News

In the services and info section at the top of the website page we have updated the schedule for refuse collection for 2021

Refuse Collection

Police Scotland seeking views on the use of Body Worn Video

Members of the public are being asked for their views on the use of Body Worn Video (BWV) by armed police officers when interacting with communities in Scotland.  BWV has been shown to have a positive impact on the safety of the public and the officers wearing it, and all other armed police units in the UK are currently deployed with cameras.  The introduction of BWV will bring Police Scotland in line with these other forces and ensure best practice and evidence as well as increased transparency and accountability at incidents. The online survey, which opened for three weeks from February 1 2021, will allow members of the public to engage and offer their opinions on the deployment of BWV in Scottish policing for the future.  The move follows Chief Constable Iain Livingstone’s support for the deployment of BWV to armed police officers as a “pressing, critical, ethical and operational imperative” and his commitment to focused and concise public engagement prior to rollout.  An initial roll-out of BWV will equip our armed police officers as soon as possible during the course of 2021. This deployment will also provide a valuable basis and learning for the consideration of a broader national plan to roll out BWV to police officers across Scotland in the future. Assistant Chief Constable Kenny MacDonald, who is leading on the introduction of BWV, said: “The Chief Constable has consistently expressed strong support for the greater deployment of body worn video by Police Scotland officers and staff.  “Armed policing remains an area of high risk and understandable public scrutiny and as such this roll-out will help improve transparency and accountability. The safety of our officers and staff as well as that of the public remains paramount in our decision to introduce this technology.  “While this is not new technology, and every other armed policing unit in the UK uses body worn cameras, it is a significant introduction for Scottish policing and as such our public engagement survey is essential to ensuring people have a voice and it will help us gather and address any ethical and community related concerns where possible.” Martyn Evans, Chair of the Scottish Police Authority, said: “The use of body worn video is widespread across UK policing and the benefits to effective policing such as improved officer safety, reducing and resolving complaints against officers and an increase in early guilty pleas, have been positively evaluated in the current limited use across Scotland.  “However, it is important that whenever new technology is adopted, that the implications are fully considered through an extensive stakeholder consultation process. We welcome the launch of a public survey and would encourage as many people as possible to register their views. The SPA looks forward to considering all responses as part of our oversight of the implementation of BWV.” Link to survey: https://consult.scotland.police.uk/strategy-insight-and-innovation/police-scotlands-use-of-body-worn-video/

Scottish Child Payment helps towards the costs of supporting your family. It’s a weekly payment of £10 that you can get for every child you look after who’s under 6 years of age. You’ll get the payment every 4 weeks if your application is successful.

It’s up to you what you choose to spend the money on. You could use Scottish Child Payment for things like:

• travel costs
• nappies and other essentials
• childcare
• family days out

Scottish Child Payment does not affect any other UK or Scottish Government benefits that you, or any person in your household, currently get. If you want to know how Scottish Child Payment might affect local council allowances or grants, such as the Scottish Welfare Fund, you can contact your local council. 

Only one person can get Scottish Child Payment for a child. This means, if two people apply for the same child, Social Security Scotland have a process of deciding who gets the payment. This is called a double claim. The process depends on the benefits that you and the other person are getting. 

You can read more about double claims, or call Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222.

Apply Here https://www.mygov.scot/scottish-child-payment/

2021 Etape Loch Ness: Important Event Update

27 January 2021: It is with great regret that we have taken the decision to postpone the 2021 Etape Loch Ness due to take place on 25 April. The rescheduled event will now take place on 22 August 2021.

We have been monitoring the situation very closely over the last few weeks and following consultation with government agencies, local authorities and emergency services, it is clear that due to the current COVID-19 situation and the ongoing level of restrictions in the UK, an event of this size cannot go ahead in April.

We are very saddened to have to postpone the event again and we are extremely grateful for the ongoing support from our stakeholders, event partners and our local community.

The health, safety and welfare of our participants, volunteers, staff, stakeholders and the local community is at the heart of everything we do and will always remain our priority. We want to reassure you that our team is working very hard behind the scenes on planning for the August event and look forward to sharing our plans with you over the coming months.

Everyone with a place in the 2021 event will have their entry automatically transferred to the rescheduled event on 22 August 2021 and no further action is required. All participants have been emailed today.

We really hope you can all join us at the rescheduled event however we understand that this date may not be possible for everyone and we are able to offer the following alternatives:

• Transfer your entry to another rider and receive a refund
• Defer your entry to the 2022 event taking place on 24 April
• Donate your entry fee to Macmillan Cancer Support, our official charity
• A refund of your entry fee

We know this will be disappointing news and from all of us at the Etape Loch Ness team, we want to thank you for your patience and support over the last year. We can’t wait to welcome you all back to Loch Ness in August. Above all, we hope you and your loved ones are keeping safe and well.

Malcolm Sutherland, Event Director, Etape Loch Ness

A report was made by a member of the community to the Police regarding dangerous driving at Scaniport which is an ongoing issue along the length of the B862, The Police have advised reporting any issues to their non emergency nos 101.

I have copied the local Police acknowledgment below

On the 15th of January 2021 there was a report of dangerous driving on the B862 near Scaniport the previous evening (14/01/2021) around 1630 hours whereby an old style black golf or polo car conducted an extremely unsafe overtake of a bus.

If anyone has any information regarding this incident or witnessed it please contact police quoting NN/265/21. Thank you.