Key Points
- Police Scotland have appealed for information to find 35-year-old Shaun Smith.
- He was last seen at an address in Longstone, Edinburgh, at around 8:30 am on Thursday, 8 October 2026.
- Smith is white, 6ft 3in tall, of average build, with short greying hair and a Heart of Midlothian FC tattoo on his left leg.
- He was last seen wearing a white hoodie with blue writing, beige shorts, and black and blue Nike trainers.
- He frequently walks in Currie, along the Water of Leith path, and around the Harlaw, Threipmuir, and Torduff reservoirs in the Pentlands.
- Officers want to see any dashcam or private CCTV footage from Longstone and have asked anyone with information to call 101, referencing incident 0768 of 8 October 2026.
Longstone (Edinburgh Daily) October 8, 2026 – As reported by Police Scotland and covered by Edinburgh Live, officers have initiated an urgent search following the disappearance of 35-year-old Shaun Smith, who was last seen at a residential address in the Longstone area of southwest Edinburgh at approximately 8:30 am on Thursday, 8 October 2026.
Concerns are growing for his safety as time passes, prompting law enforcement to reach out to the public for assistance in tracing his whereabouts.
Shaun Smith is described as a white male, approximately 6ft 3in tall, of average build, with short greying hair. Investigating officers noted that he has a distinctive Heart of Midlothian Football Club tattoo on his left leg. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a white hooded top featuring blue writing, beige shorts, and black and blue Nike trainers.
What Areas Are Officers Focusing On During The Search?
In terms of potential search areas, Police Scotland indicated that Shaun is known to spend time walking in several specific locations across southwest Edinburgh and the Midlothian border. He frequently visits the Currie area, walks along the Water of Leith pathway, and frequents local reservoirs within the Pentland Hills Regional Park, including Harlaw Reservoir, Threipmuir Reservoir, and Torduff Reservoir.
As reported by Edinburgh Live, Sergeant James Laing of Police Scotland highlighted the increasing level of concern surrounding the situation. Sergeant James Laing stated: “As time passes concerns are growing for Shaun. Our enquiries are ongoing to trace him and I am appealing for anyone who has seen Shaun or who has any information on his whereabouts to contact us”.
Sergeant James Laing added: “I would also ask anyone who was in the area he was last seen and who may have dash cam or private CCTV that could assist to get in touch”.
Members of the public who have seen Shaun Smith or have information that could assist investigating officers are urged to contact Police Scotland via the 101 non-emergency number, referencing incident number 0768 of Thursday, 8 October 2026.
Background Of Missing Person Investigations In Longstone And Southwest Edinburgh
The Longstone area, located in the southwest quadrant of Edinburgh adjacent to Slateford, Sighthill, and Wester Hailes, serves as an urban residential corridor running alongside the Water of Leith.
Because of its proximity to major linear recreational routes, such as the Water of Leith walkway and Union Canal, missing person enquiries originating in Longstone often extend into surrounding green corridors and rural parklands.
In recent years, Police Scotland’s Edinburgh Division has routinely deployed specialist officers, including police dog units, air support units, and mountain rescue partners, when searches encompass the Pentland Hills Regional Park.
The Pentlands, containing multiple bodies of water such as Harlaw, Threipmuir, and Torduff reservoirs, cover vast, exposed terrain where ground searches require coordinated multi-agency responses.
Emergency procedures established by Police Scotland prioritize immediate public appeals when individuals missing from urban communities have known routines in remote or semi-rural outdoor environments.
Prediction: How This Search Development May Affect Local Residents And Outdoor Recreation Groups
The launch of an urgent missing person search in Longstone and the surrounding areas is likely to lead to an immediate and visible increase in police activity across southwest Edinburgh and the Pentland Hills.
- For Longstone Residents: Local householders can expect an increased presence of uniformed officers conducting local enquiries, door-to-door checks, and requests for private CCTV or doorbell camera footage from the morning of 8 October 2026.
- For Commuters and Drivers: Motorists who travelled through the Longstone, Slateford, or Currie areas on Thursday morning may be asked to review dashcam footage to assist officers in establishing Shaun Smith’s direction of travel.
- For Walkers and Recreational Users: Visitors, hillwalkers, and dog owners utilizing the Water of Leith path, Harlaw, Threipmuir, or Torduff reservoirs are advised to remain vigilant and report any sightings directly to Police Scotland on 101.
