Agenda Document Pack - Police and Fire and Rescue Committee - 01/09/2025
North Ayrshire Council · 1 September 2025
Back to Police and Fire and Rescue Committee — 1 September 2025 and its agenda
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North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE Police and Fire and Rescue Committee A Meeting of the Police and Fire and Rescue Committee of North Ayrshire Council will be held in the Council Chambers, Ground Floor, Cunninghame House, Irvine, KA12 8EE on Monday, 01 September 2025 at 14:00 to consider the undernoted business. Meeting Arrangements - Hybrid Meetings This meeting will be held on a predominantly physical basis but with provision, by prior notification, for remote attendance by Elected Members in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 2003. Where possible, the meeting will be live-streamed and available to view at https://north-ayrshire.public- i.tv/core/portal/home. 1 Declarations of Interest Members are requested to give notice of any declarations of interest in respect of items of business on the Agenda. 2 Minutes The accuracy of the Minutes of the meeting held on 16 June 2025 will be confirmed and the Minutes signed in accordance with Paragraph 7 (1) of Schedule 7 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (copy enclosed). 3 Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Performance and Service Update Submit report by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service on performance in relation to the North Ayrshire Local Fire and Rescue Plan (copy enclosed). 4 Police Scotland Performance Update Submit report by Police Scotland on performance in relation to the North Ayrshire Local Policing Plan (copy enclosed). 1
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North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE 5 Police Scotland Presentation in Relation to Retail Crime Unit There will be a short presentation on the above by DCI Jackie Knight from the Retail Crime Taskforce. 6 Urgent Items Any other items which the Chair considers to be urgent. Webcasting Please note: this meeting may be filmed/recorded/live-streamed to the Council's internet site and available to view at https://north-ayrshire.public- i.tv/core/portal/home, where it will be capable of repeated viewing. At the start of the meeting, the Provost/Chair will confirm if all or part of the meeting is being filmed/recorded/live-streamed. You should be aware that the Council is a Data Controller under the Data Protection Act 2018. Data collected during the webcast will be retained in accordance with the Council’s published policy, including, but not limited to, for the purpose of keeping historical records and making those records available via the Council’s internet site. Generally, the press and public will not be filmed. However, by entering the Council Chambers and using the press or public seating area, you acknowledge that you may be filmed and that any information pertaining to you contained in the video and oral recording of the meeting will be used for webcasting or training purposes and for the purpose of keeping historical records and making those records available to the public. In making this use of your information the Council is processing data which is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest. If you have any queries regarding this and, in particular, if you believe that use and/or storage of any particular information would cause, or be likely to cause, substantial damage or distress to any individual, please contact dataprotectionofficer@north-ayrshire.gov.uk 2
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North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE Police and Fire and Rescue Committee Sederunt Donald Reid (Chair) Stewart Ferguson (Vice-Chair) Charles Currie Scott Davidson Mary Hume Jean McClung Davina McTiernan Donald L. Reid Angela Stephen John Sweeney Chair: Apologies: Attending: 3
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Police and Fire and Rescue Committee 16 June 2025 At a Meeting of the Police and Fire and Rescue Committee of North Ayrshire Council at 2.00 p.m. involving a combination of participation by remote electronic means and physical attendance within the Council Chambers, Irvine. Present (Physical Participation) Donald Reid, Stewart Ferguson, Scott Davidson, Mary Hume, Davina McTiernan, Angela Stephen and John Sweeney. Present (Remote Attendance) Charles Currie, Jean McClung and Donald L. Reid. In Attendance R. Lynch, Senior Manager and C. Cochrane, Solicitor (Legal Services) and C. Stewart, Committee Services Officer (Corporate Services). Also In Attendance Chief Superintendent S. Chow, Superintendent J. McMillan, Chief Inspector L. Napier and Inspector B. Legge (Police Scotland); and Area Commander K. Murphy, Group Commander P. Storrie and Deputy Assistant Chief Officer I. McMeekin (Scottish Fire and Rescue Service). Chair Councillor Donald Reid in the Chair. 1. Declarations of Interest There were no declarations of interest by Members in terms of Standing Order 11 and Section 5 of the Code of Conduct for Councillors. 2. Minutes The Minutes of the Meeting of the Police and Fire and Rescue Committee held on 3 March 2025 were confirmed and the Minutes signed in accordance with Paragraph 7 (1) of Schedule 7 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. 3. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Strategy for 2025-28 Consultation Submitted report by the Head of Service (Democratic) advising of the response submitted to the consultation. The Senior Manager (Legal Services) was heard further explanation of the report and in response to Members’ questions. Noted. Agenda Item 2 5
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4. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Performance and Service Update Submitted report by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) which provided statistical information on progress against the North Ayrshire Local Fire and Rescue Plan for the period 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025. The report provided an analysis of the performance across six indicators, using the rolling three-year average as a basis of measuring performance, together with a summary of priorities and current activity. Area Commander Murphy, Group Commander Storrie and Deputy Assistant Chief Officer McMeekin provided additional contextual information and were heard in response to Members’ questions. Noted. 5. Police Scotland Performance Update Submitted report by Police Scotland on performance in relation to the North Ayrshire Local Policing Plan for the period 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025. A summary of current local policing plan priorities was also detailed. Chief Superintendent Chow and Superintendent McMillan provided additional contextual information and were heard in response to Members’ questions. Noted. At this point in the meeting, Councillor Reid, Chair, advised Committee that a spotlight on key priorities of roads policing in North Ayrshire to reduce casualties, including education, intervention and influencing driver behaviour, would be given by Chief Inspector Napier and Inspector Legge (Police Scotland Roads Policing). Noted. 6. Urgent Items There were no urgent items. The meeting ended at 3.35 p.m. 6
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2025-26 Q1 North Ayrshire Scrutiny Report 2025-26 Q1 North Ayrshire Council - Police & Fire Committee North Ayrshire Agenda Item 3 7
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202514/07/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on About the statistics within this report The activity totals and other statistics quoted within this report are published in the interests of transparency and openness. They are provisional in nature and subject to change as a result of ongoing quality assurance and review. Because all statistics quoted are provisional there may be a difference in the period totals quoted in our reports after local publication which result from revisions or additions to the data in our systems. The Scottish Government publishes official statistics each year which allow for comparisons to be made over longer periods of time. Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Summary Trends Accidental Dwelling Fires (ADFs) Accidental Dwelling Fire Casualties Non-Fire Casualties Deliberate Fires Non-Domestic Fires Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals (UFAS) Road Traffic Collisions (RTCs) Home Fire Safety Visits (HFSVs) Fire Safety Enforcement Community Safety & Engagement Glossary of Terms 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Contents Scrutiny Report 2025-26 Q1 North Ayrshire Council - Police & Fire Committee North Ayrshire 8
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1. Summary 254 Fires 86 370 False Alarms 710 29 0 0 Fire Fatalities 16 3 95 UFAS This report highlights a 13% overall increase in total incidents compared to the previous quarter, equating to 90 additional incidents. Key changes include: Fires: Increased by 33% (+84 incidents), False Alarms: Increased by 20% (+74 incidents), Non-Fire Related Incidents: Decreased by 44% (−68 incidents) UFAS (Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals): Decreased by 2% (−2 incidents) Outdoor Fires now represent the largest category, accounting for 29% of all incidents, overtaking False Alarms, which were the leading category last quarter at 23%. The remainder of this report provides a detailed breakdown of these incident categories. 202514/07/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Non-Fire Incidents People Rescued by Firefighters People Receiving First Aid or Hospital Treatment (Non-Fire) People Receiving First Aid or Hospital Treatment (Fires) Non-Fire Fatalities Top 10 Incident Types Fire (Outdoor) False Alarm (Due to Apparatus) False Alarm (UFAS) False Alarm (Good Intent) Inter-Agency Fire (Building) Humanitarian Fire (Vehicle) Vehicle (Non-fire) Flooding / Water Rescue 203 182 95 88 41 39 15 12 12 8 2025-26 Q1 Fire Safety AuditsHome Fire Safety Visits Total Incidents (Incl. Incompletes) 9
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2. Trends 202514/07/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Accidental Dwelling Fires 2021-22 Q2 2021-22 Q3 2021-22 Q4 2022-23 Q1 2022-23 Q2 2022-23 Q3 2022-23 Q4 2023-24 Q1 2023-24 Q2 2023-24 Q3 2023-24 Q4 2024-25 Q1 2024-25 Q2 2024-25 Q3 2024-25 Q4 2025-26 Q1 38 22 25 36 3030 25 29 28 24 28 25 29 28 24 36 Deliberate Fires 2021-22 Q2 2021-22 Q3 2021-22 Q4 2022-23 Q1 2022-23 Q2 2022-23 Q3 2022-23 Q4 2023-24 Q1 2023-24 Q2 2023-24 Q3 2023-24 Q4 2024-25 Q1 2024-25 Q2 2024-25 Q3 2024-25 Q4 2025-26 Q1 129 158 179 46 66 175 141 83 8391 110 69 104 113 93 162 Non-Domestic Fires 2021-22 Q2 2021-22 Q3 2021-22 Q4 2022-23 Q1 2022-23 Q2 2022-23 Q3 2022-23 Q4 2023-24 Q1 2023-24 Q2 2023-24 Q3 2023-24 Q4 2024-25 Q1 2024-25 Q2 2024-25 Q3 2024-25 Q4 2025-26 Q1 6 6 15 34 4 9 5 8 9 8 99 4 8 9 Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals 2021-22 Q2 2021-22 Q3 2021-22 Q4 2022-23 Q1 2022-23 Q2 2022-23 Q3 2022-23 Q4 2023-24 Q1 2023-24 Q2 2023-24 Q3 2023-24 Q4 2024-25 Q1 2024-25 Q2 2024-25 Q3 2024-25 Q4 2025-26 Q1 189 95 214 76 184 161 201 169 9792100 183 198 9085 105 Road Traffic Collisions 2021-22 Q2 2021-22 Q3 2021-22 Q4 2022-23 Q1 2022-23 Q2 2022-23 Q3 2022-23 Q4 2023-24 Q1 2023-24 Q2 2023-24 Q3 2023-24 Q4 2024-25 Q1 2024-25 Q2 2024-25 Q3 2024-25 Q4 2025-26 Q1 18 12 19 10 12 17 16 12 1212 12 14 14 12 12 13 Previous 16 quarters (4 years) 10
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3. Accidental Dwelling Fires Extent of Damage Incidents Not applicable 15 Limited to floor of origin (not whole building) 3 Limited to item 1st ignited 3 Limited to room of origin 1 Accidental dwelling fires have decreased by 21% (6 fewer incidents) compared to the same period last year, and by 8% (2 fewer incidents) since last quarter. Notably, 46% (10 incidents) were attributed to cooking-related activities. Following every domestic fire, our operational crews conduct post-incident follow-ups, offering tailored safety advice to residents. During this quarter, our operational teams, in collaboration with the Community Action Team, completed 183 Home Fire Safety Visits (HFSVs) and installed smoke detectors where necessary. 202514/07/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Source of Ignition (Top 10) Cooking appliance Smoking Related Other domestic style appliance Heating equipment Matches and candles Not known 10 6 3 1 1 1 Trend by Quarter (4 years) 20 25 30 35 40 22 Accidental Dwelling Fires in this period 2025-26 Q1 Incidents by Ward Ardrossan Irvine South North Coast Garnock Valley Saltcoats and Stevenston Arran Irvine East Irvine West Kilwinning 4 4 4 3 3 1 1 1 1 11
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4. Accidental Dwelling Fire Casualties Non-Fatal Casualties 0 Fatal Casualties 0 Nature of Injury/Cause of Death Casualties This quarter, no casualties were recorded as a result of accidental dwelling fires. This marks an improvement compared to 5 casualties during the same period last year and 2 casualties last quarter. 202514/07/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Casualties by Ward Trend by Quarter (4 years) 0 2 4 6 8 1 People Rescued by Firefighters Extent of Harm (Non-Fatal) 0 0 First Aid Given at Scene Hospital Slight Injuries 0 Hospital Serious Injuries 2025-26 Q1 12
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5. Non-Fire Casualties 202514/07/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Non-fire related casualties decreased by 1 (5%) compared to last quarter, but increased by 4 (21%) when compared to the same period last year. Of the 19 total casualties, 8 (42%) were the result of Road Traffic Collisions. Incidents involving Assisting Other Agencies rose by 2%, now accounting for 57% (11 casualties) of the total. Tragically, three fatalities were recorded this quarter: One following an incident in Stevenston Two during assistance provided to the Scottish Ambulance Service for gaining access. Casualties by Ward Garnock Valley North Coast Saltcoats and Stevenston Irvine East Irvine South Irvine West 10 3 3 1 1 1 Trend by Quarter (4 years) 10 15 20 25 30 Non-Fatal Casualties 16 Fatal Casualties 3 28 People Rescued by Firefighters Extent of Harm (Non-Fatal) 2 10 First Aid Given at Scene Hospital Slight Injuries 4 Hospital Serious Injuries Nature of Injury/Cause of Death Casualties Cuts/Lacerations 3 Head injury 3 Bruising 2 Chest pain / Heart condition / Cardiac arrest 2 Fracture 2 Not known 2 Chest / Abdominal injury 1 Collapse 1 Other 1 Other physical injury 1 Unconscious, fitting or unresponsive (no other evident significant injury) 1 2025-26 Q1 13
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6. Deliberate Fires Property Type Incident Grassland, woodland and crops 74 Refuse 40 Other outdoors (including land) 29 Dwelling 4 Non Residential 4 Road Vehicle 4 Outdoor structures 2 Other Residential 1 Deliberate fire setting has increased by 11% (65 incidents) compared to Q4 of last year, and by 29% (45 incidents) compared to the same period last year. Secondary fires accounted for the majority of these incidents, making up 84% (133 incidents). These figures can be influenced by seasonal weather conditions. We continue to work closely with our partners to identify emerging trends and implement targeted interventions aimed at reducing deliberate fire activity. As part of our Spring Thematic Action Plan, operational crews will undertake targeted engagement with schools and community groups. These interactions will focus on raising awareness of deliberate fire setting and anti-social behaviour, with the strategic aim of mitigating the frequency and impact of such incidents within the community. A Wildfire Unit is now operational at Kilwinning Fire Station, equipped to support wildfire response efforts across the country. Hour of Day 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 202514/07/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Incidents by Ward Saltcoats and Stevenston Irvine South Irvine West Garnock Valley Kilwinning Ardrossan North Coast Irvine East Arran 48 32 17 16 16 10 10 5 4 Trend by Quarter (4 years) 50 100 150 158 Deliberate Fires in this period 2025-26 Q1 14
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7. Non-Domestic Fires Top 15 Property Types Property Type Incidents Food and Drink 1 Offices and call centres 1 Other Residential Home 1 Residential Home 1 Retail 1 Sheltered Housing - not self contained 1 There has been a 33% year-on-year decrease in incidents (3), but a 50% increase (3) compared to the previous quarter. Our Fire Safety Enforcement Officers continue to work closely with business owners to maintain high standards of fire protection and housekeeping, which contributes significantly to keeping incident numbers low. 4 (66.7%) (33.3%) 2 Accidental Deliberate 202514/07/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Incidents by Ward Irvine West Ardrossan Irvine East North Coast Saltcoats and Stevenston 2 1 1 1 1 Extent of Damage Limited to item 1st ignited Not applicable 3 3 Trend by Quarter (4 years) 5 10 15 6 Non-Domestic Fires in this period 2025-26 Q1 15
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8. Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals Top 15 Property Types Property Type Incidents Residential Home 51 Sheltered Housing - not self contained 15 Hospitals and medical care 13 Other Residential Home 4 Hotel/motel 3 Hostel (e.g. for homeless people) 2 Education 1 Entertainment and culture 1 Food and Drink 1 Industrial Manufacturing 1 Sporting venues 1 Student Hall of Residence 1 Warehouses and bulk storage 1 UFAS incidents have seen a year-on-year increase of 11%, with 10 more incidents recorded, while showing a 2% decrease (2 incidents) compared to the previous quarter. The primary source of these incidents was Residential Care Homes, accounting for 54% (51 incidents) of all UFAS a ctivity. These incidents are typically linked to human factors, such as failure to isolate alarm systems during testing, cooking activities, or aerosols. Although there has been a notable reduction in UFAS incidents since the implementation of our UFAS Reduction Policy, we continue to engage with duty holders at affected premises to further reduce these occurrences. Any premise that has a sleeping area within it such as Residential Homes, Hospitals, Hotels etc. will always recieve an attendance from SFRS. 202514/07/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Incidents by Ward Irvine West Kilwinning Saltcoats and Stevenston Irvine South Garnock Valley North Coast Arran Ardrossan Irvine East 20 20 16 12 11 10 3 2 1 Trend by Quarter (4 years) 50 100 150 200 250 95 Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals in this period 2025-26 Q1 16
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9. Road Traffic Collisions Road Traffic Collisions have decreased by 22% (4 incidents) compared to the same period last year, but have seen a 7% increase (1 incident) since last quarter. Our Community Action Team continues to deliver Road Safety Awareness sessions to 5th and 6th year pupils who are beginning their driving journey. This initiative forms part of a Multi-Agency Pan-Ayrshire approach, aimed at educating young drivers on the responsibilities of being behind the wheel, the impact of peer pressure, and the potential consequences of unsafe driving behaviours. 202514/07/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Incidents by Ward Garnock Valley North Coast Ardrossan Irvine South Arran Kilwinning Saltcoats and Stevenston 4 3 2 2 1 1 1 Trend by Quarter (4 years) 10 15 20 14 Road Traffic Collisions in this period Non-Fatal Casualties 10 Fatal Casualties 0 4 People Rescued by Firefighters Extent of Harm (Non-Fatal) 2 7 First Aid Given at Scene Hospital Slight Injuries 1 Hospital Serious Injuries Property Type Incidents Car 10 Multiple Vehicles 2 Motorcycle 1 Other outdoor items including roadside furniture 1 2025-26 Q1 Incident Type Incidents Vehicle (Non-fire) 12 Humanitarian 1 Other Non-Fire 1 17
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10. Home Fire Safety Visits 202514/07/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on 11. Fire Safety Enforcement 2025-26 Q1 122 Post Domestic Incident Response visits 83 Home Fire Safety Visits 70 Adult Protection referrals 26 Fire Safety Audits 18
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12. Community Safety & Engagement Key activities delivered this quarter include: 13 targeted talks at schools and nurseries, aligned with the Ayrshire Engagement Syllabus, covering topics such as anti-social behaviour, deliberate fire setting, and water safety 6 community events supporting local engagement and safety awareness Station visits hosted for community groups, schools, and nursery classes CPR awareness sessions delivered to both community groups and schools Distribution of fire-retardant equipment to identified households in need Car Seat Safety Events held at Largs and Kilwinning Fire Stations 202514/07/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on 2025-26 Q1 19
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13. Glossary of Terms Term - What it means ADF Accidental Dwelling Fire. HFSV Home Fire Safety Visit. PDIR Post Domestic Incident Response, a term used to indicate actions taken following attendance at a fire or other incident in the home. PDIRs include amongst things the offer of a free follow up home fire safety visit. RTC Road Traffic Collision. Special Service Calls to incidents which are not fires or false alarms such as RTCs, rescues, flooding, incidents involving hazardous materials or the provision of assistance to other agencies. UFAS Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals. When an automatic fire detection and alarm system is activated as a result of anything other than an actual fire the activation is classed as a false alarm. If an attendance is made to such an event by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, then the event is recorded as an UFAS incident. UFAS Policy Change In response to COVID, on the 6th May 2020, the SFRS decided to send 1 pump to UFAS premises that did not have their own Predetermined attendance (PDA). As of 1st July 2023, the COVID interim 1 pump response was ended and a new UFAS policy was implemented. The new policy is to call challenge all UFAS incidents with the intention of non-attendance. Hospitals, care homes, and sleeping risk premises are all exempt and receive either 2 pumps or their premise specific PDA. 202514/07/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on 20
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Design, figures and charts by the Business Intelligence team. 21
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OFFICIAL—POLICE & PARTNERS 1 North Ayrshire Performance Summary Report - Q1 2025/26 Reporting Period: 01/04/2025 - 30/06/2025 Total Crime 3,089 Crimes 4.2% Incidents Recorded 9,189 -7.7% 2.8% 426 Violence/Homicide (excl. Robbery) Drug Supply 26.7% 19 Sexual Crime 1.3% 79 -15.8% ~ 31 Hate Crime ASB 1,894 Domestic Abuse 6.6% 279 Acquisitive Crime -2.6% 524 Robbery -61.5% 4 Speeding 89.5% 180 Drink/Drug Driving 6.3% 84 Note: All percentage figures are based on the 5-year average with all data based on Management Information which may be subject to change. -21.1% Serious Injury & Fatal Accidents^ 5/2 -44.4%/-% Agenda Item 4 23
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OFFICIAL—POLICE & PARTNERS 2 Introduction This document has been compiled to look at the quarterly data available for North Ayrshire. The report is based on the areas of focus identified within the Local Policing Plan agreed with the Local Authority. The ‘Plan on a Page’ document is available on Page 3, this provides details of the areas Police Scotland have agreed to report on. The following list of contents provides an overview of the items included in this report: TOPIC SECTION PAGE Local Policing Plan Plan on a Page 3 Serious Crime Murder Serious Assault Robbery Assaults on Emergency Workers Drugs 4 5 Violence Against Women and Girls Domestic Abuse Rape & Sexual Assault 6 7 Safer Communities ASB & Hate Crimes Acquisitive Crime 8 9 Road Safety Drink/Drug Driving and Serious Injury & Fatal Accidents 10 Public Confidence 101 Data 11 Glossary of Terms 12 24
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OFFICIAL—POLICE & PARTNERS 3 25
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OFFICIAL—POLICE & PARTNERS 4 SERIOUS CRIME Overall serious and violent crime is just above the 5 year average but is down from last year by 14%. This is a reflection of the increased focus Police Scotland has on keeping our communities safe whilst reducing crime. Reducing serious crime builds public confidence and co-operation in policing. Murder • There has been one murder in North Ayrshire across this quarter which has been detected and awaits trial. Serious Assaults • Serious assaults are down 32% from the same time last year moving from 22 at the end of Q1 in 2024/25 to 15 at the end of Q1 this year. • Looking at it over the 5 year average, there has been a decrease of 9% from 16 to 15. Robbery • There has been a significant decrease in robberies with 4 in Q1 compared to 11 this time last year (2024/25). A drop of 64%. • With the 5 year average sitting at 10 (p/a) this also means a continued drop of 62%. Assaults on Emergency Workers Unfortunately assaults on emergency workers (predominantly police officers) continues to rise from 62 in Q1 last year to 67 this year - up by 8%. On 29th June, a 15-year-old female was being taken by police to a place of safety when she assaulted 3 police officers by spitting in their face, punching them to the head, kicking, and attempting to bite them. We continue to work with North Ayrshire Council, partners in Social Work, and third sector organisations to signpost and help young people in the community. We understand that pressures such as mental health are increasingly more prevalent amongst young people. Detections Detection rates across these crime types have stayed comparable with previous years, however there has been an increase in the detection rate for serious assaults with all serious assaults detected this year. Victims of crime can often be left with lasting or life changing after effects. Supporting victims and the closure given by a conviction can often help to allay the fear of further attacks. On 21st June 2025 in Saltcoats a 42 year old male was seriously assaulted with a Stanley knife causing substantial injuries to his neck, ears and hands. Following police enquiries a 60 year old male was arrested and held custody for Kilmarnock Sheriff Court. 26
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OFFICIAL—POLICE & PARTNERS 5 SERIOUS CRIME — DRUG SUPPLY Overall detections of the production, manufacture and the cultivation of drugs has remained stable. This type of detection relates mainly to the discovery of cannabis cultivations. Police Scotland relies significantly on having the trust and confidence within our communities to alert us to such activity. Supply In Q1 of 2024/25 there were 15 crimes rising to 19 this year however this remains just below the 5 year average of 20. Detections The caution and charge rate of those who supply or are concerned in supplying controlled drugs within our North Ayrshire communities has largely remained the same compared to last year. However this years detection rate of 90% is higher than the 5 year average of 81%. Possession The detection of those in possession of controlled drugs has largely remained the same rising slightly from 136 to 137. In North Ayrshire our Priority Policing team and Local Policing teams strive to uncover who are responsible for drug dealing activity in our town centres and residential communities. On Friday 20th June 2025 officers from our divisional proactive crime team executed a search warrant at a residential property in Loudon Rigg Irvine. A 39 year old male was arrested and charged with being concerned in the supply of £4000 worth of a class A drug. 27
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OFFICIAL—POLICE & PARTNERS 6 DOMESTIC ABUSE In the first quarter of last year 2024/25 there were 316 domestic abuse crimes of which 194 were detected, By comparison, Q1 of this year 2025/26 has shown a significant reduction in domestic crimes being recorded. There were 279 domestic abuse crimes recorded, down 37. The number of domestic crimes successfully detected increased to 230. Throughout the first quarter of this year there has also been a reduction, with June showing less crimes. The chart opposite illustrates this progress. Every day domestic abuse incidents and crimes are reviewed by the Local Area Commander and Local Policing teams. We adopt a 'trauma-informed' approach to potential victims of domestic abuse, by acknowledging the impact, being victim-centred and signposting to relevant support services, whilst tackling perpetrators. Our Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland (DSDAS) also known as the ‘Right to Ask’ is a police-led initiative that allows individuals or concerned third parties to inquire about a person's history of domestic abuse. This information is then disclosed to the applicant if it's deemed necessary to protect someone from potential harm. Essentially, it empowers individuals to make informed decisions about their relationships by providing access to relevant information about their partner's past behaviour. We have reviewed 48 DSDAS applications across North Ayrshire this quarter, empowering victims to make positive choices. Further proactivity is undertaken using inputs and practical examples to inform our partners on how to identify coercive and controlling behaviours in the domestic environment. 28
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OFFICIAL—POLICE & PARTNERS 7 SEXUAL OFFENCES Sexual Assaults and Rape There were 30 recoded sexual assaults in North Ayrshire during Q1, this is a 30% reduction compared to the 43 recorded this time last year. The number of rapes recorded has also reduced from 20 last year to 16 this year. We have also seen a positive rise in the detection rate from 65% to 68% this quarter. The overall total number or sexually related offences has shown a drop from 92 crimes to 79 this year. Overall detection rates remain similar to 2024/25 at 65%. Police Scotland remains focussed in supporting victims of rape and sexual assault ensuring that not only does every effort go into detecting these crimes and seeking justice, but that the survivors receive the correct guidance and support at the time and in months to come. There has been a change in offending profiles across Ayrshire and Scotland. The use of cyber technology has become more prevalent in this area. On 2nd April 2025 a 39 year old male was arrested for the rape of a 33 year old female. Both met on a dating app and after being enticed to the home of the accused the 33 year old survivor was subjected to a brutal attack. Our specially trained officers along with partners are supporting the survivor through the process. 29
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OFFICIAL—POLICE & PARTNERS 8 SAFER COMMUNITIES—ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR AND HATE CRIME Anti Social Behaviour (ASB) Overall the total number of antisocial behaviour incidents have fallen by 21% against the 5 year average. The number of crimes this year has risen slightly from 389 in 2024/25 to 405 in 2025/26. This is just above the 5 year average of 386. As a result of targeting our resources and focussing on areas highlighted as problematic, detections have risen significantly from 77% to 90%. A thematic breakdown of ASB crime types can be seen more clearly in the chart opposite. In North Ayrshire there is ongoing work within local policing to actively tackle antisocial behaviour at all levels. Regular engagement with elected members, Community Councils and members of the public assists in identifying areas of concern and proactively tackling antisocial behaviour. Hate Crime There has been an overall reduction in hate crime. Most variants of hate crime (including stirring up hate) have decreased (Racial, Religious, Disablist) although it is noted that hate crime relating to gender or sexual orientation has increased. When engaging with the public day to day Police Scotland officers aim to educate and improve the culture and understanding around the LGBTQI community. Furthermore Campus officers engage daily at our North Ayrshire schools to improve the behaviours of our future generations. 30
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OFFICIAL—POLICE & PARTNERS 9 ACQUISITIVE CRIME Housebreakings Although the total number of housebreakings (both dwelling and commercial) has risen since last year (21 to 30), this is still a reduction in the 5 year average of 43. Recent housebreaking incidents have been under close scrutiny and are reviewed by the Area Commander and Local Policing teams on a daily basis. Working alongside Analysts and our Detective colleagues we continue to ensure thorough investigations are carried out and that preventative work is delivered on a one to one basis or via prevention messaging on our social media platforms. Our Preventions and Interventions officer has also completed a number of Crime Prevention surveys with commercial and private dwellings. Shoplifting Our pan-Ayrshire approach to tackling shoplifting allows us to share intelligence and information . We continue to target organised groups, with officers utilising partnership support from Retailers Against Crime. The National Task Force is also supporting us locally to target known groups and to educate retailers. 31
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OFFICIAL—POLICE & PARTNERS 10 ROAD SAFETY There have been 2 fatalities on the roads during the first 3 months this year . Serious road collisions have totalled 5 during this period compared with 9 last year (down 44.4%). Road Safety is pivotal in preventing road deaths and serious injury. Our Local Policing officers in North Ayrshire work alongside our colleagues in Roads Policing to identify and improve poor driver behaviour in line with keeping our citizens safe on and near the roadways. On Sunday 15/06/25 a 33 year old male failed to stop for Road Policing Officers when they tried to carry out a routine stop regarding the manner of driving, while travelling on the A737 through Irvine. A short pursuit resulted in the vehicle eventually stopped in Rubie Crescent, Irvine. The male was arrested and appeared from custody for a number of serious road traffic, drugs and violence related crimes and offences. He currently awaits trial. 32
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OFFICIAL—POLICE & PARTNERS 11 PUBLIC CONFIDENCE — 101 Data 101 Performance and Information This section measures the average (mean) time to answer calls from the public, received via the 101 telephony system, within the reported period. This is National Information and not localised to North Ayrshire. 101 Demand Mitigation • People calling the non-emergency 101 service may sometimes have to wait longer to have their calls answered, as the emergency 999 service is always prioritised. • Seasonal fluctuations in demand on 101 and 999 or a high volume of calls to the priority emergency 999 service can result in longer wait times for the responses to non-emergency 101 calls. • Crucially, 101 callers are instructed to terminate the call and dial '999' in the event of an emergency or if the incident is escalating. • Callers to the 101 non-emergency line are also given the option of using the online Contact Us facility on the Police Scotland website and we have seen a rise in the use of this facility, with 130,000 email contacts recorded last year. • ContactUs enquiries are handled in the same way, by the same service advisers as a 101 call but means that the caller does not have to stay on the line for a response. • We also have online reporting forms available on the Police Scotland website which deal with a range of incidents including reporting lost property, and also enable people to report sensitive matters such as hate crime and harassment in confidence. • During periods of high demand a recorded message will be utilised to inform callers of delays in answering their call. Callers will also be provided with an anticipated wait time for their call to be answered. Month Average Speed of Answer No of calls Longest April 2025 4 min 43 secs 112,123 00:38:41 May 2025 7 min 56 secs 40,407 01:09:14 June 2025 8 min 25 secs 39,051 01:08:17 33
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OFFICIAL—POLICE & PARTNERS 12 GLOSSARY OF TERMS Acronym Details ASB Anti-Social Behaviour ASBIT Anti-Social Behaviour Investigation Team CWU Community Wellbeing Unit CYTD Current Year to Date DAIU Domestic Abuse Investigation Unit DAST Domestic Abuse Safeguarding Team DRD Drug Related Deaths DSDAS Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland NAC North Ayrshire Council FLR Front Line Resolution GIRFEC Getting It Right For Every Child HMP Her Majesty's Prison iVPD Interim Vulnerable Persons Database LPP Local Policing Plan LPT Local Policing Team LYTD Last Year to Date MARAC Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference NCARU National Complaints and Resolution Unit Non-Rec Non Recent (over one year from incident occurring) PACT Pro-Active Crime Team PSOS Police Service of Scotland PYTD Previous Year to Date QoS Quality of Service (relates to complaints) RADAR Rapid Access to Drug and Alcohol Recovery SARC Sexual Assault Referral Centre SFRS Scottish Fire and Rescue Service SWD Social Work Department VAWG Violence Against Women and Girls YTD Year to Date 34