A new, five-year strategic plan to tackle drug and alcohol misuse will be unveiled by the Salvation Army today.

The announcement, to be made in Stirling, will detail the charity’s expansion of social work to help people achieve long term recovery in Scottish communities.

Phase one of the programme will see experienced drug and alcohol workers placed in three “key” towns identified by the charity - Greenock, Stirling and Falkirk.

This long term recovery support will take the form of the Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA), a holistic method which uses the community to encourage a change in a person’s drinking habits or drug use.

The CRA was introduced by Professor Robert Meyers, who has delivered training to the Salvation Army’s specialist drug and alcohol project staff.

The programme, which has already proved successful with the Salvation Army in New Zealand, involves the use of a personal treatment plan, behavioural skills, employment skills, partnership working, as well as social, recreational and relationship counselling.

Recovery

Lt Col Ian Barr, from The Salvation Army, UK with the Republic of Ireland, said: “We are concerned about the social and health effects alcohol is having on families and on the fabric of society in Scotland.

“Today’s announcement confirms our commitment to social services in Scotland and to the people we serve, we are experts in the provision of evidence-based social programmes and we have drawn together a team with a proven track record in recovery, which will make an impact on the lives of many.”

Phase two will see the development of more hubs across Scotland, with one location in the north of Scotland already identified.

An additional third phase will establish a centre of excellence where CRA training can take place, with a site for research and development on the cause and effect of drug and alcohol abuse.

A postgraduate researcher will also work with the charity to assess the needs of people who require this support. It is a position that will be match-funded by the University of Stirling.

The Salvation Army, which has committed £250,000 towards the first phase of the programme, is making the announcement on its anniversary, also known as Founders Day.

The Queen is to host a garden party as part of a full programme of engagements in Scotland today.

She will be joined by the Earl of Wessex at the annual event in the grounds of Edinburgh’s Palace of Holyroodhouse.

The party is typically attended by around 8,000 invited guests from across Scotland and usually marks a high point in Royal Week, the time set aside each year for the monarch to carry out engagements north of the border.

Earlier in the day, the Queen will honour the achievements of a number of public figures during an investiture ceremony at the palace.

She will give out honours to various people named in the most recent New Year Honours List.

Awards

Among those expected to attend will be Olympic showjumper Scott Brash, who is to collect an MBE, and National Galleries of Scotland director general John Leighton, who will receive a knighthood.

Journalist Magnus Linklater, a former editor of The Times in Scotland, will receive a CBE while Northern Constabulary Chief Superintendent David O’Connor will collect the Queen’s Police Medal for the contribution he has made to police service reform as President of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents.

In total, around 70 people will be honoured during the hour-long ceremony.

Yesterday, the Queen began Royal Week by inspecting a guard of honour formed by soldiers recently returned from Afghanistan.

She inspected troops from The Royal Scots Borderers as part of the ancient Ceremony of the Keys at Holyroodhouse.

The Queen is not being accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh during the week of events this year. Philip is continuing to convalesce following recent exploratory abdominal surgery.

Grocery firm Ocado slipped into the red again in its financial first half, despite its deal to deliver for Morrisons.

The firm, which has seen shares rocket since announcing its partnership with the supermarket chain, reported a pre-tax loss of £1 million for the six months to 19 May. That compares to a slim profit of £400,000 a year earlier.

Sales were 15 per cent higher than a year ago, at £382.7m.

Temporary power supplier Aggreko said this morning it had brought on-line two gas-fired power plants in Africa, adding 220 megawatts (MW) to its capacity.

In Côte d’Ivoire, the Glasgow-based group commissioned 100 MW of additional generation.

It also recently completed a 122 MW gas-fired plant in Mozambique, which is part of the world’s first cross-border interim power plant. It also supplies Namibia and South Africa.

Chief executive Rupert Soames said: “We have invested some £300 million in gas-powered technology over the last five years, and it now accounts for around 40 per cent of our ‘power project’ revenues. For those customers who have access to gas, it is significantly cheaper and cleaner than liquid fuel alternatives.”

Plexus, the Aim-quoted oil and gas engineering firm, has signed up another oil major as a customer for its Pos-Grip wellhead system.

The Aberdeen-based company said it had been awarded its first contract with the Australian arm of Italian giant Eni.

The contract is estimated to be worth £280,000, with revenues starting in September, and includes an option for the continuing use of Plexus wellhead and mudline equipment which is anticipated to lead to a further three wells with an additional estimated value of £1 million.

The contract falls within the Plexus’ licensing, manufacturing, distribution, and agency agreement with Breda, a provider of specialist products and services to the oil and gas sector.

Plexus’ chief executive Ben Van Bilderbeek said: “This is a significant contract win for Plexus and we believe confirms the licencing and distribution agreement that we signed with Breda as being commercially enhancing for the company.

“Moreover, this marks another contract win for Plexus in Australia which is proving to be an important market for the company to grow its footprint in a region that is seeing an increasing level of activity in the oil and gas sector.”

Housebuilder Persimmon has seen its reservation rate jump by 30 per cent since the introduction of the UK government’s latest shared equity scheme.

The York-based firm said it has secured 1,124 “Help to Buy” reservations since the scheme, which is not available in Scotland, was launched.

It said: “Whilst our weekly private sale reservation rate for the first half of the year was 12 per cent ahead of last year, our reservation rate as measured from the date of introduction of the Help to Buy scheme was 30 per cent stronger.”

The Help to Buy scheme was launched in April and offers up to 20 per cent shared equity.

In the six months to the end of June, firm legally completed 5,022 new homes, up from 4,712 in the first half of 2012.

Visitors numbers to its sites during the first half of the year were 13 per cent stronger than the prior year, and cancellation rates remained at historically low levels, it said.

It added: “Throughout the period there has been an improvement in the availability of mortgage credit and a gradual reduction in mortgage interest costs supported by the Government’s Funding for Lending Scheme.”

WELCOME to scotsman.com’s Scottish Business Briefing. Every morning we bring you a comprehensive round-up of all news affecting business in Scotland today.

ENERGY & UTILITIES

ScottishPower unveils £5.2bn investment

UTILITY firm ScottishPower yesterday unveiled the largest-ever investment plan for its distribution network, spending £5.2 billion to reduce the risk of power cuts in rural areas.If the company is given the green light to invest the cash by energy regulator Ofgem then it has confirmed that it will create about 2,500 jobs in its supply chain, as revealed in April {http://www.scotsman.com/business/management/scottishpower-unveils-5-2bn-investment-1-2984512|Scotsman|Scotsman}.

Positive outlook as energy service firm targets growth

International energy services group Hunting said yesterday the outlook for the rest of the year remained positive. Chief executive Dennis Proctor said in a trading update: “Trading in the first six months of the year has been supported by increasing activity in the Gulf of Mexico and continued investment in the oil-focused shale basins {http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/3299305|P&J|P&J}.

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FOOD, DRINK & AGRICULTURE

Famous Grouse helps record Edrington results

FAMOUS Grouse overtook Bell’s to become the best-selling blended whisky in the UK in the past year, helping parent group Edrington to grow its sales by 6 per cent to a record £591.3 million. Promotions for the Queen’s diamond jubilee helped boost sales at home, while overseas it became the world’s fourth-largest “standard” Scotch, overtaking Grant’s and Dewar’s {http://www.scotsman.com/business/management/famous-grouse-helps-record-edrington-results-1-2984616|Scotsman|Scotsman}

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INDUSTRY

Cala sales growth latest sign of housing recovery

Cala, the Scottish housebuilder, unveiled expansion plans yesterday that are expected to give a pointer to an upturn in the housing market. A rise in completions and record profits from the Edinburgh-based builder will offer encouragement that other housebuilders reporting this week will reveal a similarly positive trend {http://www.scotsman.com/business/cala-sales-growth-latest-sign-of-housing-recovery-1-2984331|Scotsman|Scotsman}.

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SCOTSMAN CONFERENCE

The Future of the UK Aerospace Industry – 5 September 2013, Prestwick

20% Early bird discount until 12 July

The UK Government signed up to a £2 billion partnership to keep the UK aerospace industry at the forefront of world aerospace manufacturing. Join us and hear the government explain its strategy to secure large numbers of high value jobs. Book your place today.

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TECHNOLOGY

Twin boosts for life sciences in Lords report

SCOTLAND’S life sciences sector was given a double boost yesterday with the House of Lords calling for the streamlining of “regenerative medicine” rules, while medical testing kit maker Omega Diagnostics eyed a $160 million (£105m) market {http://www.scotsman.com/business/management/twin-boosts-for-life-sciences-in-lords-report-1-2984991|Scotsman|Scotsman}.

Cupid makes changes despite being cleared over fake profiles

ONLINE dating group Cupid said yesterday an independent review had cleared it of creating fake profiles to entice customers to take out subscriptions. But the review, which was carried out by the Edinburgh firm’s financial auditor KPMG following media allegations, made a number of recommendations for improvements that are now being implemented {http://www.scotsman.com/business/technology/cupid-makes-changes-despite-being-cleared-over-fake-profiles-1-2984329|Scotsmn|Scotsman}.

{http://www.scotsman.com/business/technology|Read all today’s technology news from scotsman.com|Read all today’s technology news from scotsman.com}

Police have named a 69-year-old man who died after a crash on the notorious A9 as Ernest Jones from the Wick area.

The two-vehicle accident occurred on the Inverness to Thurso road south of the village of Brora at about 3.45pm on Monday.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “The family have asked that their privacy be respected at this difficult time.”

The two occupants of one of the vehicles were taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, but upon arrival the driver had died.

The passenger was detained, although the police spokesman said his injuries were not thought to be serious.

Minor injuries were sustained by the driver of the second vehicle.

Police are appealing for any witnesses to contact them on 101.

ACTOR David Tennant has revealed his devotion to The Proclaimers, penning a heartfelt tribute for the sleeve of their 25th anniversary album.

The Bathgate-born former Doctor Who says he idolised the twins as a 16-year-old “geeky music fan” and chose one of their songs for his 
wedding. He recalls how he first saw Craig and Charlie Reid on Channel Four’s The Tube.

He says: “I’d never seen anything like The Proclaimers. I’m not sure anyone had. Two blokes, with the same face and a guitar, belting out a couple of tunes in thick, unashamed Scottish accents. Pop stars didn’t use their own voices to sing. It just wasn’t done.

“Here were songs about being Scottish, songs about car plants being closed down – Bathgate got a mention on Channel Four. In a song! I was born in Bathgate. I couldn’t believe this.”

In his homage for their The Very Best Of compilation, he also compares the twins with other music stars of the time, like Boy George, David Bowie and Adam Ant. He jokes: “It was like you couldn’t have a hit unless you were dressed as a camp pirate – not this 
couple.”

Tennant says he played their first album over and over again. “I fell in love with this music and this odd, unstyled, unlikely duo with a passion that has never dimmed to this day.

“Nobody else sounds like The Proclaimers and nobody else writes songs like these.”

a MAN has been arrested and charged over an alleged sex attack on the Royal Mile.

A 20-year-old woman was walking in the Canongate at about 6.30am on Tuesday last week when she was allegedly dragged into a close at Old Tolbooth Wynd and assaulted. The assault was said to have ended abruptly when the attacker was disturbed by a passer-by.

Police said today a 27-year-old man had been charged in connection with the incident.

He is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court later today on a charge of assault with intent to rape.

AN EDINBURGH sailor went to the cabin of a superior carrying an assault rifle and ammo to allegedly confront him over a request for shore leave.

The scene is reminiscent of a fatal shooting on board the submarine HMS Astute in 2011, a court martial has heard.

Leading Seaman Kevin Moffat, originally from Edinburgh, denies a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm and a second count of conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline at the trial being held at Portsmouth Naval Base court martial centre.

Wing Commander Andrew McKendrick, prosecuting, told the trial that the 45-year-old had been drafted at short notice to serve on board the now-decommissioned Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh in the summer of last year. However Moffat had become worried because his partner was due to give birth in January this year – he previously missed the birth of a child with a previous partner five years earlier because he was unable to return while on service.

Mr McKendrick said that on September 28, when HMS Edinburgh was alongside in Lisbon, on its way to the Falkland Islands, Moffat took an SA80 service rifle and three rounds of ammunition from a weapons store and went to the cabin of executive officer Lieutenant Commander Robert Williams who was having a meeting with Lieutenant Sadie Gardner.

Mr McKendrick said: “The Crown concedes the defendant had been crash-drafted, notified at short notice, and he did have family issues but that doesn’t excuse what happened.”

The court was told that as Moffat appeared at the doorway with the rifle in his right hand and ammunition clenched in his left, he told Lt Cdr Williams: “Sir, you know me, this is a loaded weapon and it’s cocked. I want to talk to you.”

Lt Cdr Williams, 40, told the court: “He was very intense but his voice was mannered, he wasn’t shouting or screaming. He was serious, the way he had been staring at me. It was absolutely untoward, I was shocked.”

He added: “I couldn’t 
comprehend why he had done it. He explained that he still hadn’t confirmed he could get away on January 13 for the birth of his kid and he’d had a tough phone call with his missus the previous evening and the pressure was on.”

The incident ended when Moffat relented to Lt Cdr Williams’ order and handed the rifle over to another sailor who was just outside the cabin.

Matthew Farmer, defending, said that the incident had similarities to the shooting on HMS Astute.

On April 8, 2011, Able Seaman Ryan Donovan shot dead Lt Cdr Ian Molyneux and also injured Lt Cdr Christopher Hodge during the incident while on a visit to Southampton. He was later jailed for life at Winchester Crown Court.

Moffat denies threatening Lt Cdr Williams and says he told him: “Sir, you know me, this is not a loaded weapon, I want to talk to you.”

The court martial trial 
continues.

Police in Edinburgh are appealing for witnesses after an elderly man was assaulted and robbed.

The 96-year-old was in his Lochend Avenue home at around 5.30pm yesterday when his door was knocked.

When he answered a man pushed him to the ground and stole a two-figure sum of cash from his wallet before making off.

The man’s neighbours came to his aid and contacted police who are now urging anyone who can assist with their enquiries to come forward.

The suspect is described only as being white and wearing a red top.

Detective Constable Joe Perkins said: “Fortunately, the elderly victim was not injured as a result of this incident. Nevertheless, he was left deeply upset after being robbed in his own home.

“We are keen to hear from local residents and members of the public who were in Lochend Avenue on Monday evening and remember seeing anything suspicious, or who can help us trace the male responsible.

“Similarly, anyone with any other information relating to this investigation is also asked to contact police immediately.”

Those with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111

Premier Inn-owner Whitbread has unveiled plans to open 45 “compact” hotels, including in Edinburgh, as it targets customers who want cheaper rooms.

The first “Hub by Premier Inn” branch will open at St Martin’s Lane in London next summer, with a further four sites already secured in the UK capital.

Edinburgh is top of the firm’s hit-list for the new hotels, with rooms measuring just 11.4 square metres.

Whitbread – which also owns the Costa coffee shop chain and pubs brands including Beefeater and Brewers Fayre – said that each room will have “a desk that folds into the Hypnos pocket-sprung bed, luggage storage under the bed, an en-suite bathroom with power shower, free wifi and a 40-inch inch smart screen TV”.

Patrick Dempsey, managing director at Whitbread hotels and restaurants, said: “Hub will work in tandem with Premier Inn, appealing to more price sensitive customers seeking quality accommodation in the heart of a city.

“It will enable us to broaden our customer appeal and further strengthen our competitive edge.”

HUNDREDS of the Capital’s most deprived children are to be offered briefs to see Hearts in action – thanks to fans buying extra tickets to bail out the cash-strapped club.

Children who do well in school classes could also be rewarded with tickets to matches under the radical plan to redistribute the seats.

The plan – exclusively outlined here – is being overseen by the club’s charity wing, the Big Hearts Community Trust.

Its chief executive, Alan White, said: “We’re all well aware that if is there is no club then there is no Big Hearts, so everyone is doing all they can.”

Under the plan, kids who benefit will get to sit in the Wheatfield Stand. It is not known at this stage exactly how many will benefit but the charity wing think “hundreds” is a reasonable expectation.

The unique move has been made possible by the most desperate of circumstances.

Since the club went into administration fans have been desperately buying multiple season tickets and were last night two-thirds of the way towards buying the 3000 season tickets needed to help prevent the troubled club from going bust.

However, many of the extra season tickets they’ve been buying will now being gifted to Big Hearts, who will in turn pass them on to disadvantaged children, those who do well in class and community groups to repay those who have positively contributed to their neighbourhoods.

The decision as to which kids will receive the tickets will lie with headteachers and various group leaders.

A host of former players and managers including John Robertson, Scott Crabbe, Peter Houston and Craig Levein have been joined by Alex Salmond in digging deep to donate season tickets to the initiative entitled Big Hearts, Big Tickets.

Mr White added: “The response from fans has been overwhelming. Supporters were ringing asking to buy extra season tickets before we even launched the idea.

“If we receive even 50 season tickets that could mean hundreds of kids getting the chance to attend one of maybe 14 or 15 home games at Tynecastle next season.

“I’m fully expecting that we’ll receive a lot more than that, though, as it has really captured the imagination and we’re fielding e-mails from a lot of overseas fans asking how they can get involved.”

Last year, Big Hearts worked with 19 different programmes helping 13,000 people. It offers drumming and guitar tuition for kids to a health and fitness project for overweight fans.

Mr White said: “We’ve set aside an area of the Wheatfield Stand especially for these tickets so the kids won’t be dotted all over the place. Obviously tickets will be provided to parents and guardians also.

“It will be up to the headteachers and group leaders to decide who best to reward with these tickets.”

SENIOR figures within Scottish Labour are refusing to get involved in the anti-independence Better Together campaign, amid rising concerns about Conservative involvement in the group.

Labour politicians at Holyrood and Westminster, as well as Scottish trade union officials, have stayed away from the cross-party campaign for a No vote, despite the group being led by former Chancellor Alistair Darling.

Party figures are unhappy about the alliance with the Tories at the same time as the UK government is pursuing the controversial Bedroom Tax that means social housing tenants with spare bedrooms must move to a smaller home or lose up to 25 per cent of housing benefit.

Some Labour politicians have opted to get involved in United With Labour - the party’s campaign against independence launched by Gordon Brown this spring - instead of Better Together.

Labour MP Katy Clark said there was “no advantage” to the party in co-operating with the Tories in the campaign against independence in parts of Scotland.

Ms Clark said: “Personally I’m not involved in a cross party campaign, but people have different views.

“There are large parts of the West of Scotland where’s there’s no advantage to campaigning with the Tories.

“People want to put the Labour message out as to why they should vote against independence.”

Labour MSP Elaine Smith, a deputy presiding officer, said her constituency party in Coatbridge and Chryston had decided not to get involved with Better Together.

She said: “It’s really just a Labour Party campaign and we’re not doing a joint initiative. That’s my constituency party’s position to do it ourselves as a Labour Party.

“We wanted to run a Labour campaign rather than a joint position with the Tories.”

There was also opposition to involvement in Better Together from two senior trade union officials in Scotland because of the roles on of the Conservatives in the campaign.

Richard Leonard, Scotland organiser for the GMB union, said: “When the Tories are attacking the poorest in society, it’s pretty difficult to sit with them and to argue for a progressive Scotland.”

Dave Watson, head of campaigns at of Unison, said: “It’s certainly the case t Talking to those of our members who oppose independence, I can’t think of any that have done much with Better Together.”

Former Scottish Labour chairman Bob Thomson suggested that his party’s alliance with the Conservatives in Better Together could harm the campaign against independence.

He said: “It’s destructive. It’s talking down Scotland and saying it would have basket case of an economy.

“There will be a reaction to that constant negative politics.”

But Labour’s Lord George Foulkes, a supporter of Better Together, claimed that Mr said Alistair Darling’s role as leader of Better Together should reassure party members.

He said: “Gordon Brown and Anas Sarwar lead the Labour campaign against independence, while Alistair Darling is an exceptional leader of the cross party campaign.

“It makes me more comfortable that Alistair Darling is involved. I’m quite relaxed about it.”

Read more

• Natalie McGarry: No campaign losing its sense of togetherness

Lothian health bosses have been urged to backtrack on a controversial name change that has seen patients branded “customers”.

The NHS Lothian complaints department has been renamed the “Customer Relations and Feedback Team” following a recent overhaul of the way the health board deals with unhappy users of its services. Staff have also had job titles changed to reflect the rebrand.

The health board said the name change was necessary as it dealt with a series of groups, not just patients, and those who wanted to give positive comments had been confused when passed to the complaints team, which dealt with all feedback.

But the British Medical Association (BMA), MSPs and unions have all expressed concern at the use of the term – which implies a completely different relationship with the taxpayer funded body than patient.

Dr Brian Keighley, Chairman of the BMA in Scotland, summed up the crucial difference. He said: “Patients in the NHS are not customers. Each patient has different needs and to treat them in the same way as you would a customer in a supermarket undermines the very nature of a patient-centred NHS.”

Professor Alison McCallum, NHS Lothian’s director of public health and public policy, also broke ranks to condemn the name change.

She said: “I would not be in favour of using the word customer, I don’t think it’s appropriate that patients are considered customers. They are taxpayers and owners of the service.”

NHS Lothian insisted it was sticking by the new name, with customer relations recognised around the world as “the place to go” with compliments, comments or complaints about an organisation.

But Tory MSP and health spokesman Jackson Carlaw said patients would be concerned by the use of the word.

He said: “I don’t think the vast majority of nurses and doctors would regard their patients as ‘customers’, so nor should any backroom staff drafting these dismissive 
documents.”

Stuart Wilson, NHS Lothian’s director of communications – and head of the customer relations team, said: “The term customer is correct because the feedback we receive is not just from patients. In many cases our feedback comes from carers, relatives of patients, politicians, lobby groups and members of the public who have a comment to make on our services.”

Mr Wilson said he welcomed Dr Keighley’s comments. But added: “Patients are just one of the components of customer relations and we still recognise patients in their own right and by that term.”

It’s a question of ownership

USE of the term “customers” in the NHS has previously been criticised by those who believe it symbolises a shift towards a private-sector mind-set in the health service.

The NHS Confederation, which represents health service providers in England, has previously supported use of the term and insisted it does not represent commercialisation.

But David Forbes, a Unison organiser, said he was uncomfortable with the word, especially in light of NHS reforms south of the Border.

He said: “You can’t be a customer of something you own yourself and the NHS belongs to the people. Given what’s happening to the NHS down south, this is a dangerous road we don’t want to go down, even in language.”

SOARING numbers of the Capital’s children – including girls as young as 12 – are producing and sharing indecent images of themselves online, safety campaigners have warned.

New figures suggest at least two instances of “sexting” are being reported in the Capital every week, with youngsters left “depressed and suicidal” when “parasite” websites circulate the content they produce.

Children’s welfare leaders said the trend highlighted the need for good quality sex education, which they said should begin in primary school.

Matt Forde, head of NSPCC Scotland, said: “We are starting to see the regular and normalised consumption of hardcore pornography among young people and this has contributed to the sharing of explicit self-generated sexual imagery.

“Worryingly, we have unearthed a lot of evidence that girls as young as 12 are being pressured into sending explicit photographs to boyfriends.”

The warnings came as the Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre (CEOP) released its latest annual threat assessment, which revealed reports of 70,000 still and moving indecent images of children were created in the UK last year – a two-fold increase on 2011.

CEOP bosses said around a fifth of those were self-
generated, indicating dozens of sexts were shared over webmail, social networking sites and file-hosting services by young people in Edinburgh last year.

“Many young people believe sexting is harmless fun but it can be risky,” said Mr Forde.

“Once they have given someone a sexually explicit picture of themselves they have no control over it.

“Good quality sex education is absolutely critical. It needs to be age-appropriate, but if we are to be able to help young people navigate their way through these pressures, it also needs to start in primary school.”

He added: “We need to teach young people about respecting themselves and respecting each other, but parents also have to take responsibility for talking to their children about healthy relationships and how to keep themselves safe.”

CEOP bosses said the figures should serve as a wake-up call to the whole of society.

Chief executive Peter Davies said: “While the assessment may not make comfortable reading, that isn’t its purpose; it’s an objective assessment of the issues and, undoubtedly, a call to action.”

Education bosses in the Capital said the latest figures were “very worrying”.

Councillor Paul Godzik, children and families leader, said: “We have to ensure that we are doing everything possible to protect children and keep them safe. A concerted effort is taking place across Edinburgh schools to educate our pupils about acceptable online behaviour, and keeping themselves safe. All schools have the ‘Keeping Myself eSafe’ materials and staff receive mandatory child protection training, which includes internet safety.

“We also carry out partnership working with the UK Safer Internet Centre, and our Community Police Officers have a key role in talking to young people about ‘cyber bullying’ and safe use of the internet.”

Parents must become aware of risks facing youngsters

ALISON Todd, director of children and family services at Children 1st, warned that young people who send sexts risked becoming the targets of school bullies and online predators.

She called on parents to be more alert and said there were a number of steps they could take to ensure their children’s safety.

She said: “It’s crucial that parents and carers educate themselves about mobile technology and online communities, be aware of the risks facing children and young people, and speak to them about their online activity and support them to use the internet safely.

“Concerned parents or carers can get advice on 08000 28 22 33 or parentlinescotland@children1st.org.uk.”

THE mass brawl which erupted on the Royal Mile saw Hibs casuals ambush football hooligans linked to Rangers and Hearts, it was revealed today.

An advance guard of Hibs fans were sent to the pub where the Rangers and Hearts fans were drinking – to act as bait and lure them to a CCTV blind spot.

They were then jumped by a rearguard of Hibs fans who laid into the fans who only seconds before had been chasing their “prey” with glee.

A source said: “This was a ploy so nothing would get caught on CCTV.”

Witnesses said that a number of Rangers and Hearts hooligans had been drinking in The Mitre Bar on the Royal Mile, including some notorious “faces” from the Glasgow casual scene.

A group of up to 30 young Hibs casuals are understood to have learned of their presence in the city centre and quickly assembled in nearby Niddry Street.

Some of the Hibs hooligans “lured” the Rangers and Hearts fans out of the pub by shouting at them from the street, challenging them to a fight.

The ensuing melee, caught on camera by a passer-by and later posted on YouTube, saw bottles hurled, punches thrown and one combatant kicked in the face as he lay on the ground on the historic thoroughfare.

But the Rangers and Hearts fans then disappeared off camera down Niddry Street where the worst of the fighting allegedly took place with the waiting Hibs thugs.

Witnesses said that a number of men were knocked unconscious during that savage street battle.

A witness said: “The Rangers and Hearts casuals were nothing to do with the march, they were just looking for bother.

“The Hibs casuals found out about it and they must’ve had quick ring round to get together a group to confront them.

“The Hibs guys lured them out the pub and there was bottles and other things being thrown about. But the Hibs casuals wouldn’t come on to the Royal Mile because they know there’s CCTV cameras up there.

“They stayed in Niddry Street and the worst of the fighting took place down there. There was maybe 20 or 30 from each group involved and when it ended there were five or six people lying knocked out.”

The shocking incident occurred at around 4.30pm Saturday in an area usually popular with tourists and families. The Hibs casuals were primarily in their teens and 20s, while many of the Rangers and Hearts hooligans were middle-aged.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “During any demonstration, Police Scotland provides an appropriate response to ensure the event passes peacefully. Any incidents that arise will be deal with proportionately.”

Four men, three aged 18 and one aged 21, were to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today.

Established military tactic

AMBUSHES have been a long-established military tactic. In the Battle of Trebia in 218BC, Carthaginian leader Hannibal hid cavalry and infantry near the battle zone. When the Roman infantry became entangled in combat, the ambush force then attacked the legionnaires from the rear.

Another famous ambush was sprung by Germanic leader Arminius at the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest more than 2000 years ago. His forces attacked the Romans when they left their fortified camp and were marching in a rainstorm.

During the Vietnam War, the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley saw American’s 1st Cavalry Division ambushed by the 8th Battalion of the North Vietnamese 66th Regiment.

TWO firms building hundreds of homes next to one of the Capital’s most cramped schools have confirmed they will inject new funds to boost capacity in its classrooms.

Construction giants Cala and David Wilson homes said they would pay the money to council bosses as part of planning permission to build 275 houses close to Buckstone Primary in the south of the city.

Cala bosses revealed 
payments connected to the Fairmilehead development would be phased, with an instalment set to be transferred after the first homes – due for completion in December this year – are occupied. Confirmation of the funds came after the Evening News yesterday revealed that a number of parents would take the council to court after younger siblings of existing pupils were denied P1 places at Buckstone in what they called a “farcical” placement appeals hearing in May.

One member of the group, Dr Michael Edwards, whose son was denied a P1 place at Buckstone even though his older sister is a pupil, said investing funds only after keys for the first properties are collected would be too little, too late for families hoping to send children to one of the Capital’s most sought-after schools.

He said: “It’s a disgrace to the city. The problem going forward will be the shock for Cala customers when they find they can’t send their children to the local school.”

Dr Edwards, 41, a lecturer and researcher in geophysics at Edinburgh University, said he had obtained information showing current capacity at the school is “locked” all the way up to P4.

And he accused the council and developers of “lack of leadership” over their management of accommodation issues at Buckstone – one of a number of city schools struggling amid rising rolls brought on by a spike in population.

“Cala may not have realised quite how severe the problem is further up the ranks at the school,” he said.

“The issue here is what the impact on customers will be of living next to a school with no spare teaching capacity, where they thought this was already financed by Cala. I have looked at purchasing one of the homes – but not any more because Cala are not doing anything for their customers on the issue of schooling.

“The capacity at surrounding schools, as far as I’m aware, is also extremely tight. Parents could be faced with having to drive their children several catchments away to schools.”

The 275-home development by Cala and David Wilson Homes is among the largest and most prestigious in the Capital, featuring four and five-bedroom homes available from £500,000.

A Cala spokeswoman said: “As part of the planning consent for Cala’s development at Fairmilehead, there is an agreement that Cala and David Wilson will make financial contributions to the council to increase capacity at Buckstone Primary School.”

A council spokesman said: “Money from the developers will be used to alleviate accommodation pressures at Buckstone Primary School.”

THE idea of girls as young as 12 being pressurised into taking explicit photographs of themselves to send to their boyfriends on their mobile phones will horrify every parent.

That is not only happening, but happening more and more often, according to NSPCC Scotland, which is often around to help pick up the pieces afterwards.

There is nothing new, of course, in warning about the dangers that young people face when using 
mobile phones, tablets and other online-enabled devices.

But the nature of some of the risks is altering as new fashions and technologies change the way young people behave. “Sexting”, for instance, is being linked to the proliferation of online pornography, with experts saying X-rated images are now so common that young people are less likely to think twice about posting naked pictures of themselves.

While this fast-changing world can be exciting to children, it can be bewildering for parents. How many are surprised at how widespread “sexting” has become? Are there others prepared to admit they did not know what “sexting” meant?

But even among those who would claim to be “tech savvy” there can be a yawning gap between what parent and their children know. Most teenagers would laugh at adults whose knowledge of social media stretches no further than Facebook or Twitter.

City schools are rightly taking a lead in working with the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre to educate children about the risks they face. It is right that children are warned and teachers can look out for warning signs that something is amiss.

But it is parents who must take more responsibility for what their children see and do when they are online. They are the ones who usually pay for phones, who set parental controls and who can monitor what their children are doing. When it comes to protecting our children online, parents must provide the first line of defence.