{"id":363683,"date":"2025-08-22T04:00:20","date_gmt":"2025-08-22T04:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/363683\/"},"modified":"2025-08-22T04:00:20","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T04:00:20","slug":"edinburgh-police-chief-issues-update-on-gang-war-raging-across-scotland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/363683\/","title":{"rendered":"Edinburgh police chief issues update on gang war raging across Scotland"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Chief Superintendent David Robertson has provided an update on Operation Portaledge &#8211; launched in response to the gangland feud which erupted five months ago.<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_Screenshot-2025-04-19-at-092954JPG.jpg\" alt=\"Grab of a gang  member firebombing a home\" loading=\"eager\"  \/>Scottish gang wars have seen a series of shootings and firebombings across the country(Image: YouTube)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Edinburgh\u2019s police chief has issued an update on the<a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/news\/scottish-news\/gang-war-unlikely-abate-says-35772220\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\"> ongoing gang war raging across Scotland.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Police Scotland has been combating a gang war which erupted in March on the streets of Edinburgh when Ross McGill&#8217;s <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/news\/scottish-news\/gangland-war-arrest-total-hits-35583392\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Tamo JuntoLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Tamo Junto<\/a> (TMJ) gang went after mob boss Mark Richardson and his associates after a cocaine deal was paid for using fake bank notes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Since then, properties and businesses across the city have been torched and attacked before spreading to Glasgow in April when the Daniel crime clan was targeted due to their <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/news\/scottish-news\/gang-war-unlikely-abate-says-35772220\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">links to Richardson.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Operation Portaledge was launched by Police Scotland in response. Chief Superintendent David Robertson addressed Edinburgh Councillors on Thursday and said that as part of the <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/news\/scottish-news\/gang-war-unlikely-abate-says-35772220\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">operation<\/a>, almost 14,000 addresses and 1,800 vehicles had been checked as well as officers engaging in a number of property searches.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">He also said the &#8220;organised crime feud&#8221; was having a significant impact on local communities, reports <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.edinburghlive.co.uk\/news\/edinburgh-news\/police-warn-edinburgh-gang-war-32325865\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Edinburgh LiveLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Edinburgh Live<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_Rangers-v-St-Joseph-UEFA-Europa-League-First-Qualifying-round-2nd-Leg.jpg\" alt=\"Ross McGill at Rangers match\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>Ross McGill at Rangers match(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">He also addressed recently-released <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/news\/scottish-news\/gang-war-unlikely-abate-says-35772220\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">crime statistics <\/a>which showed an increase in crime across the city, with fire-raising, sexual assaults and drug crime all on the up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">He said: \u201cMany of you will be aware of the ongoing organised crime feud that has significantly impacted many communities across the city.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">\u201cWhilst recent incidents have reduced slightly, the feud continues, requiring significant resources to be deployed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">\u201cI said the full weight of Police Scotland would be brought to bear on those who thought it was acceptable to engage in this level of violence on our city\u2019s streets.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">\u201cWe have done that. Our disruptive and preventative plan saw almost 14,000 addresses checked, a number of property searches, and 1,800 vehicles checked.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">\u201cThere have been 46 incidents within Edinburgh, and we\u2019ve arrested 29 individuals, some of whom have been involved in multiple incidents.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">\u201cAnd we had some more arrests earlier this week, bringing the total number of arrests in relation to Operation Portaledge to 55.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_gang-war-mastermind-exposed-as-ex-football-hooligan-and-failed-businessman.jpg\" alt=\"Mark Richardson\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>Mark Richardson(Image: Police Scotland)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Earlier today, we reported that Deputy Chief Constable Jane Connors addressed the Scottish Police Authority during a meeting at the Clayton Hotel in Glasgow in which she said that the <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/news\/scottish-news\/two-men-court-after-alleged-35755406\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">brutal gang war<\/a> is not expected to &#8216;abate&#8217;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">It was also revealed that organised crime squads and intelligence teams are being stretched under \u201ccontinued pressure\u201d by the gangland <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/news\/scottish-news\/two-men-court-after-alleged-35755406\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">chaos<\/a>, as well as other operations such as responses to protests held over immigration and the conflict in Gaza.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Elsewhere in <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/news\/scottish-news\/gang-war-unlikely-abate-says-35772220\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Chief Supt Robertson&#8217;s <\/a>address to Edinburgh councillors, he also spoke about the police\u2019s action on Bonfire Night-related disorder late last year, saying that 40 arrests had been made, nine houses searched and two vehicles seized.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_spaJPG.jpg\" alt=\"Deputy Chief Constable Jane Connors\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>Deputy Chief Constable Jane Connors(Image: Scottish Police Authority)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Some 20 people were referred to the children\u2019s reporter due to their age, while one man was <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/news\/crime\/\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">sentenced<\/a> to 18 months in prison for mobbing and rioting.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">He said <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/news\/crime\/\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">police<\/a> were pursuing another man who failed to show up to a riot-related court date, and that one man had been given a year-long 7pm curfew for his involvement.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1747398730_254_0_WACOMMUNITYQR3.jpg\" alt=\"\"  \/>Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">You&#8217;ll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">All you have to do is <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/BZamc48XMaoEqKkIN7GWxV\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">click here if you&#8217;re on mobile<\/strong><\/a>, select &#8216;Join Community&#8217; and you&#8217;re in!<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">If you&#8217;re on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click &#8216;Join Community&#8217;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. 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