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Renfrewshire Community Protection Chief Officers Group – Annual Report 2023-2024

Renfrewshire Council · 26 September 2024
Back to Council — 26 September 2024 and its agenda

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To: Council 
On: 26 September 2024 
Report by: Chief Executive 
Heading: Renfrewshire Community Protection Chief Officers Group – 
Annual Report 2023/24
___________________________________________________________________ 
1.  Summary  
1.1 Renfrewshire Community Protection Chief Officers Group (COG) is responsible
for leadership, strategic oversight and scrutiny of multi-agency public protection
activity and practice in Renfrewshire, including in relation to child protection,
adult protection, community safety, the management of offenders and community
justice, alcohol and drugs, and gender-based violence.   
1.2 The group is chaired by the Chief Executive of Renfrewshire Council with core
representation from the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Police Scotland,
and wider membership drawn from other partners agencies and services. 
1.3 This is the ninth annual report of the Community Protection Chief Officers Group.
It provides an overview of the key areas of work of in relation to public protection
during 2023/24. It also highlights the ongoing key benefits of excellent
partnership working.   
1.4 The annual report attached at Appendix 1 to this report provides detailed
information on the activities which have been undertaken over this period and
highlights the key priorities which partners have identified for collective focus and
action during 2024/25.

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___________________________________________________________________ 
2. Recommendations 
2.1     It is recommended that elected members note the content of the report.
___________________________________________________________________ 
3.  Background 
3.1 Renfrewshire Chief Officers Group was established to provide leadership,
governance, direction and oversight to ensure local accountability for all aspects
of public protection. Chief officers are responsible for ensuring that their
respective agencies, individually and collectively reflect national guidance, which
directs local services to work in partnership to achieve public protection
measures. The arrangements are comparable to Chief Officer Group
arrangements in other local authority areas throughout Scotland and were
independently reviewed and updated in April 2021. 
3.2 The key area of activity overseen by the Renfrewshire Chief Officers Group are:  
• Child Protection;
• Adult Protection; 
• Offender Management; 
• Community Protection; 
• Community Justice;
• Alcohol and Drug Partnership; and 
• Gender Based Violence Strategy  
• Migration and Asylum 
3.3 The Chief Officers Group provides regular reports to the Member Officer Group
which is comprised of elected members on a cross party basis, and key officers
from the Council and partners. The purpose of the Member Officer Group is to
provide senior elected members with the opportunity to formally and regularly
discharge their strategic independent scrutiny and assurance role in relation to
key activity and significant developments which have implications for public
protection matters in Renfrewshire. 
3.4 This is the ninth annual report of the Chief Officers Group. It provides an
overview of the key areas of work in relation to public protection in Renfrewshire
over the course of 2023/24, and in doing so highlights the ongoing importance of
partnership working.   
___________________________________________________________________

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4. Strategic focus for 2024/25 
4.1 The strategic focus of the Chief Officers Group for the year ahead has been
agreed as follows:
• Protecting vulnerable children and adults 
• Reducing alcohol and drug related harm
• Suicide prevention
• Joint inspection of services for children at risk of harm
• Joint inspection of adult support and protection
• Migration, asylum and homelessness
• Gender based violence 
• COG self-evaluation 
4.2 The Chief Officers Group will continue to seek to ensure that performance and
practice are scrutinised at a strategic level, to identify what works well, to
highlight any areas for improvement, and to consider where further
opportunities for early intervention and prevention activity would achieve
improved outcomes for local people.   
4.3 The group will also continue to review on an ongoing basis the implementation of
relevant policies and legislation which relate to public protection.
___________________________________________________________________
Implications of the Report 
1. Financial – none 
2. HR & Organisational Development – none  
3. Community/Council Planning – the Community Protection Chief Officers is
embedded within the wider approach to community planning in Renfrewshire. 
4. Legal - none 
5. Property/Assets - none
6. Information Technology - none 
7. Equality and Human Rights - The Recommendations contained within this
report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human
rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of
individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations
contained in the report because it is for noting only. If required following
implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating
actions will be reviewed and monitored, and the results of the assessment will be
published on the Council’s website.

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8. Health and Safety - none 
9. Procurement – none
10. Risk – none 
11. Privacy Impact – none
12. Climate Risk – none  
13. Children’s Rights – Children’s rights and the articles which underpin them have
been considered as part of the preparation of this report.  The report highlights
many of the activities which partners in Renfrewshire undertake to achieve
positive outcomes for children and their families through wider child, adult and
community protection work.
14. COSLA Policy Position – none 
___________________________________________________________________ 
Report Author: Nicola Canavan, Senior Policy Officer
Email: nicola.canavan@renfrewshire.gov.uk

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Community Protection
Chief Officers Group
2023/24 Annual Report

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Welcome to our end of year report
• Renfrewshire’s Chief Officers Group (COG) was established to provide leadership, governance,
direction and oversight to ensure local accountability for all aspects of public protection. Chief
Officers are responsible for ensuring that their respective agencies, individually and collectively
reflect national guidance, which directs local services to work in partnership to achieve public
protection measures.
• The COG provides regular reports to the Member Officer Group (MOG) which is comprised of Elected
Members on a cross-party basis, and key officers from the Council and partners and provides senior
Elected Members with the opportunity to formally and regularly discharge their strategic
independent scrutiny and assurance role in relation to key activity and significant developments
which have implications for public protection matters in Renfrewshire.
• This is the ninth annual report of the COG. It provides an overview of the key areas of work in relation
to public protection in Renfrewshire over the course of 2023/24, and in doing so highlights the
ongoing importance of partnership working.

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Membership:
Supported by:
• Renfrewshire’s Chief Social Work Officer 
• Chief Officer, Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership
• Independent Chair of the Adult and Child Protection Committees
• Independent Chair of the Alcohol and Drugs Partnership
• Head of Climate, Public Protection and Roads
• Head of Policy and Partnerships
• Adult and Child Protection Lead Officers
• Local Senior Officer for the Fire Service
Chief Officers Group
Key
Areas
Child
protection
Adult
protection
Wider
public
protection
Offender
management
Community
justice
Alcohol
and drugs
Gender-
based
violence
Migration
and
asylum
Chief Executive Chief Executive / Executive
Nursing Director
Divisional Commander
‘K’ Division

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The group is comprised of elected members on a cross-
party basis and key officers of the council as follows:
• Three senior members of the administration 
• Two members of the main opposition group 
• One other opposition member 
• Director of Children’s Services 
• Chief Social Work Officer 
• Chief Officer, Renfrewshire Health and Social Care
Partnership or head of Health and Social Care
• Head of Climate, Public Protection and Roads
• Head of Policy and Partnerships, Chief Executive’s
Service
Also, in attendance as required: 
• Independent Chair of the Child Protection and Adult
Protection Committees
• Divisional Commander, Police Scotland or appropriate
senior nominee 
The group will also invite the participation of other key
individuals or agencies involved in the areas of concern of
the Member Officer Group as required.
Member Officers Group
Membership:

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Approximately  184,000
people live in Renfrewshire,
with our population
projected to continue to
grow, particularly our older
population aged 60 and over.
Renfrewshire Profile
Life expectancy is below
the Scottish average.
Female life expectancy is
79.89 compared to 80.72
nationally and male life
expectancy is 75.69
compared to 76.54
nationally.
Our population is becoming
increasingly diverse with the
latest census data showing
94% of the population is
categorised as white, 3% are of
an Asian background and 3%
are from an African, Caribbean
or Black, or mixed ethnic group.
Renfrewshire is located in
west central Scotland and
is the 9th largest Council in
Scotland by head of
population but covering a
relatively small land mass
of 270 square kilometres.
The Scottish Index of Multiple
Deprivation (SIMD) assesses 6,976 small
areas known as data zones. Almost 25%
of all data zones in Renfrewshire are in
the 20% most deprived nationally and
2 are within the 10 most deprived
zones nationally.

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Concern Referrals
There were child 4,444 concern referrals received between 1 April
2023 and 31 March 2024. This has decreased from 4,478 received
between April 2022 and March 2023. These are distinct referrals
and not the number of children who were the subject of a referral.
43% of these came from Police Scotland.
Inter-agency Referral Discussions
There were 597 Inter-agency Referral Discussions (IRDs) between
1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023, relating to 574 children. Of these,
317 proceeded to a child protection investigation, and 54 to a
child protection pre-birth investigation.
Child Protection Register
RCPC collects and reviews data in line with the Version 2 of the
Minimum Dataset for Child Protection Committees in Scotland.
The number of children whose names are placed in the Child
Protection Register is reviewed quarterly by RCPC and the Child
Protection Register is reviewed weekly by senior managers from
the key agencies. On 31 March 2024, the names of 61 children
were on the Child Protection Register. This compared to 80
children in March 2023.
The RCPC Complex Case Oversight Group reviews all children
whose names have been on the register for a year or more and the
group has been in agreement with the decision that all those
reviewed to date remain on the Child Protection Register.
Child Protection –
Analysis of Current Trends
Reason for Referral
(2023/24)
No. of
Children
Domestic abuse 952
Missing persons reports 91
Youth offending 38
Mental health issues (carer) 223
Alcohol and / drugs use by a child 84
Child / parent relationship 377
Alcohol and / or drug use by a carer 235

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Child Protection
Renfrewshire Child Protection Committee (RCPC)
RCPC and its associated subgroups continue to meet on a
quarterly basis with meetings taking place face to face. The key
functions of RCPC are undertaken by the subgroups below:
Following six years as Independent Chair of Renfrewshire Child
and Adult Protection Committees, John Paterson stood down on
30 June 2023. Following a robust recruitment process, Tam Baillie
was recruited to the role of Independent Chair of RCPC and RAPC
and started on 1 September 2023.
Learning and
Development
Continuous
Improvement
Policy, Practice
and Procedures
Complex Case
Oversight Group Voice
Learning Review Practitioner
Reference Group
Vulnerable
Young Persons
Joint
Communications
Group (RCPC and
RAPC)
Implementation of the National Guidance for Child Protection
in Scotland 2021 (updated 2023)
Renfrewshire has worked in partnership with six neighbouring
authorities to update the local procedures to reflect the new
national guidance.
The updated procedures were launched in Renfrewshire on 11
January 2024 supported by a series of multi-agency information
sessions for practitioners and managers. The procedures have
been provided to all agencies for circulation to staff and
managers and information about the procedures has also been
provided at child protection online drop ins and network lunches.
RCPC completed a self-evaluation tool developed to assist Child
Protection Committees to consider and report on progress in
implementing the revised National Guidance for Child Protection
2021. This was submitted to the Scottish Government on 20
October 2023 and provided to RCPC in December 2023.

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Child Protection
Quality Assurance and Self-evaluation Strategy and Plan
RCPC has responsibility for the development and implementation
of inter-agency quality assurance mechanisms. In December 2023,
RCPC agreed a Quality Assurance and Self Evaluation Strategy and
Plan. The strategy and plan are overseen by the Continuous
Improvement Group. The plan is a live document and is updated
when the need for further quality assurance / self-evaluation
activities is identified. The plan and related activities will be
updated quarterly and presented at each meeting of RCPC as part
of the Continuous Improvement Subgroup update.
Learning Reviews
From April 2023 to March 2024, RCPC received four requests to
undertake a Learning Review. Three of these requests met the
criteria for undertaking a Learning Review. Two of these Learning
Reviews are underway and are being undertaken by external
reviewers. Both will be completed by summer 2024. An
independent reviewer has been commissioned to undertake the
third Learning Review and it will begin in Summer 2024.
Multi-Agency Case File Audit – November 2023
The audit is a key element of RCPC’s self-evaluation and
quality assurance activity and was undertaken in line with the
approach taken during the Care Inspectorate’s Children at Risk
of Harm Inspections. The audit was undertaken by a multi-
agency team (led by the Child Protection Advisor) who received
training from the Care Inspectorate’s Link Inspector. The team
comprised of Social Work, Education, Police and Health. Files
were also provided for audit by these agencies.
The files of 23 children and young people were reviewed with
appropriate consents obtained. Files were reviewed by multi-
agency pairs using the Care Inspectorate’s Reviewing
Children’s Records Guidance and feedback recorded on
Microsoft Forms.  An action plan has been developed to take
forward the audit findings. This is being overseen by the
Continuous Improvement Group. RCPC has agreed that the
audit will take place on an annual basis and a further audit is
scheduled for October 2024.

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Learning Review Training
RCPC is partnering with RAPC and West Dunbartonshire Child and
Adult Protection Committees to commission training for Learning
Reviewers. This will allow Learning Reviews to be undertaken
internally where appropriate. The training will be delivered by
Sheila Fish and will allow for 10 senior managers to be trained to
undertake Learning Reviews.
RCPC Communications
In March 2024, following agreement from RACP, RCPC agreed to
establish a joint RCPC/RAPC Communications Subgroup. The
subgroup will be led by Renfrewshire Council and Renfrewshire
HSCP Corporate Communications Teams.
RCPC continues to circulate a quarterly newsletter following each
meeting of RCPC which provides regular updates on the work of
the Committee and on developments locally and nationally.
Following the successful pilot of monthly online Child Protection
drop ins, RCPC agreed that these would take place on an ongoing
basis and be overseen by the Learning and Development
Subgroup of RCPC. The sessions have continued to take place
regularly with attendance of between 40 and 100 participants at
each session. The sessions have focused on a range of topics,
including: parental alcohol and drug use; the updated local child
protection procedures; and Safe and Together.
RCPC has also undertaken the Child Protection Committees
Scotland poster campaign which has involved providing CPC
Scotland posters (with RCPC branding and local contact numbers)
to partner organisations across Renfrewshire. The purpose of
these has been to raise awareness of what to do if there is a
concern about a child or young person.
Voice Subgroup
RCPC has established a Voice Subgroup to ensure that the work of
RCPC is informed by the perspectives of infants, children, young
people and families and to develop a strategy for doing so. The
group is chaired by the Community Development Manager,
Renfrewshire Council and has representation from agencies across
Renfrewshire with experience and expertise in working with
children, young people and families.
Child Protection

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Complex Case Oversight Group
During 2022/23, RCPC agreed to pilot of an oversight group to
ensure effective multi-agency review and scrutiny of children who
have been on the child protection register for more than one year
and other complex cases. This was in response to an area for
consideration highlighted by a recent Learning Review. Following
the successful pilot, RCPC agreed in December 2023 that the
Complex Case Oversight Group would become a permanent
subgroup of RCPC. The group has representation from senior
managers in Health, SCRA, Police, Education and Barnardo’s and
supports those involved with the child and family to consider:
• The support that has been provided to date;
• The difference that has been made;
• What has not changed for that child and family; and
• Alternative approaches.
Training
The Learning and Development Subgroup of RCPC has oversight of
inter-agency training on behalf of RCPC. Training priorities for the
year have included:
• Attachment and Trauma using Virtual Reality
• Contextual Safeguarding using Virtual Reality
• Ongoing delivery of Child Protection Level 1 and Child
Protection Level 2.
• Online Safety
• Train the trainers for child protection training for OneRen (this
includes sports hubs and libraries/museums)
RCPC reviewed the uptake of inter-agency training delivered from
1st January 2023 to 31st December 2023 with the Safe and
Together Core training noted as having particularly high
attendance. The group continue to monitor attendance rates to
identify trends and adapt training strategies. The group is
undertaking further work to understand the variations in
attendance rates to help tailor future programmes for different
groups of inter-agency staff. The group will undertake a training
needs analysis to inform the update of the RCPC Learning and
Development Strategy and future training priorities.
Child Protection

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SA:SF Short Life Working Group
In late 2022/23, RCPC established a short life working group to
review the key learning of the SA:SF report which highlighted
some of the key learning points reinforced through the review of
non-recent accounts of sexual abuse of children and young people
within Scottish football. The multi-agency group was chaired
jointly by OneRen and the Independent Chair of RCPC and
reviewed the key learning and how it applies to partner agencies
individually and collectively. The work of the group included a
survey of 732 parents whose children attended community sports
activities in OneRen venues.
The group recommended that:
• the updated child protection procedures would be shared
widely with community clubs when they are available;
• a communications strategy would be developed focusing on
key messages to children, young people, parents and
members of the public;
• OneRen would undertake work is with community clubs
around the issues highlighted in the report; and
• the RCPC inter-agency trainer and Learning and Development
Group would support OneRen around additional training for
staff.
A range of work has been undertaken to date to progress the
recommendations. This has included:
• the establishment of a joint RCPC / RAPC Communications
Subgroup
• the provision of posters all OneRen venues
• the development of train the trainer child protection training
for OneRen staff and managers.
RCPC Biennial Conference
The biennial RCPC conference will take place on 9 October 2024.
Work has been underway to plan the conference since early 2024.
Keynote speakers have been identified and include, Graeme
Armstrong, Dr Kerry Milligan and June Welsh. The conference will
take place at Paisley Town Hall and will be face to face.
Child Protection

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Referrals and Investigations
The volume of adult protection work in Renfrewshire continues to
increase, and in 2023/24 we received 1,527 adult protection
referrals, in comparison to 1,314 for 2022/23.
There were 92 Adult Support and Protection (ASP) Investigations
completed during the period 2023/24, compared to previous end
of year reporting of 98 during 2022/23.
The location of the principal harm, which resulted in an
investigation taking place, remains the adult’s own home, with
626 investigations having been conducted.
The highest number of investigations related to those with:
The principal types of harm which resulted in an investigation
was:
Adult Support and Protection (ASP)
Analysis of Current Trends
426
217
138
Dementia
Mental Health
Learning Disability
Physical
32.5%
Self-harm
16.0%Psychological
13.7%
Financial
12.3%
Neglect
11.2%
Self-neglect
9.0%
Sexual Harm
4.2%
Domestic
Abuse
0.8%
Discriminatory
Harm
0.2%

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Renfrewshire Adult Protection Committee (RAPC)
RAPC is responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring
the strategic approach to the management of the protection of
vulnerable adults in Renfrewshire in terms of the Adult Support &
Protection (Scotland) Act 2007. RAPC is committed to promoting
public awareness of adult protection issues; to working on an
inter-agency basis; and with the wider community to protect
vulnerable individuals. RAPC was supported by four
subcommittees and one subgroup:
ASP Biennial Conference
The biennial conference took place in Johnstone Town Hall, on 5
October 2023, the focus  was trauma informed approaches to ASP.
It was attend by 248 people (92 in person /156 online) who heard
from a range of specialist speakers and evaluated very positively.
Code of Practice
RAPC continued to implemented the revisions for the Scottish
Government’s revised Code of Practice for ASP including:
• More detail about the three-point criteria
• Clarification on capacity and consent
• Emphasis on the duty to refer and co-operate in inquiries
• Clarification regarding information sharing expectations
• Clarification of relationship - inquiries and investigations
• New sections on referrals and related matters
• Further detail and clarification on visits and interviews
• New chapter on assessing and managing risk including case
reviews and large scale investigations
• New section on chronologies
Renfrewshire continues to be represented at four national
implementation subgroups: chronologies; self evaluation;
advocacy, voice of the service user/carer, trauma informed
approach ; and inquiry, investigative powers, role of the council
officer.
As part of the phased approach to implementation, a series of
briefings have been rolled out to staff.
ASP
Practice, Policy
and Performance
Subcommittee
Joint
Communications
Subcommittee
Learning and
Development
Subcommittee
Continuous
Improvement
Subcommittee
Operational &
Development
Group

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Renfrewshire ASP Operational Guidance
Guidance has been developed for staff who are directly involved in
work subject to the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act
2007 . The guidance aims to complement the existing local and
national guidance and procedures by providing more localised
working guidance.
Large-Scale Investigations (LSI)
There were no LSI’s during the reporting period. Any care homes
on the cusp of an LSI are managed under a preventative approach,
where the HSCP balanced a supportive approach with a statutory
duty under Adult Support and Protection legislation.
Care Home Collaborative Support Team
Enhanced clinical and care oversight arrangements for care homes
have been in place since early in the pandemic to support care
home staff to keep residents safe. Clinical and care professional
continue to have a leading role in the oversight for care homes and
meet on at least on a fortnightly basis. Partners remain proactive,
as soon as issues are identified the necessary supports are
deployed through clinical and care teams, who with partner to
improve standards and reduce the risk to the residents.
Adults with Incapacity (AWI)
Demand for AWI reports, which require to be completed by a
qualified Mental Health Officer (MHO), remains high for both
private and Chief Social Work Officer (CSWO) applications. There
were 250 requests for AWI mental health officer reports during the
period compared to 254 requests in the previous year. In addition,
there were 9 CSWO renewals completed.
The  high rate of local requests can in part be caused by
discharges from the Royal Alexander Hospital located in Paisley.
All request for AWI reports for delayed hospital discharges are
allocated immediately and where appropriate the MHO service
will ask for the use of interim orders.
Welfare Guardianships
Orders where the CSWO is appointed Welfare Guardian fell slightly
over the last year, from 129 2022/23 to 124 2023/24. Each order
requires a qualified social worker to act as the “nominated officer”
on behalf of the CSWO for day-to-day management of the case. In
addition, there are in excess of approximately 500 private welfare
guardianship orders which require a minimum of one statutory
visit by a guardianship supervisor after being granted.
ASP

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Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)
MARAC is a multi-agency victim-focussed meeting where
information is shared on the highest risk cases of domestic abuse
between different statutory and voluntary sector agencies such as
local Police, health, child protection, housing practitioners,
Independent Domestic Abuse Advocates (IDAA’s), probation and
other specialists. The number of cases discussed at MARAC saw a
104% increase in 2023/24 from the previous year. The view from
services being that the increase is linked to better awareness of
the MARAC process and identification of risk.
Women and Children First
Referrals to Women and Children First support and advocacy
service have increased by 10% in the last year.  In the chart below,
referrals to support and advocacy relate to adult women.
Referrals to the Reconnections are for children and/or mothers
and their children.
Renfrewshire Women’s Aid
Renfrewshire Women’s Aid continue to provide refuge
accommodation as well as an advice centre and independent
domestic abuse advocacy service. Active cases, new referrals and
numbers living in refuge have remained relatively static over the
last year. Referrals to the independent domestic abuse advocacy
service have increased over the same period.
Gender Based Violence (GBV)
Analysis of Current Trends
185 196 216 240
78 62
141 149
2020/2021 2021/2022 2022/2023 2023/2024
Support and Advocacy Reconnections
146 134
167
342
2020/2021 2021/2022 2022/2023 2023/2024

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Strategy Group
Renfrewshire’s GBV Strategy Group is our well established local
multi-agency violence against women and girls partnership
steering group. The strategy was first developed in 2018 and is
currently being updated in line with the recent refresh of the
national Equally Safe strategy.  A Strategic Needs Assessment and
Development Session with members of the GBV Strategy Group
took place on 19th March 2024. The session included input from
the Improvement Service on the recently refreshed national
Equally Safe strategy and the development of a Delivery Plan.
Mentors Against Violence Prevention Programme (MVP)
A successful roll out of the MVP has taken place across
Renfrewshire Schools. MVP is a peer education approach to GBV
and bullying prevention and is designed to give students the skills
to speak out against issues which affect relationships within our
schools and communities by adopting a ‘bystander’ approach.
Renfrewshire currently has around 400 trained pupil mentors
across 10 secondary schools. Over 400 staff in Renfrewshire have
been trained, including staff from Education, Active Schools,
Social Work, third sector organisations etc.
Safe and Together
Safe and Together is a perpetrator pattern based, child-centred,
survivor strengths approach to working with domestic abuse.
Renfrewshire’s GBV Strategy Group identified the Safe and
Together model as one of the core components of our multi-
agency response to domestic abuse. Since 2022, 101 staff have
been trained in the four day Safe and Together Core Training.
More recently the four-day training has been delivered across a
multi-agency group. The one day Safe and Together training has
been delivered to 105 staff across the partnership with
consistently positive feedback. The Safe and Together Steering
Group meets quarterly to review the implementation plan. 
Renfrewshire is a member of the National Implementation Forum.
16 Days of Activism
Services and community groups across the multi-agency
partnership participated in the annual 16 Days of Activism Against
Gender-Based Violence. Renfrewshire incorporated this year’s
theme of 'Imagine a Scotland without Gender-Based Violence’
into our local activities including our annual ‘Reclaim the Night’
march; a women’s event for service users of our local Women and
Children First project; a collaboration with a local college on a
video about service users’ experiences; and a one-day multi-
agency Safe and Together training event.
GBV

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Young and Equally Safe (YES)
YES in Renfrewshire is funded through the Scottish Government’s
Delivering Equally Safe fund. YES aims to develop the existing
Mentors in Violence Prevention school-based programme into
community settings. Youth Services, working in partnership with
Children’s Services and Community Learning and Development
partners, are working to provide safe and brave spaces for young
people to explore gender-based violence issues and campaign
work to bring about a challenge to norms by promoting a positive
social action model through youth work engagement. The project
has secured additional funding until March 2025.
Women and Children First
Women and Children First, working with the authentic voice
agenda at its core, set up the WE Group (Women Empowered) to
allow survivors of gender-based violence to meet weekly and use
their lived experience to influence change. The group was created
to increase self-esteem, confidence and use their lived experience
to shape our future services. The group ran a successful event for
International Women’s Day with the theme of #BetheChange
where local practitioners were invited to hear the women’s
experience of services and consider how they could effect positive
change.  The group are keen to be involved in the development of
the refreshed local strategy. 
Independent Strategic Review of Funding
The review was commissioned by the Scottish Government to
provide recommendations on the funding and procurement of
VAWG services. The purpose of the review was to enable
development of a consistent, coherent, and stable funding model
focusing on prevention and high-quality specialist services for
women, children and young people experiencing VAWG in
Scotland. The review acknowledged the current financial climate,
the recruitment and retention issues currently being experienced
across local authorities and the impact of both on this vital area of
work.  Scottish Government and COSLA will work together, along
with key stakeholders including our local multi-agency
partnership, to produce an accurate assessment of the current
costs of violence against women, children and young people
nationally and locally. The longer-term aim is to achieve an
anchored whole system, flexible approach to tackling gender-
based violence, informed by local needs and providing support to
victim/survivors in line with Equally Safe policy commitments.  
GBV

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Drug Deaths
In Renfrewshire, there were 44 drug-related deaths in 2023 which
represents an increase of 13% from 39 in 2022. This is the fifth
highest number recorded in the past decade.
Drug misuse deaths in Renfrewshire, 2014 to 2023
Renfrewshire had the seventh highest rate of deaths per 100,000
population (2019-2023) at 27.5 and above the Scottish average of
23.6. This is similar to the previous 5-year rate where we had also
had the seventh highest rate of deaths at 28.9.
Alcohol Deaths
In Renfrewshire, there were 52 alcohol-specific deaths in 2023
which represents an increase of 23.8% from 42 in 2022.
Alcohol- specific deaths in Renfrewshire, 2014 to 2023
The alcohol-specific deaths rate for Renfrewshire for 2019-2023
was 23.7. The alcohol-specific deaths rate for Scotland for 2019-
2023 was 21.5. At council area in the last five years, Inverclyde,
Glasgow City, North Lanarkshire, and Dundee City all had
alcohol-specific death rates higher than the Scottish average.
Alcohol and Drugs
Analysis of Current Trends
30
19
42 38
50 45
67
50
39 44
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
44
37 40
44
50
36
44
53
42
52
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

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Alcohol Specific Deaths Prevention Post
Renfrewshire ADP recognises that the number of alcohol specific
death figures are concerning and have taken a forward-thinking
approach by recruiting an Alcohol Specific Deaths Prevention Lead
Officer. This is a funded post for 12 months and will provide a
unique opportunity to examine data related to alcohol specific
deaths and explore ways to reduce harm by carrying out thematic
reviews to inform service delivery going forward.
CIRCLE Update
CIRCLE was developed to provide enhanced support to local
people on a recovery journey from issues relating to mental health
and drug or alcohol addiction. An evaluation of  the Hub was
carried out in 2023. As part of this a survey was carried out that
highlighted overwhelmingly positive results: 100% of respondents
agreed the service was accessible, keeps people safe, and offers
interventions that reduce harm and support recovery. CIRCLE
continues to be shaped by those who use it, through feedback and
focus groups. Effective partnership working was also evident
across the service, with continued close collaboration with Mental
Health and Alcohol and Drug Recovery services.
Advocacy Worker – Alcohol and Drugs
In considering evidence for MAT Standard 8 'All people have
access to independent advocacy and support for housing, welfare
and income needs', it was observed that people affected by
alcohol and drugs were not readily accessing Renfrewshire's
existing advocacy service, You First Advocacy. To support more
people to engage, the ADP has funded a dedicated Alcohol and
Drugs Advocacy Worker post to be part of the Team within You
First Advocacy. This role will increase the number of people
attending for advocacy who have been affected by alcohol or
drugs, establishing referral pathways and building relationships
between ADP partners and You First Advocacy. The role will also
increase capacity within organisations to understand the role of
advocacy for people affected by alcohol and drugs, and the stigma
which can impede access to advocacy and advice services. 
Renfrewshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP)

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Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Standards
Delivery of the MAT Standards now encompasses support for
people using benzodiazepines and cocaine as well as opioids. The
standards aim to improve access, choice and care for people
affected by problematic substance use across Scotland, with ADPs
taking the lead role in supporting their delivery. Each MAT
standard is benchmarked against evidence of attainment;
numerically, via process evidence and by experiential data.
Renfrewshire ADP was ranked joint second nationally on progress
across Standards 1-5. With Renfrewshire’s experiential
programme being recognised as an example of good practice.
Looking ahead, the ADP will focus on sustaining all ten standards
and embedding a process of service improvement, informed by
the lived experience of people accessing services, within the
culture of the ADP.
Lived Experience
The ADP continues to recognise the important insight that people
who use our services can give us. Therefore, the Lived Experience
Forum was established and continues to influence the
development of policies and services.
Independent Chair – Renfrewshire ADP
Renfrewshire ADP recognised that it would benefit from an
independent review of their role and function. As a result,
members agreed appoint an independent chair – John Goldie.
The appointment will ensure an objective and independent
perspective is threaded through the work of the ADP going
forward.
The review also identified the need to reshape the current
structure to ensure the ADP continues to meet the aims and
objectives of local and national strategic frameworks. This has
resulted in additional sub-groups being created including a
Provider’s Forum and Recovery Forum. The outcome of the needs
assessment, which is currently underway in Renfrewshire, will
also inform the work of the ADP and related sub-groups.
Renfrewshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP)

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Alcohol and Drug Change Programme
Harm Reduction Response Team (HaRRT)
This Service is delivered through a mobile unit, which has been
situated in specific areas in relation to near fatal overdoses and
suspected drug deaths. Launching in early summer 2022, around
557 clients had contact with the service throughout 2023/24.
FIRST Crisis: Alcohol and Drugs
This two-year project involved extending the out of hours crisis
support service provided by RAMH to include support in relation to
alcohol and drugs. The project launched in April 2022 and came to
a close in April 2024, with enhanced alcohol and drug support now
embedded as part of the main crisis support provision. The project
supported 626 referrals and enquiries throughout 2023/24.
Trauma Informed and Responsive Renfrewshire
Delivery of the Trauma Informed and Responsive Renfrewshire
programme is set out in our Road Map, which was approved by
elected members in February 2024.  Work to date has focused on
widening awareness and on staff learning. Throughout 2023/24 119
people completed level 2 trauma skilled learning and 140 people
completed level 1 trauma informed learning . 
MYLA (MyLifeAhead)
This housing-led project is delivered in partnership with Turning
Point Scotland and provides support for individuals and families in
Renfrewshire whose daily lives are impacted by drug and/or
alcohol use and require wraparound support to sustain or access
settled housing. For those supported by MyLA there have been
positive outcomes emerging in terms of reduction in alcohol/drug
use; people being supported to successfully access settled housing
and the specialist services they require; those with a history of non-
engagement now working positively with the MyLA team.
Safeguarding Vulnerable Young People Partnership Programme
- Schools
A multiagency two-year pilot project has been developed in a
secondary school, for young people experiencing significant
challenges and who are at risk of missing out on education. The
project began in February 2023, with the main aim being to
safeguard and ensure placement in school and the family home
does not break down, and to link progress with key outcomes
relating to choices around Alcohol and Drugs.

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Alcohol Policy
A partnership officer was recruited to drive policy change across
Renfrewshire. Actions included: support for the Licensing Forum,
as well as community councils around their role in the licensing
process and for the Licensing Statement Review; supporting the
development of a Workplace Alcohol and Substance Policy;
supporting a review of similar policies in West College Scotland.
This post came to an end at the end of September 2023. However,
the ADP and HSCP have agreed to fund two posts, managed by
HSCP Health Improvement, and working closely with the ADP and
partners.
Family Support Review
An independent review of existing family support provision
Renfrewshire was carried out, engaging with local families and
frontline staff to assess where possible gaps in provision exist, and
making recommendations on how to address these.  The findings
have been used to inform other work, including on Whole Family
Wellbeing.
Alcohol and Substance Awareness Education Resources
A pack, including nursery, primary, and secondary resources, has
been produced by I Am Me with Renfrewshire Children’s Services,
teachers, Police Scotland, NHS, Renfrewshire HSCP and, most
importantly, children, young people, and those who have lived
experience of drug and alcohol use. Since its launch in August
2022, the resource has been accessed by over 1,800 people in
organisations across Scotland including around 450 teachers
actively using it in Renfrewshire schools. In September 2023, the
programme won a COSLA Excellence Award, and in December
2023 was the winner of a Scottish Public Service Award.
Alcohol and Drug Change Programme

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Stigma/Language Matters 
I Am Me were commissioned to develop an interactive Stigma
Awareness training package aiming to improve the
understanding, awareness, and confidence of the workforce in
relation to stigmatising language around alcohol and drugs, and
the impact of stigma on individuals and communities. The
resources have been co-developed with people who have lived
and living experience of drug and alcohol use and recovery. The
resources are currently being finalised, with communications and
development plans being prepared.
Recovery Change Fund
The Recovery Change Fund ran from summer 2022 to Spring
2023, and aimed to support the development of local groups and
organisations to support piloting new ideas and projects in
relation to mental health, recovery, stigma, and social isolation -
gaps in provision identified through the extensive engagement
during the work of the Commission. Projects funded included
providing mental health and wellbeing support to young people
after school in Renfrew; developing group spaces for young
people and families affected by alcohol and drugs to create social
connection; enhancing female support worker support for
women affected by substance use in Paisley, as well as increasing
existing male support; providing mental health first aid training
for a local amateur football team; and enhancing support for
families of those affected by imprisonment.  
Alcohol and Drug Change Programme

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East Renfrewshire
Shetland Islands
Midlothian
Stirling
Aberdeen City
City of Edinburgh
Renfrewshire
East Dunbartonshire
Dumfries and Galloway
West Lothian
Aberdeenshire
East Lothian
South Ayrshire
Fife
South Lanarkshire
Scotland
West Dunbartonshire
Scottish Borders
Angus
Glasgow City
Falkirk
Clackmannanshire
Inverclyde
Argyll and Bute
North Lanarkshire
North Ayrshire
Perth and Kinross
Na h-Eileanan Siar
Moray
East Ayrshire
Orkney Islands
Highland
Dundee City
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0
95%
Confidence Interval
Rate
In Renfrewshire, there were 19 probable suicides in 2023, a
decrease from 33 in 2022. In the same period, there were 792
probable suicides registered in Scotland, an increase of 30 from
the previous year.
Probable Suicides in Renfrewshire, 2014 to 2023
For the period 2019-2023, Renfrewshire had the seventh lowest
rate of deaths per 100,000 population at 12.4. This was below the
Scottish average of 14.1.
Age-standardised mortality rates of suicide deaths
by council area, 2019-2023Probable Suicides
Analysis of Current Trends
24
21
16
23
13
16
22
25
33
19
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

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Suicide Prevention
The Renfrewshire Strategic Suicide Prevention Group (RSSPG)
The multi-agency RSSPG was established in May 2023 and leads
on collaboratively developing a local suicide prevention strategy
and action plan, with the aim of reducing the rate of suicide and
self-harm within Renfrewshire. The key objectives and priority
areas include:
• Collating and understanding local suicide related data.
• Delivering training and support for staff and the people of
Renfrewshire.
• Supporting those who have been impacted by suicide or
suicide attempts.
• Implementing early intervention and prevention approaches
• Developing a culture of collaboration and learning.
• Improving communication and awareness raising about
suicide prevention and how to access available resources.
• Including the voice of lived experience.
Further areas of work include establishing links with ACUMEN
and the local Mental Health and Wellbeing Care Planning Group,
to ensure the voice of those with lived experience of mental
health or thoughts of suicide, suicide attempt and those
bereaved by suicide are listened to.
Data Analysis Subgroup
The group will be co-chaired by a representative from RHSCP and
Police Scotland and will gather and interpret local data to
understand local context and inform the wider Strategic Group.
Public Health Scotland have commissioned a system called
“Recording & reporting on reviews by probable suicide” and
Renfrewshire successfully applied to be an “early adopter” in the
pilot phase of this rollout.
Training
The Choose Life Service Co-Ordinator continues to deliver
courses in Mental Health awareness, suicide intervention and
self-harm awareness. These courses are found to increase the
confidence of the workforce to have conversations with people
who are having thoughts of suicide. As of May 2024, there are 120
Pupil Support staff who have attended Applied Suicide
Intervention Skills Training. 8 of our 11 secondary schools
delivered a suicide awareness input as part of Suicide Awareness
Month in September 2023. There are similar numbers of staff who
have attended self-harm awareness training.The effectiveness of
this collaborative work has been recognised as good practice by
Public Health Scotland and NHSGGC.

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Improvement Plan
A key deliverable in this period was the publication of
Renfrewshire’s Community Justice Outcome Improvement Plan
2023-2016.  The plan details how Community Justice
Renfrewshire Partners will complement the refreshed National
Strategy for Community Justice and improve outcomes for our
local justice experienced population.
Community Justice Renfrewshire has embedded a robust
approach to outcome improvement planning.  This involves
developing a thorough understanding of the justice-experienced
population, the resources and capacity of the organisations that
delivery support, and the policy and legislative changes that
might impact how support is delivered in the future.  This
approach ensures our partnership can leverage resources to
target work to aid the rehabilitation and reintegration of people
accused or convicted of offences.
Lead Officer
Renfrewshire’s Community Justice Lead Officer arrived into post
in 2023 following a long period of vacancy.  Early work focused
on strengthening links with national community justice partners,
re-establishing local governance arrangements and building
relationships with key stakeholders who support our justice
population with their recovery and reintegration. Placing
community justice in the context of other policy areas has helped
increase awareness and understanding of what it seeks to
achieve and has promoted the specific needs of people who have
been accused or convicted of offences.
Local Employability Partnership
Renfrewshire’s Local Employability Partnership has presented an
early opportunity to implement an improvement approach and
develop targeted support for our justice-experienced population.
Through collaborative analysis and planning, employability and
justice colleagues have identified areas where commissioned
partners can add value to existing provision. Three organisations
will deliver support over the course of 2024/25 to improve
readiness for employment and understand the stigma-based
barriers that prevent people with complex convictions accessing
employment opportunities.
Community Justice

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Public Protection
Counter Terrorism
CONTEST
Following its revision by the Scottish Government Strategic Board
it has been agreed that there will be a three-year Local CONTEST
Delivery Strategy for each local authority. Work is currently
underway with partners to develop our local response.
PREVENT
Under Section 36 of the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015,
there have been no cases that have required a PREVENT multi-
agency partnership meeting in order to safeguard people and
prevent crime by supporting any individual who is vulnerable to
be drawn in to terrorism.
PREVENT training continues to be rolled out to frontline services.
Within the Annual Assurance Statement, the need for Counter
Terrorism Awareness including PREVENT Awareness to our
colleagues within OneRen and Renfrewshire’s Janitorial
colleagues was identified. This has now been completed.
Protect Duty – Martyn’s Law Update
In February 2024, the UK Government launched a consultation to
ensure the public can share their views on these proposals for the
Standard Tier (premises with capacity of 100 - 799 individuals),
which will support policy decisions prior to the legislation’s
introduction to Parliament. This consultation began on 5 February
2024 and ended on 18 March 2024. The Council responded to this
consultation as an organisation who have venues which fall
within the highlighted category. Renfrewshire Council continue to
work in the background collectively as a preparedness approach
with colleagues within Civil Contingencies and Health and Safety.

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Public Protection
Serious Organised Crime and Trading Standards
Tobacco and Nicotine Vapour Products (NVPs)
There are around 290 premises registered for the sale/supply of
Tobacco and/or NVPs in Renfrewshire. Compliance activity is
underway to engage with traders, explain the requirements,
encourage compliance then enforce only when necessary. 
NVPs account for a significant portion of this activity, with Officers
recovering non-compliant products on the majority of visits. Visits
have initially been targeted around Secondary Schools and
businesses are given enhanced advice and guidance on
compliance, as well as information around underage sales.
A recent Four Nations Consultation outcome recommending
enhanced controls on NVPs. Operation CECE is a UK-wide initiative
between HMRC and Trading Standards services, to remove illicit
tobacco products from the marketplace. Links are being drawn
between criminal groups operating throughout the UK and abroad,
as there is a significant amount of money to be made from trading
in illicit tobacco or non-compliant NVPs. These links will be used to
better inform and target activities across the UK.
Community Safety
Water Safety
In May 2023 Water Safety Scotland hosted presentations to
Partnership Approach Water Safety to help ensure there is a
consistent approach to the delivery of resources. Links have been
made with Children’s Services and the Communications team
around giving a consistent  and ongoing message to pupils.
Cannabis Edibles
The National Serious Organised Crime interventions unit presented
a current picture on cannabis edibles that contain cannabis oils
which holds high amounts of THC – the psychoactive component of
cannabis. Officers from Environmental Health, Trading Standards
and Community Learning and Development are working closely to
raise awareness and mitigate harm.
Firework Control Zones
The Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022
introduced controls such as restrictions on their sale and supply.
The most recently enacted provision is “Fireworks Control Zones”.
These are small, evidence-based areas, set up and maintained by
the Local Authority, but enforced by Police Scotland; in which the
unplanned use of Fireworks in any area is banned. There are no
such areas currently identified in Renfrewshire.

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Governance
The pace at which asylum dispersal and refugee resettlement has
taken place in Renfrewshire since 2022 has been significant, and
beyond anything experienced previously. As a result, the Migration
and Resettlement Strategic Group was established which has
enabled regular and routine information sharing, and the
identification and rapid response to issues as they emerge.
Ukrainian Displaced Persons (UDPs)
The number of UPDs being supported at our Welcome Hub
reduced during the reporting period with only a small number of 
individuals staying in the hotels. Housing Support Officers provide
resettlement support to a number of USPs living across
Renfrewshire’s communities. In March 2024, the total number of
households in community, host and social rented properties in
Renfrewshire was 228 households.
On 19 February 2024, the Home Office announced that Ukraine
scheme visa holders would be able to apply for permission to
remain in the UK for an additional 18 months under a new Ukraine
Permission Extension Scheme which is set to open in early 2025, in
advance of the first UKR scheme visas start to expire.
On 19 February 2024, changes to the Immigration Rules and
relevant guidance mean:
• Homes for Ukraine visa applications will be granted 18 months
rather than 36.
• Applications  are subject to the previously disapplied
paragraphs of General Grounds for Refusal to the Ukraine
schemes rules.
• New sponsors of Homes for Ukraine applications must be
either British or Irish citizens or have indefinite leave to remain
in the UK and commit to a minimum 6-month sponsor period.
• Closure of the Ukraine Family Scheme to new applications and 
keep the Ukraine Extension Scheme open beyond 16 May 2024
for children born in the UK to parents who hold permission
under the Ukraine schemes.
• Guests who arrive under the Homes for Ukraine scheme will
continue to be eligible for Thank You payments for the
duration of their guest's Homes for Ukraine visa permission.
• Councils will continue to receive £5,900 per new arrival under
the Homes for Ukraine scheme
Migration and Asylum

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Asylum Dispersal
Partners had regular meetings with the Home Office officials and
their contractor Mears to help ensure relevant information was
shared in relation to asylum dispersal in Renfrewshire and to
minimise any potential issues.
Although the use of contingency hotel accommodation by the
Home Office has reduced, there remains significant pressures
from homeless presentations from people who were previously
staying in hotels in other local authority areas including Glasgow
and further afield, with some travelling from England due to
Scotland having suspended the “local connection” rule in
November 2022.
In January 2024, the scale of homeless pressures identified
several measures which have now been implemented including:
• Increasing the stock of  temporary accommodation.
• Meeting the target for lets to those who are homeless (Council).
• RSL partners increasing targets for lets to those who are
homeless.
• Recruitment of additional frontline staff on a temporary basis.
As more people are being served with positive asylum decisions
whilst being accommodated in hotels, whilst this is positive for
the individuals, this has led to an increase in the numbers of
people presenting to Homeless Services for support who are
entitled to be provided with temporary accommodation and the
right to apply for a social rented tenancy.
Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC)
Significant pressures remain in Renfrewshire in terms of the
support to unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, with some
children and young people having arrived in Renfrewshire
through the UK Government’s national transfer scheme
arrangements, whilst others have arrived “spontaneously”
through local presentation to services including Police or Border
Force.
Children’s social work also continues to support young adults
who are now over the age of 18 and entitled to aftercare support.
The team providing the support have been experiencing
resourcing pressures due to additional demands, specifically,
pressures have been generated through a high number of age
assessment claims that have been made to Children’s Social
Work.
Migration and Asylum

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Police Scotland -
Analysis of Current Trends
Violence
The rate of violent crime in Renfrewshire (110.2 crimes per 10,000
population) was lower than the national average (approximately
115.3 crimes per 10,000) in 2023/24. Recorded crimes of violence
in Renfrewshire increased by 9.5% on the previous year, to a total
of 1,973 crimes. The majority (over 91%) of recorded violent
crimes in Renfrewshire were classed as ‘minor violence’ with the
remaining nine percent (176 crimes) relating to crimes such as
serious assault and robbery.
In response to an increase in incidents of disorder in Paisley Town
Centre, a joint collaborative approach has been developed,
culminating in a multi-agency response. This incorporates
intelligence led briefings, high visibility and plain clothes officers
providing additional attention to the area, and engagement with
partners in particular Renfrewshire Council Youth Engagement
Team and Community Wardens.
Domestic Abuse
Victims of domestic abuse remain one of Renfrewshire and
Inverclyde Division’s top priorities. While research strongly
suggests that domestic abuse continues to be significantly under-
reported, Police in Renfrewshire remain committed to delivering a
professional, sensitive and consistent service to all victims of
Domestic Abuse, in addition to continually striving to improve the
service provided to victims. Recorded domestic abuse incidents in
Renfrewshire fell by 0.4% on the previous year, to a total of 1,929.
46% of all recorded incidents resulted in a crime being recorded.
The detection rate for domestic abuse crimes was 58.8%.
Hate Crime
249 hate incidents and 206 hate crimes were recorded in
Renfrewshire in the reporting period, with both figures
representing an increase of 4.6% on the previous year. The
detection rate for hate crime was 61.2%. 54% of recorded hate
crimes in Renfrewshire in the reporting period targeted victims on
the basis of race, with 25% of crimes targeting victims’ sexual
orientation.

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Police Scotland -
Analysis of Current Trends
Missing Person
In the period April 2023 to March 2024, a total of 609 missing person
reports were recorded in Renfrewshire, a decrease of 17.3% on
2022/23 figures. Young people continue to feature in a majority
(76%) of reports, with care experienced young people involved in
53% of all incidents. A relatively small number of individuals
continue to account for a large percentage of the overall number of
missing person incidents, with the top ten repeat missing people
collectively being reporting nearly 150 times during 2023/24 -
equating to nearly one of every four missing person incidents. The
rollout of the Philomena Protocol and ongoing coordination and
training relating to the national guidance for looked after children
who go missing, in terms of the ‘not at home’, as well as the
addition to the establishment of a dedicated Missing Persons
Coordinator in the Division, have played a crucial role in reducing
missing person incidents.
Cyber and Digital Crime
The Division continue to raise awareness of online frauds through
local collaborations and nationally with Cyber Scotland Partnership
and the financial industry. Around 14% of recorded cybercrimes
related to sexual offences— another key priority issue that the
Division continue to tackle with support from specialist national
units. These crimes include sexual online communications with
children, and possession of indecent images of children. The
Division engage nationally with partners to raise preventative
awareness of online child sexual abuse and exploitation.
Road Safety and Road Crime
Overall, 23 fewer road casualties have occurred in 2023/24
compared to the previous reporting year. Two fewer road deaths,
and 23 fewer slight injuries occurred, though serious road injuries
increased slightly. The number of children seriously injured remains
unchanged on the previous year, with seven recorded in 2023/24.
Meanwhile, recorded road traffic offences in Renfrewshire fell by
1.7% on the previous year to a total of 3,317. In Renfrewshire, a
decrease has been noted across the majority of road traffic
offences, though key exceptions to this include licence offences
(+28.5%), insurance offences (+14.6%), mobile phone offences
(+4.1%) and offences relating to careless driving (+12.2%).

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Police Scotland, Renfrewshire Performance
Incidents Recorded Common Assault Overall Dishonesty Domestic Abuse
Overall Violent Crime
Sexual Crime Missing People
Housebreaking
Road Traffic Incidents
Disorder Complaints
Unless otherwise stated, all data provided within this report is for the period 1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024, with comparisons made against the same period in the 2022/2023 period. All statistics are provisional and should be treated as management information. All data have been extracted from Police Scotland internal systems and are correct as at 22 April 2024.
+5.4% +10.3% +13.1
-4.5%
-3.2%-0.4% +9.5%+17.9%
-13.4% -17.3%
52,181 1,797 3,656 1,929 224 6,177
426 149 609
1,973
Total Crime
+3.1%
14,893

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Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
Analysis of Current Trends -
Data included relates to Q4 2023/24
Accidental Dwelling Fire
Accidental Dwelling Fires show a decrease of 19% (9 incidents)
from Q4 2022/23. Cooking remains the most common source of
ignition within Renfrewshire accounting for 23 of the accidental
dwelling fires. 37% (14) of the incidents required no firefighting
action, 29% (11) were due to distraction and there were no
incidents attributed to alcohol/drug impairment.  34 of the 38
incidents had detection installed and 65% (25) of them operated
and raised the alarm. There was a decrease of 57% (3) dwelling fire
casualties from Q4 2022/23 and 25% from Q3 2023/24. 2 of the
casualties required hospital treatment and 1 received treatment at
the scene, all for smoke inhalation.
Unintentional Injury or Harm
Non-fire casualties show an increase of 10% year on year from
20 to 22. Of the 22 casualties 12 were as a result of Road
Traffic Collisions (55%). Incidents involving Assisting Other
Agencies increased by 21% to 41% (9 incidents) from last
quarter. 3 fatalities were recorded this quarter. 2 were when
assisting other agencies, the other was a water fatality. 1
casualty’s injuries were deemed serious enough to require
hospital treatment.
Deliberate Fire Setting
Deliberate fire setting shows a decrease of 23% (25) incidents
from Q4 last year. Secondary fires accounted for 83% (68) of
the incidents within this indicator. Refuse fires remains the
main area of activity within this metric.

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Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Renfrewshire Activity
Fires - Primary
and Secondary False Alarms
Total no. of
Incidents
Fire & Non-Fire
Casualties
-21% -47% +2%
-33% -7% £202,910
Special
Services
Economic Cost
of Unwanted
Fire Alarm
Signal Incidents
The table below highlights data provided by Scottish Fire and Rescue in
relation to the six areas of key demand reduction for the period
1st January - 31st March 2024.
Six Areas of Key Demand
* Data above is year on year change

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Strategic Focus 2024/25
COG will continue to regularly scrutinise and monitor
performance across all areas of community protection
activity, focusing in on areas where there are ratings are
poor, there’s changes in referrals, incidents or concerns
reported, or where national research or legislation
suggests improvements or change to practice or multi
agency working.
COG will seek to ensure that performance and practice are
scrutinised at a strategic level, to identify what works
well, to highlight any areas for improvement, and to
Consider where further opportunities for early
intervention and prevention activity would achieve
improved outcomes for local people.
Moving forward COG have identified a number of specific
priorities to be progressed during 2024/25, in addition to
ongoing activity.
These are:
• Protecting vulnerable children and adults
• Reducing alcohol and drug related harm
• Suicide prevention
• Joint  inspection of services for children at risk of harm
• Joint inspection of adult support and protection
• Migration, asylum and homelessness
• Gender based violence
• COG self-evaluation