "It certainly didn't reappear anywhere in Edinburgh or later in the month. "What happened is a lot of people just didn't come to Edinburgh who would normally come as shoppers. And those who did turn up found the shops were shut as a precaution. "It was a disaster. I'm glad the Executive is compensating the city, but the whole of business was disrupted during that period and there is no talk of compensation for that." Mr Hewitt said the Make Poverty History march had been a genuine success. But he said: "They were not the typical tourists we get for the city so it was not a boom time for the city and any extra income doesn't go anywhere near the disruption to the city and the lost business." And Lothians Independent MSP Margo MacDonald was sceptical that Scotland had seen anything like the benefits claimed. She said some traders in Edinburgh had lost tens of thousands of pounds during July and said she was appalled that Scotland faced a £52m policing bill. She said: "I'm sceptical that the pictures beamed around the world, mainly of police in riot gear and the minority of protesters bent on causing trouble, tempted those who would not otherwise have considered it, to come to the Edinburgh." Edinburgh will receive £3,059,000 from the Executive to cover its costs during the summit. The council's bill included money spent on the creation of a huge campsite for protesters in Craigmillar, as well as accommodating the Make Poverty History parade through the city, attended by huge numbers of demonstrators. The Evening News revealed last month how the council had been forced to send civil servants a reminder over the compensation bid amid fears that a G8 shortfall could play havoc with the authority's budget plan. City council leader Donald Anderson said today that he was delighted the Executive had stood by its word. He said: "I would like to congratulate the Scottish Executive for giving Edinburgh a fair deal. "The G8 was one of the toughest tests this city has ever had, and I believe we passed with flying colours - both as a local authority and as a city - and it is to the great credit of everyone that things passed off so successfully here." City finance leader Maureen Child added: "I felt all our costs could be fully justified and we had no real reason to believe they wouldn't be accepted. I'm very pleased that we've achieved this result." news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=2407432005
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Post by dreamy on Dec 22, 2005 9:42:52 GMT 10
Tale of two cities facing new Highland clearanceALISON HARDIE AND FRANK URQUHART Key points • Prediction of population exodus from Aberdeen and Dundee by 2024 • Registrar General study also predicts population boom for Edinburgh • Overall Scottish population expected to remain stable at around 5m Key quote "In cities like Aberdeen and Dundee, there are too many push factors, while in Edinburgh there are plenty of pull factors attracting people" - Professor Robert Wright, Strathclyde University economist Story in full TWO of Scotland's cities will see their populations shrink by up to a quarter within 20 years, according to new figures. Aberdeen and Dundee will be left unrecognisable if demographic predictions for Scotland published yesterday by the Registrar General prove to be accurate. It is expected that an exodus of people from the two cities will see their populations collapse by 24 and 15 per cent respectively by 2024. Meanwhile, a population boom is expected in Edinburgh and the council areas surrounding the capital as more and more people move to seek work. The figures spell out just how comprehensively the demographics of Scotland are set to change, unless the Executive takes drastic measures now to prevent what one academic last night hailed as "the new Highland clearances". West Lothian will see the biggest increase in Scotland, with its population expected to rise by 21 per cent between now and 2024. The Borders will see an increase of 15 per cent, Edinburgh 10 per cent and East Lothian 13 per cent. Despite the declines in Aberdeen, Dundee and a smaller population dip in Glasgow of 4 per cent, the overall population of Scotland is expected to remain at about the five million mark and will even rise slightly. Overall, Scots are getting older as birthrates drop, and a decline in population will begin again after 2024, the figures show. Professor Robert Wright, an economist at Strathclyde University, said last night that the economic pressures driving people from the north of Scotland into the central belt were giving rise to a population shift equivalent to a modern-day version of the Highland clearances. He added that economic motives for people to move south would lead to a decline in living standards, which would give more people the impetus to relocate. "What this will do is make the supply of lifeline services, including hospitals and schools, simply not viable in Scotland's northerly regions," he said. "By 2024, people living outside the central belt who want specialist services, especially from the health service, will need to travel to get them." Prof Wright said that Jack McConnell, the First Minister, was right to attempt to wrest more control of immigration from Westminster. He said: "Gaining control over immigration would help Scotland plan more effectively its own population level and demographics in the next two decades." The Executive is in the process of relocating some of its agencies out of Edinburgh in an attempt to redress the balance. Scottish National Heritage has been moved to Inverness, although it was not a popular decision with staff, many of whom opted to leave rather than relocate. The Scottish Public Pensions Agency has moved to Galashiels and a section of the HM Inspectorate of Education was relocated to Livingston. Prof Wright said he believed that Aberdeen, in particular, would suffer because it was a "one-horse town" that had pinned its economic future on the oil and gas industry, which is now in decline. He said: "In cities like Aberdeen and Dundee, there are too many push factors, while in Edinburgh there are plenty of pull factors attracting people." However, William Walton, a senior lecturer in planning at Aberdeen University, said the projections should be treated with caution. "Frankly, I find the projections astonishing," he said. "The overall trend, however, does not surprise me. The city of Aberdeen's population has been falling for 20 to 30 years because people are moving out of the city to Aberdeenshire. "The overall population of North-east Scotland, I suspect, is stable or increasing and people are moving from the city to the shire for a whole series of reasons - one of which is that there is arguably a lack of affordable housing in the city. "The planners are seeking to bring forward a series of greenbelt sites specifically for housing, as opposed to flats. If you build houses, they generally fill up. There has been an emphasis in recent years on flatted developments in the city and that is not conducive to family living. Decisions [such as the planned western peripheral route] will have a significant bearing on the ability of Aberdeen to retain its population." Brian Adam, the Scottish National Party MSP for Aberdeen North, said: "I am concerned that the population under 15 is projected to fall by 43 per cent and that the population of working age is set to decrease by 28 per cent." news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=2439882005
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Post by andi on Aug 15, 2006 5:56:12 GMT 10
Man admits single punch killing A medical student was killed by a single punch when he was attacked in Glasgow city centre, a court has heard. Matthew Colpi-Vance, 21, suffered head injuries and died in hospital two days after he was punched by Lee McHarg, 21, on Sauchiehall Street in February. At the High Court in Glasgow, McHarg admitted culpable homicide. His friend, Christopher Cairns, 20, was also found guilty of killing Mr Colpi-Vance. Sentence was deferred until next month for background reports. Mr Colpi-Vance, from Milngavie, was attacked on 13 February. The Glasgow University student, and grandson of the famous ice-cream maker Rudi Colpi, was waiting for a taxi home after a night out when he was punched by McHarg. He fell and struck his head on the ground. Cairns was found guilty of culpable homicide on an art-and-part basis. The court was told the pair rampaged along the street and attacked six men. Mr Colpi-Vance was a straight A student and an outstanding sportsman. He studied medicine before switching to an earth sciences degree. news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/4792127.stm
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Post by andi on Aug 18, 2006 19:49:44 GMT 10
Ben Nevis memorials to be removed A nationwide appeal has been made for people to reclaim memorials that they have placed on Ben Nevis, ahead of a major clean-up. The Nevis Partnership, which manages the mountain, said the proliferation of plaques had become visually intrusive. Most of the 50 monuments on the summit plateau are to be removed. The memorials range from works of art to simple stones commemorating the lives of loved ones and even pets who have passed away. However, the mountain authority said an increase in the number being erected had created an eyesore. Sensitive nature The partnership has decided to remove all but a handful, which are considered vital navigational aids. Aware of the sensitive nature of an operation which could cause distress, the removal will not take place until a concerted effort has been made to contact those who placed them there. All unclaimed plaques will be stored for up to five years before they are finally disposed of. The action has been criticised by the bereaved, but it is hoped they will find some comfort in the establishment of a collective memorial in Glen Nevis. news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/4800207.stm
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Post by andi on Aug 25, 2006 20:19:23 GMT 10
British clubs await Uefa Cup drawA strong contingent of British clubs go into the draw for the first round of the Uefa Cup on Friday at 1200 BST. Blackburn, Tottenham, West Ham and Rangers are automatic qualifiers while Hearts also go in after their Champions League loss to AEK Athens. Newcastle and Derry City will join them after coming through their final qualifying matches on Thursday, but Llanelli, Drogheda and Gretna are out. The first-round matches are played over two legs on 14 and 28 September. A total of 40 teams will then advance to the group stages, where pools of five teams vie to reach the knockout stages. The winner, runner-up and third-placed team from each group advance to the last 32 where they are joined by eight clubs knocked out of the Champions League. The competition will culminate in the final at Hampden Park 16 May. Spanish side Sevilla are in the first-round draw and will aim to defend the title they won at the expense of Middlesbrough last year. Schalke, semi-finalists in 2006, are also back in the hunt along with fellow German club Bayer Leverkusen, winners in 1988. news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/5281212.stm
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Post by andi on Aug 25, 2006 20:20:58 GMT 10
'Significant' spending on Gaelic The BBC hopes to make a significant increase in investment in Gaelic broadcasting as part of the language's proposed digital channel. Mark Thomson, the corporation's director general, spoke of the hopes during a visit to the Western Isles. He said BBC governors had agreed in principle that the service running the digital channel would be under the BBC licence. Mr Thomson said more money would be spent than at present on Gaelic output. news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/5284626.stm
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Post by andi on Sept 14, 2006 18:35:30 GMT 10
Adoption law reform wins backingMSPs have supported a new adoption law for Scotland, allowing unmarried couples, including gay couples, to adopt children. Education Minister Peter Peacock said the move could boost the number of homes for children. At present, only married or single people can adopt. In same-sex and unmarried couples, only one member is seen as the child's legal parent. The vote have sparked an angry reaction from the Roman Catholic Church. Joseph Devine, the Bishop of Motherwell, urged MSPs to vote against the move after the Bishops' Conference of Scotland described it as "irresponsible". However, Mr Peacock defended the change and said it could "significantly" increase the pool of potential adopters. "That alone could provide more stability and better outcomes for many, many children," he said. The minister stressed that marriage was still widely recognised as the best setting in which to raise a child. However, he said: "There is, more than at any other time in modern history, a wide diversity of family arrangements in Scotland." 'Loving environment' Mr Peacock also insisted that the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Bill did not give anyone the automatic right to adopt. He said candidates would still have to be assessed and have their applications approved by a court. "The most important consideration has to be whether a couple is able to provide a lasting and loving environment in which to raise a particular child," he said. The Scottish National Party welcomed the broad principles of the bill but claimed the proposals had failed to give children a voice. Free vote Adam Ingram MSP, the party's deputy education spokesman, said: "As the bill stands, only children aged 12 and over will have the right to express their views and be asked for consent to any proposed adoption." Lord James Douglas Hamilton, the Scottish Conservative education spokesman, said the issue of same-sex couples adopting was a matter of personal convictions and the party was having a free vote on it. Liberal Democrat MSP Euan Robson said there was nothing in the bill that undermined marriage. Approximately 400 children a year are adopted and about 6,500 youngsters are currently in the care of local authorities. MSPs backed the general principles of the bill by 103 votes to eight, with eight abstentions. The bill now goes on the next stage for detailed amendments. news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/5343152.stm
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Post by andi on Sept 14, 2006 18:38:15 GMT 10
Scots teachers 'among best paid'Scottish teachers are among the best paid in the developed world, a report has shown. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development survey revealed Scotland came sixth in a table of 31 countries, with England tenth. It measured 2004 salaries for staff after 15 years in secondary schools. But Scottish secondary teachers worked some of the longest hours in the survey, coming out fourth in the international league table. Primary staff also worked well above the average, with a workload of more than 900 hours a year. But they scored over their opposite numbers overseas, with findings showing that overall their pay did not trail that of their secondary colleagues. On pay, teachers in Scotland came ahead of countries such as the US, France and Sweden. Rank and file primary and secondary staff earn between £23,300 and £31,000 a year. They can earn up to £38,000 if they take a further qualification to become a Chartered Teacher or boost their pay by going for promotion. news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/5340500.stm
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Elly
Administrator
Posts: 29,887
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Post by Elly on Sept 15, 2006 11:09:49 GMT 10
Pub lollipops making right noises
Drinkers in Angus are to be given lollipops when they leave pubs in a bid to cut down on late night noise. The idea, which has already been used as an effective silencing tool south of the border, is now coming to Montrose.
The Angus Drugs and Alcohol Action Team, which is behind the plan, said it believes that pub-goers will be less rowdy if they are sucking on sweets.
The scheme has come after long-standing complaints from Montrose residents about noise and anti-social behaviour.
The consignment of lollipops, paid for by the action team, will initially be handed out by door staff at two licensed premises on the seaside town's town's George Street.
'Safe environment'
Police officers will also have some to hand out to revellers on their way through residential areas to nightclubs and elsewhere.
A similar scheme was successfully introduced in Manchester, where lollipops were handed out to people as they left the pubs to cut noise in the city centre.
Tayside Police Inspector Athol Aitken said: "People on a night out deserve to enjoy themselves in a safe environment.
"Equally, the rights of people who live in the area and do not want to have their privacy shattered must also be upheld."
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Post by andi on Nov 2, 2006 0:48:11 GMT 10
Taxi driver delivers baby in carA Dundee taxi driver unexpectedly turned midwife when a pregnant woman who went into labour two weeks early gave birth in the back of his cab. Dougie Martin helped Amy Penman deliver a healthy boy weighing almost 8lbs, but he claimed it was just another day's work. He had received a call on Monday to take a passenger to the maternity unit at Ninewells Hospital in a hurry. Both mother and baby were said to be doing well following the drama. The veteran taxi driver said he had to think quickly when the expectant mother delivered some unexpected news to him in the taxi. Mr Martin said: "She was in the car about a minute and she said 'I'm sorry I'm not going to make the maternity unit, this baby's coming now'." He pulled in and told Ms Penman to stay calm as an ambulance service operator talked to Mr Martin through his mobile phone earpiece. "Before the ambulance arrived, we had a baby boy," he said. "The only thing we could wrap the baby in was the shirt off my back." Mr Martin, who is a father-of-two, went on: "The hospital would have taken me 10 minutes to get to and the baby was born in less than that. "I didn't have time to think about it, I just got on with it. It was one of the finest things I've seen in my life." Meanwhile, Mr Martin has unsuccessfully tried to shake off his hero tag - he has been dubbed "Doc Martin" by fellow taxi drivers and had a sign stating "maternity unit" hung on his office door. news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/6103292.stm
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Post by andi on Nov 2, 2006 0:49:58 GMT 10
High winds trouble Northern IslesStrong winds have toppled a helicopter on Shetland, closed schools on Orkney and disrupted travel. The offshore Bristow Tiger was empty when the accident happened at Scatsta Airport in the north of Shetland. The winds have also forced the closure of a number of schools across Orkney, with ferry services to the outer islands and mainland Scotland affected. However, Scottish Water has now repaired damage to the island's Kirkbister water treatment works. The plant is now back in action, but customers have been asked to carry on conserving water until the plant is fully replenished. news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/6102566.stm
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