CMIS Minute 17.1.23
Renfrewshire Council · 7 March 2023
Back to Communities and Housing Policy Board — 7 March 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Minute of Meeting Police and Fire & Rescue Scrutiny Sub-Committee Date Time Venue Tuesday, 17 January 2023 15:00 Council Chambers (Renfrewshire), Council Headquarters, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley, PA1 1AN PRESENT Councillor Jacqueline Cameron, Councillor Robert Innes, Councillor Janis McDonald, Councillor Marie McGurk, Councillor Iain McMillan. CHAIR Councillor McGurk, Convener, presided. IN ATTENDANCE M Crearie, Director of Communities & Housing Services, O Reid, Head of Communities & Public Protection and M Hendry, Resilience & Deployment Manager (both Communities & Housing Services); R Devine, Senior Committee Services Officer, K O’Neill, Assistant Democratic Services Officer, D Cunningham, Assistant Committee Services Officer and D Pole, End User Technician (all Finance & Resources). ALSO IN ATTENDANCE W Graham, Area Commander and D Falconer, Superintendent (both Police Scotland) and D McCarrey, Area Commander (Scottish Fire & Rescue Service). WEBCASTING OF MEETING Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Convener intimated that this meeting of the Sub-committee would be webcast via the Council’s website. Thereafter the Clerk undertook a roll call of members in attendance at the meeting, indicating those in the Council Chamber and those participating remotely.
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1 SPOTLIGHT - POLICE SCOTLAND DIVISIONAL UPDATE The Sub-committee received a verbal update from Police Scotland on the recent personnel changes which had occurred. W Graham, Area Commander and D Falconer, Superintendent, introduced themselves and provided a summary of their careers to date. DECIDED: That the update be noted. 2 RENFREWSHIRE LOCAL POLICING PLAN 2023-26 There was submitted a report by the Director of Communities and Housing Services relative to the proposed Renfrewshire Local Policing Plan (LPP) 2023-26. The LPP contained information about the police priorities set out for 2023-26; outlined how Police Scotland intended to deliver policing services across Renfrewshire over the next three years; and highlighted the outcomes they aimed to achieve over that period. The Local Policing Plan 2023-26 highlighted that much had changed since the publication of the previous LPP in 2020. The report explained that priorities had been re-examined in order to respond to the current climate and considered the continued recovery from the COVID global pandemic and the current cost of living crisis along with the harm caused by both. The report intimated that the Council welcomed the approach and focus set out in the Local Policing Plan 2023-2026, and the recognition of the strong partnership working already well established in Renfrewshire that would help support the Police priorities which were aligned to priorities within the Renfrewshire Community Plan. A consultation on the content of the Local Policing Plan opened on 3 November 2022 and would remain open until 12 February 2023. A link to the consultation, and a copy of the draft plan for Renfrewshire was provided. DECIDED: That the comments on the Renfrewshire Local Policing Plan 2023-26 as outlined in section 4 of the report, for submission in line with the timescales for conclusion of the consultation process, be approved. 3 SCOTTISH POLICE AUTHORITY CORPORATE STRATEGY 2023-26 There was submitted a report by the Director of Communities & Housing Services relative to the draft Scottish Police Authority (SPA) Corporate Strategy 2023-26. The Strategy set out the SPA’s vision, values and ambition, which provided direction to the corporate organisation and supported delivery of the overarching Strategic Police Plan, aligned to the Scottish Government Strategic Police Priorities. Views and observations from stakeholders, including local authorities, had been welcomed by the SPA which would help inform their final draft. The SPA intended to consult in a wider and more structured manner once they had developed a final draft which could include changes. The deadline for providing comments was Monday 16 January 2023, and as a result of this, the response on behalf of Renfrewshire Council was provided to the
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Scottish Police Authority within their timescales and was detailed in section 4 of the report. DECIDED: (a) That the comments on the draft Scottish Police Authority Corporate Strategy 2023-26, as outlined in section 4 of the report, which were submitted within the timescale, be homologated; and (b) That Renfrewshire Council’s response to the formal consultation on the final draft be brought to a future meeting of the Police and Fire & Rescue Scrutiny Sub-committee. 4 POLICE SCOTLAND - QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE REPORT There was submitted a report by the Chief Superintendent, Police Scotland, relative to service performance and activities in the Renfrewshire area during the period 1 April to 30 November 2022. The report summarised the key performance indicators and provided statistical information relating to specific key objectives detailed in Police Scotland’s Policing Priorities 2018-22, comparisons were made also against the previous five-year average. The volume of recorded crime and offences had fallen by 5.5% on the five-year average, however had risen by 3.9% on the previous year. Crimes of dishonesty was the one category that had shown an increase (2.8%). The report provided, in an infographics format, local updates in relation to Renfrewshire Policing Priorities 2018-22 of drug supply and misuse; violence & antisocial behaviour; dishonesty; and road safety. Drug dealing and misuse continued to be a priority area for attention in Renfrewshire as communities advised that they were concerned about the harm caused. Due to focus and proactivity on the issue, there had been an increase of 23.2% in the number of detected drug supply offences, compared to the previous five-year average. Analysis had identified a minimum of 343 cybercrimes in the reporting period in Renfrewshire, suggestive of a rise of over 18% on the previous year. Around 80% of identified cybercrimes fell into one of the following three categories: threatening and abusive communications offences; fraud; and threats and extortion. There were 522 recorded missing persons incidents, an increase of 45% on the previous year. Almost 13% of the total number of incidents related to the five most frequent missing persons within Renfrewshire, all of whom were young people aged 16 years or under. Overall, 80% of all missing persons in Renfrewshire were aged 19 or under. Young Persons’ Units continued to feature predominantly amongst the most common locations for missing persons incidents (41%). Almost 75% of all missing people were traced within 24 hours, with over 50% of all missing people being traced within 12 hours. DECIDED: That the report be noted. 5 SCOTTISH FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE - QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE REPORT There was submitted a report by the Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) relative to SFRS performance and local fire and rescue service plan priorities in the Renfrewshire area during period 1 October to 31 December 2022.
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The report provided updates in relation to Renfrewshire activity, accidental dwelling fires and casualties, unintentional injury and harm, deliberate fire setting, non-domestic fire safety and unwanted fire alarm signals. Accidental dwelling fires had decreased by 39% (22 incidents) from Q3 2021/22. Cooking remained the most common source of ignition within Renfrewshire. No firefighting action was required in 36% (8) of the cases, distraction was the cause in 36% (8) cases with alcohol/drug impairment being the cause in 9% (2) of the cases. The report advised that detection devices were installed in 19 of the 22 incidents and 84% of them had operated and raised the alarm. There was one dwelling fire casualty for the reporting period, the injury sustained was slight in nature requiring first aid at the scene. The report indicated that unwanted fire alarm signals (UFAS) had increased slightly by 8% (22 incidents) year on year. Of the UFAS incidents recorded, residential care homes accounted for 11% (34 incidents). DECIDED: That the contents of the report be noted. 6 LOCAL ISSUES Police Scotland advised members that the position in Renfrewshire was positive, and that it was intended to continue the good work which was ongoing locally. Information was provided on the team based in Ferguslie which concentrated on drug supply and misuse, that continued to be a concern for people in the Renfrewshire area. The sub- committee was advised that following intelligence from members of the public, £500,000 worth of drugs had been recovered after 132 search warrants had been issued. The Sub-committee was advised that it was not possible to provide a breakdown of the type/class of drugs being used and also whether the use of legal highs impacted the figures provided. The Area Commander, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service advised the Sub-committee that pro-active work was ongoing with the Community Action Teams visiting establishments and communicating with young people in schools. He also advised that the statistical information provided was very positive and that there had been no water related incidents in the area. DECIDED: That the information provided be noted.