Axel Piper

Police Scotland confirmed it does not have a fixed policy to record the biological sex of transgender individuals accused of rape or sexual assault, even when DNA evidence is available. This decision comes amid rising debates on how sex and gender data are handled in criminal investigations. What Police Scotland Says About Sex and Gender Data In response to a Freedom of Information request, Police Scotland revealed that it lacks a formal policy on documenting the sex and gender of suspects who are transgender. This means that, by default, the force may not register the biological sex of a suspect…

Scotland’s extraordinary stretch of spring sunshine is ending not with a whimper, but a thunderclap. After five weeks of parched conditions and historic low rainfall, the nation braces for a sudden shift in weather, with forecasts of heavy rain, hail, and thunder sweeping in from the Atlantic starting Friday night. The abrupt change has prompted a landslide warning on one of Scotland’s most vulnerable roads—the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful, where Bear Scotland will activate a backup route to protect drivers. After the Driest Start to the Year Since 1964 Until now, 2025 had shaped up to be…

Britain’s longest direct train journey, spanning from Aberdeen in Scotland to Penzance in Cornwall, has taken its final trip, bringing to a close a rail legacy that captivated travelers with its remarkable landscapes, rich heritage, and the romance of a truly epic railway adventure. The iconic thirteen-hour journey covered over 770 miles and made stops at more than 35 stations, threading together the country’s diverse regions—from the rugged Scottish Highlands to the serene Cornish coast. Its conclusion signals a significant shift in the UK’s rail operations, driven by a mix of modern transport needs, operational challenges, and a strategic push…

A 17th-century pitch unearthed in rural Kirkcudbrightshire is fuelling claims that Scotland—not England—gave the world the beautiful game. English traditionalists are unimpressed. Archaeological Find in Anwoth Challenges Long-Held Beliefs For over a century, England has worn the crown as the birthplace of modern football. But a new discovery on the grounds of a former Scottish church has sparked a historical turf war. A team led by Ged O’Brien, founder of the Scottish Football Museum, claims to have located the world’s oldest known soccer pitch in the sleepy town of Anwoth. The rectangular site, unearthed on what used to be Mossrobin…

Scotland’s local authorities are in the red again — this time by £647 million — as they scramble to balance budgets with a cocktail of cuts, tax hikes, and dipping into dwindling reserves. It’s a harsh dose of financial reality, and despite Holyrood boosting its support, watchdogs say the money just isn’t enough. Services are already shrinking. Expectations? Still sky-high. Taxpayers Squeezed Harder, Services Delivered Less For the first time since the freeze was lifted, all 32 councils across Scotland raised council tax — and they didn’t hold back. The average jump? 9.6%. But in Falkirk, that spike hit a…

A major contract with Scottish Power puts Hyosung Heavy Industries at the heart of Scotland’s green energy future, delivering massive 400 kV transformers to transmit wind power across the country. South Korea’s Hyosung Group just added another notch to its growing European portfolio. Its energy arm, Hyosung Heavy Industries, has inked a $60.8 million agreement to supply ultra-high voltage transformers to Scotland—marking yet another step in the UK's transition to a cleaner grid. High Voltage Transformers to Carry Wind Power from Coast to City It’s not just a contract—it’s a strategic placement. Under the deal, Hyosung will deliver 400 kilovolt…

A wave of grief has swept through East Kilbride and Ayrshire after the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Kayden Moy at Irvine Beach, one of Scotland’s busiest coastal spots during the recent warm weather. The tragedy has left a family heartbroken, a school community stunned, and an entire town asking how a sunny day by the sea turned so dark. Police confirmed that Kayden was involved in a disturbance among a large group of teenagers shortly before 7 p.m. on Saturday. He was taken to hospital but died from his injuries the following day. A 17-year-old male has since been arrested…

The UK government’s latest post-Brexit trade agreement with the European Union—touted by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as a “win-win”—has triggered a furious backlash from Scotland’s fishing industry, which accuses Westminster of trading away the future of coastal communities in exchange for smoother EU access for exporters. Announced at the first formal UK-EU summit under Starmer’s leadership, the 12-year deal cements access for European vessels to UK waters until 2038. In return, Britain will benefit from reduced food export checks and a new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) framework that ministers say will ease cross-border trade friction. Fury from Scottish Fishing…

Scotland’s education system faces fresh scrutiny as discussions turn to Ireland’s unique approach: an exam-free Transition Year. This year-long break from high-stakes testing offers Irish students space to explore and grow before their final two years of intense study. Could Scotland take a leaf out of Ireland’s book and reshape its own senior phase? A Pause Before the Pressure Cooker Ireland’s Transition Year sits snugly between the Junior Cycle and the Senior Cycle. It’s a curious beast — a full school year without the usual exams or formal assessments that typically dominate secondary education. Instead, students engage in a variety…

From peaceful lambs in Achmelvich to a fiery beacon on Ballantrae beach, this week’s photo roundup captures the soul of Scotland in spring. Each image tells a story—of quiet beauty, of memory, of wild coastline and bluebell-covered woods. A Highland Afternoon, Framed in Wool Sometimes it's the simple scenes that hit the hardest. Peter Dawson’s photo of sheep basking under a blue sky in Achmelvich is one of those moments. Two lambs, a ewe, and nothing but grass, sun, and silence. It’s Highlands peace, bottled and framed. You can almost hear the wind rustle through the grass, can’t you? The…