Six thousand suspected criminals on the run in Scotland

By Cara Sulieman

JUSTICE Secretary Kenny Mackaskill was yesterday  accused of “losing grip” on crime after it was revealed almost 6,000 suspected criminals are on the run in Scotland as police fail to fulfil their warrants.

They include those feared to have committed some of the most serious crimes in the country including five outstanding warrants for murder, eight for attempted murder, six for rape and one for attempted rape.

The vast majority of others are for so called lesser crimes such as breach of the peace and road traffic offences.

But astonishingly, the figures could be just the tip of the iceberg as three of Scotland’s police forces admit they do not keep an easily accessible record of what crimes each outstanding warrant is for.

Boxing legend hit with phone rap

By Paul Thornton

FORMER boxing champion Ken Buchanan has been hit with a £90 fine after being caught using a mobile while driving.

The Edinburgh-born 63-year-old – widely regarded as Britain’s greatest boxer – was spotted by cops on Ferry Road in September last year.

After stopping the former World champion, they also found the car he was driving did not have an MOT certificate.

And at Edinburgh Justice of the Peace Court Buchanan was fined £90 and given three penalty points after admitting the traffic offences.

A not guilty plea to another charge claiming he was not wearing a seat belt at the time was accepted by the Crown.