Anyone with private CCTV should check footage
ABURNT-OUT car thought to be linked to a Glasgow shooting has been found by police. The car, stolen from Kilwinning in December, was found on Manse Road on Friday.
It comes after frightening scenes on Salmona Street on Thursday when gunmen fired towards a property. No-one was injured in the incident, which sparked an increase in visible police patrols in the area.
Officers previously said they believed it was “targeted” attack.
It has been reported that the incident is linked to Glasgow drug dealer Euan “EJ” Johnston, who was shot dead in 2016.
Officers say the car, a purple Nissan Pulsar with registration SE66 KNN, may have been used by those behind the attack.
Anyone who may have seen the vehicle between the theft on Thursday, December 5, and the time it was found on Friday, January 17, is urged to contact police.
The shots were fired by “persons” who exited a dark-coloured fourdoor car before returning to the waiting vehicle.
The car then sped off in the direction of Auckland Street.
Officers have been carrying out door-to-door enquiries in the days since and have been reviewing CCTV in the area.
Detective Inspector John Morrison, of Glasgow CID, said: “We believe that the purple Nissan Pulsar may have been used by those who discharged the firearm, and are appealing for anyone who may have seen the vehicle to get in touch.
“I would also ask anyone who has private CCTV or who was in the area and may have dashcam footage to check the footage for anything of significance which may assist in our enquiries.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident 3870 of January 16.
Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers by calling 0800555111.
Meanwhile, detectives in Greenock are investigating a murder bid on a cycle path that left a man seriously injured in hospital.
The 20-year-old victim was at the rear of Cobham Street when he was assaulted at around 10pm on Saturday.
He managed to travel a mile west to the Lady Octavia Sports Centre where a member of the public called an ambulance.
He is now being treated at Inverclyde Royal Hospital.
Police are appealing for anyone with information to get in touch as a “matter of urgency”, including the person who called 999.
They can do so by calling 101, quoting incident reference 4253 of January 18.
WHEN young children are asked the question “what do you want to be when you grow up?” the response is usually popstar, astronaut, or these days, YouTuber.
Once they’re in education and unfortunately had their aspirations sanitised by their influencers, the response becomes “maybe a teacher, joiner or doctor”.
Plans are then put in place as to how to achieve these goals. Some leave full-time education and go straight into the world of work while some continue into further education.
But how informed are students, and indeed parents, when it comes to deciding what these next steps should be?
With university often being the most popular path of progression for pupils from the country’s more affluent areas, pressure from parents and teachers alike can influence this decision. While university is a positive move for many, in Scotland, nearly 6% of students drop out of their degree course after the first year, with a further 36% dropping out by the end of second year.
Of course, there is no way to pinpoint exactly why these young people change their minds about the courses they are studying, but I believe that some of the contributing factors include academic immaturity, influencer pressure and an absence of information and understanding of the college to university progression routes that exist. The pressure to succeed is likely to be influencing their short-term aspirations. Yet there are many alternative routes available to young people which ultimately lead to the same destination – however, they are often overshadowed by the popularity of university.
Many students are unaware of college articulation links.
Due to formal agreements between the college and most higher education institutions across the country, students can attend Glasgow Clyde College for one or two years to achieve their HNC/HND qualification, and then, providing they achieve the grades necessary, can take advantage of the college’s articulation agreements and proceed straight into second or third year at university.
College provides invaluable opportunities for young people to immerse themselves in student life, without having to commit to a three or four-year full-time course. In addition, Glasgow Clyde College has extensive industry partnerships, offering students a range of opportunities including work experience, workshops and live industry-based projects. College also often allows students to travel locally and save on living costs, ultimately paid by the parents or via student loans.
College can provide a more viable route towards a degree for many school leavers, so it is essential that young people and their parents are equipped with all the information they need to make an informed decision about their future.