Highland & Islands Police Division

We want to thank the vast majority of people attending the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival for helping make this year's event an overwhelmingly positive experience.
Very low levels of offences have been reported, including five incidents of alcohol related disorder, five thefts and one unauthorised use of a drone.
A total of 21 drug related offences have also been been detected and reports will be submitted in due course.
... Officers will be on site until the conclusion of the event to make sure that people are able to enjoy the end of the festival and get home safely.
The roads around the festival site andInverness are likely to be busier than normal during Sunday so please be patient.
We also want to make people aware that a proactive drink driving operation will be running during Sunday for drivers leaving the event.
Remember that you can still be over the limit the morning after so please keep this in mind if you need to drive tomorrow.
We want people to enjoy themselves but drink driving will not be tolerated. There is no safe limit for alcohol when you are driving so please don't risk it.
Police Scotland event commander Chief Inspector Mairi Macinnes said: "We were very pleased to support the organisers of Belladrum once again to deliver a safe and friendly festival.
"I would like to pass on our thanks to the vast majority of the public who helped make the event memorable for all the right reasons.
"There were low levels of crime recorded which did not disrupt the running of the festival and hopefully did not detract from the enjoyment of anybody else.
"Once again I would thank the vast majority of the crowd for their co-operation - I hope you have had a good weekend and have a safe journey home.
"Please bear in mind that we will be running a proactive drink driving operation on Sunday morning. Take responsibility yourself if you know you will be driving in the morning and make sure you are not over the limit by the time you get behind the wheel."
#Bella19
See More

Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival is very much in full swing and we will officers on site throughout the weekend.
They are there to help if you need them - if you any concerns, queries or just want to have a chat then do no hesitate to speak to them.
#FestivalSafety #Bella19

We can confirm that a 40 year-old man has been arrested and charged following a disturbance within a property in Balintore.
Officers were called to the incident in Parkland Place about 5.50pm on Thursday, August 1.
A small area was cordoned off whilst officers dealt with the incident which was contained within a single property and posed no threat to the wider public.
... We would like to thank local residents for their understanding during this incident.
See More

MISSING PERSON Police Scotland officers are currently investigating the disappearance of 35 year old William McGinnis from the John Street area of Blairgowrie. He was last spoken to on the 31st of July 2019 and described as being 5ft 1 in height, stocky build with short ginger hair. It is thought William will be wearing a red tracksuit top and jeans and driving a silver Vauxhall Moka resKY13 . He frequents the Perth and Inverness areas. Any person who knows the whereabouts of Wlliam or sightsany person fitting his description is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101 qouting incident number 3786 of the 1st August 2019 or speak with any police officer

Congratulations to our team who took on the tractor push at the Black Isle Show to raise funds for the PC Nicola Hughes Memorial Trust.
They didn't win but made the semi-finals while raising money for this important cause.
PC Pamela Murray, PC Laura Kerr and PC Susan Gunn are all taking part in the New York Marathon on November 2 to raise funds for the charity as part of a group of police officers, custody staff, friends and family of PC Hughes.

Police in Aviemore are looking for information following a report of a stolen ornamental wildcat from Golf Course Road in Newtonmore.
The wildcat is part of the Newtonmore Wildcat Experience and is one of 132 around the village.
The figurine was last seen in April 2019 and was reported stolen on Wednesday, July 31.
... The wildcat itself is a live size replica and is decorated with a blue and red design as shown
If anyone can provide any further information which may assist please contact Police on 101, quoting reference NM1508/19.
See More

We can now confirm the identity of the woman who died following a road traffic collision on the A9 north of Dornoch.
She was Megan Whitehead, 20, from the Helmsdale area.
The incident happened shortly before 8.30am on Wednesday, July 31 on the A9 north of Dornoch and about half a mile south of The Mound.
... She was driver and sole occupant of a silver Nissan Micra, travelling southbound, which was involved in a collision with a silver Volkswagen Golf and a red Alfa Romeo, both of which had been travelling north.
The road was closed until around 5pm to allow for a thorough collision investigation.
Road Policing Sergeant Alan Henderson said: "We are continuing to work to establish the full circumstances of this collision. Megan's family and friends are at the forefront of our thoughts as these enquiries continue.
"I am grateful to everyone who has assisted our enquiries so far and would continue to urge anyone with information to come forward.
This includes anyone who may have dashcam footage which could contain anything of note.
"I would also thank everyone who had their travel plans affected by the road closure for their patience and understanding."
Anyone with information can contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident 686 of July 31.
See More

We are appealing for witnesses following a fire at Boleskine House near Foyers.
The incident was reported around 3.30pm on Wednesday, July 31.
Fires were reported at two buildings on the site, including the derelict main house and at an external outbuilding.
... The fires were extinguished by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
Nobody was injured, although damage was caused to the buildings.
Detective Inspector Eddie Ross said: "We are working with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to establish the full circumstances.
"Our enquiries are at an early stage, although our initial assessment is that this fire was started deliberately.
"We would encourage anybody may have seen any activity around Boleskine House or nearby to come forward as soon as they can.
"It should go without saying that deliberately setting fires is incredibly dangerous as you have limited control over how they may develop.
"Anyone with information about this fire can contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident 3619 of July 31, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."
See More

Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival opens today while the Black Isle Show concludes.
The organisers of both events have been working with officers to make sure the thousands of people attending both events can enjoy themselves safely.
We would advise people attending both events to plan their travel in advance and leave extra time for their journeys - particularly today when the two events overlap.
... Well established traffic management plans are in place for the events and our advice is to follow the instructions of stewards and police officers to help keep traffic moving.
Please watch out for event signage and follow this rather than relying on your SatNav.
The roads are naturally busier than normal so please be patient and leave extra time for your journey.
More information is available from https://tartanheartfestival.co.uk/travel- information/ and https://blackisleshow.com/event-info/gett ing-here/
See More

We can confirm that the woman who died following an incident on Ladies Drive in Lerwick was Tracey Walker, 40.
She was found outside a property on the street around 2.05am on Tuesday, July 30.
A 31-year-old man and a woman, 27, previously arrested in connection with her death have now been charged.
... A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal and they are both expected to appear at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Thursday, August 1.
Her family has requested that the following statement is issued by Police Scotland.
"We are very grateful to everyone who has been in touch over the last few days offering their support.
"We now ask that our privacy is respected as we come to terms with our loss."
Detective Inspector Ross Fitzgerald said: "Our thoughts are with Tracey's family and friends at this difficult time.
"I would again take the opportunity to thank local residents for their patience while officers have been in the area and also thank those who have assisted our enquiries so far.
“Anyone with information about this incident who has not yet spoken to police is asked to contact 101 quoting incident 343 of July 30. Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111."
See More

We can confirm the #A9 has now reopened following the earlier collision north of Dornoch.
Thanks to everyone affected for their patience.

We can confirm that a woman has died following a road traffic collision on the A9 north of Dornoch.
The 20-year-old was the driver and sole occupant of a Nissan Micra car, which was involved in a collision with a silver Volkswagen Golf and a red Alfa Romeo.
The incident happened shortly before 8.30am around half a mile south of The Mound junction.
... The female driver of the Volkswagen received treatment at the scene for non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the Alfa Romeo was uninjured.
The road remains closed with a diversion in place via Lairg.
Road Policing Sergeant Alan Henderson said: "Our thoughts are with the young woman's family and friends.
"We are carrying out enquiries to establish the full circumstances of the collision and this investigation is at an early stage.
"I would urge anyone who may have seen any of these vehicles prior to the collision or who has any other information which could assist our enquiries to come forward.
"Anyone who was on the road around that time and may have dashcam footage is asked to review it and pass on anything of note.
"Anyone with information can contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident 686 of July 31."
See More

PC Murdoch is now heading south on his tour of the country after his stay in the Highlands but he found time on his way to investigate reports of blue skies in Lochaber.
He is Police Scotland's contribution to the Oor Wullie Big Bucket Trail currently running across the country in aid of The ARCHIE Foundation, Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity and Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.

We can confirm that a woman has died following an explosion at a house in Brae in Shetland.
Emergency services were called to the property around 2.15pm on Tuesday, July 7.
The 84-year-old woman was taken to the Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick where she sadly died during the evening of Tuesday.
... A teenage boy was also taken to hospital for treatment to minor injuries.
Chief Inspector Lindsay Tulloch said: "Our thoughts are with the lady's family and friends at this very difficult time for them.
"Our enquiries to establish the full circumstances are ongoing with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. However, there are no apparent suspicious circumstances.
"A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in due course."
See More

The #A9 is currently closed north of Dornoch due to a road traffic collision and south of The Mound.
A diversion is in place via Lairg using the Clashmore and Mound junctions.
Please allow extra time for your journey.

We can confirm that two people have been arrested following the death of a woman found outside a property in Shetland during the early hours of this morning (Tuesday).
Emergency services attended at Ladies Drive in Lerwick around 2.05am but sadly the woman, aged 40, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A man, 31, and a woman, 27, have now been arrested in connection with her death.
... Detective Inspector Ross Fitzgerald of the Police Scotland Major Investigation Team said: "Our enquiries remain ongoing and are at a relatively early stage.
"However, I would take the opportunity to stress there is no apparent risk to the wider community.
"A significant police presence is likely to remain in the area during the coming days, with officers from the local policing team in Lerwick working with specialist colleagues from the Major Investigations Team.
"We are grateful to the local community for their understanding while this investigation continues.
“Anyone with information about this incident who has not yet spoken to police is asked to contact 101 quoting incident 343 of July 30. Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111."
See More

We are looking forward to supporting two major annual events in the Highlands this week in the form of the Black Isle Show and Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival.
The Black Isle Show is held just outside Muir of Ord on Wednesday, July 31 and Thursday, August 1.
Belladrum takes place near Beauly and will open on Thursday, August 1, closing on Sunday, August 4.
... The organisers of both events have been working with officers to make sure the thousands of people attending both events can enjoy themselves safely.
We would advise people attending both events to plan their travel in advance and leave extra time for their journeys - particularly on Thursday, August 1 when the final day of the Black Isle Show overlaps with the opening day of Belladrum.
Well established traffic management plans are in place for the events and our advice is to follow the instructions of stewards and police officers to help keep traffic moving.
Please watch out for event signage and follow this rather than relying on your SatNav.
The roads are naturally busier than normal so please be patient and leave extra time for your journey.
More information is available from https://tartanheartfestival.co.uk/travel- information/ and https://blackisleshow.com/event-info/gett ing-here/
See More