Renfrewshire SBR_April 2025 FINAL
Renfrewshire Council · 13 May 2025
Back to Police and Fire and Rescue Scrutiny Sub-Committee — 13 May 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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OFFICIAL OFFICIAL Renfrewshire Performance Summary Report Reporting Period: 01/04/24 - 28/02/25 Total Crime 13,577 Incidents Recorded Overall Dishonesty Domestic Abuse Incidents +0.7% +3.7% +6.7% +0.1% +1.5% +2.2% Road Traffic Casualties -2.3% Sexual Crime 47,063 1,652 3,386 1,906 1,808 400 142 5,572 Overall Violent Crime Missing People 872 189 Common Assault -8.7% Housebreaking Disorder Complaints Unless otherwise stated, all data provided within this report is for the period 1 April 2024 - 28 Febru- ary 2025, with comparisons made against the same period in the 2023/24 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 23 March 2025. +2.9% -2.1% +52%
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2 OFFICIAL OFFICIAL Renfrewshire Performance Summary Report Reporting Period: 1 Apr 2024 to 28 Feb 2025 Introduction I am pleased to present this report to the Police Fire and Rescue Committee for its information and consideration. Please note that all data included in this report are management information and not official statistics. All data are sourced from Police Scotland internal systems and are correct as of date of publication. Unless stated otherwise, numerical comparisons are against the comparable period in the preceding reporting year. Chief Superintendent Rhona Fraser Renfrewshire & Inverclyde Divisional Commander SECTION PAGE NUMBER Introduction 2 Executive Summary 3 Demand Analysis 4 Antisocial Behaviour, Violence & Disorder 5 Protecting Vulnerable People 6 Acquisitive Crime 7 Cyber and Digital Crime 7 Road Safety and Road Crime 8 Public Confidence - Complaints & Allegations 9 Recent Initiatives and Results 10 Forthcoming Initiatives 10
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3 OFFICIAL OFFICIAL PRIORITY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Violent crime in Renfrewshire remained stable, with a slight rise overall but a notable 7% drop in serious violence. Weapons offences rose by 31.6%, though detections improved through proactive policing. Antisocial behaviour and vandalism declined, but wilful fireraising increased, often linked to youth disorder. Hate crime detection stood at 65.7%, with race the most targeted characteristic. Police continue multi-agency efforts to address violence, disorder, and community safety. Sexual crime rose slightly, with a sharp increase in cyber-enabled non-contact offences. Missing person reports surged due to improved recording. Domestic abuse incidents rose, with improved detection. Drug deaths remain a concern, with cocaine now most commonly implicated. Crimes of dishonesty rose by 3.7% in Renfrewshire, driven largely by a 26% increase in shoplifting. Excluding shoplifting, dishonesty crimes fell nearly 7%, with notable reductions in fraud and housebreaking. Detection rates surpassed the national average. Cyber-enabled fraud and sextortion remain key concerns, with ongoing multi-agency efforts to prevent online harm. Public awareness campaigns continue to address evolving financial and cybercrime threats. Renfrewshire recorded 142 road casualties, including nine fatalities and fewer serious injuries, notably among children. Police Scotland remains committed to road safety through enforcement, education, and partner- ship work, including local speed checks and national campaigns. Road traffic offences fell slightly, driven by reductions in speeding and mobile phone use, though careless driving and vehicle defect offences rose. The detection rate remains high at 86%, close to the national average. RENFREWSHIRE POLICING PRIORITIES 2023 - 2026 POLICE SCOTLAND’S POLICING PRIORITIES 2023 - 2026 Protecting vulnerable people Renfrewshire & Inverclyde Division continues to support a multi-agency approach to reduce drug deaths, to engage with Scottish Government and stakeholders to influence approaches to supporting individuals with complex mental health needs, and to work in partnership to develop local effective and efficient pathways to support vulnerable people. Working with communities The Division continues to support this Police Scotland priority and to develop strategic partnerships to find synergy in policy making and shared resources. Police in Renfrewshire recognise the importance of engaging with communities to understand their needs, and strive to support innovation in local partnership settings. Tackling crime in the digital age Police in Renfrewshire continue to benefit from the support of specialised Police Scotland units such as the Cybercrime Unit and the Economic Crime and Financial Investigation Unit, amongst others. There are continued efforts to ensure our Officers have the training, resources and equipment needed to tackle the threat arising from cyber related criminality and technological advancement. Police in Renfrewshire continue to receive support from the Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Unit (part of the national Specialist Crime Division) in relation to the investigation and prevention of online sexual crimes targeting children. Support for operational policing Renfrewshire Police continue to link in closely with Police Scotland’s Corporate Services who enable and support operational resources to deliver against the strategic priorities and their outcomes. As part of the Digitally-Enabled Policing Programme, migration to new national Core Operational Systems has led to increased efficiency and deployability of local Police Officers, allowing them to more effectively serve Renfrewshire’s communities.
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4 OFFICIAL OFFICIAL DEMAND ANALYSIS PYTD - PREVIOUS YEAR TO DATE CYTD - CURRENT YEAR TO DATE CRIME PYTD CYTD INCIDENTS PYTD CYTD Total Crimes & Offences 14,440 14,893 Total number of incidents 49,497 52,181 Crimes and Offences Broadly similar to the rise noted at the national level (+0.7%), the number of recorded crimes and offences in Renfrewshire has increased by 2.9% on figures recorded in the same period in 2023/24, with a total of 13,577 crimes and offences in the reporting period. An increase has been recorded across various crime groups, with the largest percentage rise relating to Group 6 (antisocial offences including breach of the peace and threatening and abusive behaviour), which rose 12.2% on the previous year. Meanwhile, Group 2 sexual crimes (e.g. communicating indecently, sexual assault, rape) increased by 1.5%; Group 3 crimes of dishonesty (e.g. theft by shoplifting, housebreaking and fraud) rose by 3.7%; and Group 5 (crimes against society, including drugs and weapons possession, and bail offences) increased by 10.7%. Conversely, Group 1 crimes of non-sexual violence (including common and serious assault, robbery and threats and extortion) fell by 0.6%; Group 4 crimes of damage and reckless behaviour (e.g. wilful fireraising, vandalism) dropped by 5.6%; Group 7 miscellaneous offences (e.g. environmental offences, licensing offences) decreased by 3.4%, and Group 8 road traffic offences (e.g. speeding, driving carelessly, mobile phone offences) fell by 0.3%. The detection rate for all crimes and offences stands at 66.9%, above the detection rate for the same period in 2023/24 (63.2%) and also national detection rate for the same reporting period (66.2%). Police Incidents Contrasting with the rise in recorded crime in Renfrewshire, the total number of Police incidents have fallen by 2.1% percent on the previous year, with a total of 47,063 recorded. However, when incidents relating to abandoned/silent 999 calls (which have fallen by 31% on 2023/24 figures, due to the rollout of smartphone software updates to reduce the incidence of accidental 999 calls) are discounted from the year-on-year comparison, an increase of approximately three percent continues to be noted in respect of the number of recorded Police incidents. There are continued indications of a growing and evolving demand on Police in Renfrewshire. An increase has been noted in various incident types including road traffic matters and collisions, assist member of the public, theft, missing person/absconder incidents, domestic incidents and external agency requests. We continue to work closely with partner agencies to ensure the implementation of the most appropriate and proportionate response to identified issues. CRIME PYTD CYTD INCIDENTS PYTD CYTD Total Crimes & Offences 13,194 13,577 Total number of incidents 48,091 47,063
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5 OFFICIAL OFFICIAL VIOLENCE, ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR AND DISORDER Violence Recorded violent crimes in Renfrewshire increased by 0.1% compared to the previous year, totalling 1,808 crimes, with the majority (over 91%) of recorded crimes of violence being common assault (including against emergency workers). Almost 70% of these involved assault to no injury to victims. Meanwhile, crimes of serious violence (including serious assault, robbery, attempted murder and murder) collectively fell by almost seven percent on the previous year, with 11 fewer victims. While Paisley North West continues to be the multi-member ward in which the highest number of recorded crimes of violence occur, contin- ued multi-agency collaboration focused on reducing violence and disorder, has contributed to a decrease of over seven percent in recorded violence in this area. Weapons Offences A total of 379 offensive / bladed weapons offences were recorded in Renfrewshire during the reporting period, marking a 31.6% increase on the previous year. The detection rate for weapon-related crimes rose from 79.8% to 83.1%, with a proactive approach to tackling the issue of weapon-carrying leading to a 39% increase in the number of detections for these crimes. Police in Renfrewshire continue to work with partners to educate young people about the risks and consequences of carrying weapons, as well as to divert them away from criminal activity. Disorder and Antisocial Behaviour (ASB) Recorded crimes of damage and reckless conduct in Renfrewshire fell by 5.6% compared to the previous year, with vandalism seeing a reduction of nearly nine percent. However, crimes of wilful fireraising have increased by nearly 26%, with 117 crimes (+24 on 2023/24 figures). However, the detection rate improved significantly, rising from 19.4% last year to 45.3% in the current reporting period. A significant proportion (approximately one-third) of wilful fireraising crimes in the reporting period involved wheelie bins being set alight, with these crimes usually being linked to youth disorder. Public-reported incidents of ASB and disorder dropped by 2.3%, with 5,572 incidents recorded. Police in Renfrewshire continue to engage in a multi- agency response to ASB, building on the proactive work carried out through the Partnership Hub and ensuring effective plans are in place to address community risks in Renfrewshire. Hate Crime During the reporting period, 362 hate crimes were recorded in Renfrewshire, with a detection rate of 65.7% for these crimes. Race continues to be the most commonly targeted protected characteristic, featuring in 57% of recorded hate crimes in Renfrewshire. Threatening and abusive behaviour and hate aggravated conduct (including stirring up hatred) feature as the most commonly reported hate crimes. Other reported hate crimes include offences such as common assault, vandalism, domestic abuse offences and breach of the peace. At least 18% of victims of hate crimes in Renfrewshire were Police Officers.
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6 OFFICIAL OFFICIAL Sexual Crime 400 sexual crimes have been recorded in Renfrewshire in the reporting period - an increase of 1.5% on the previous year’s total of 394 crimes. While contact offences fell by approximately 19%, non-contact offences increased by nearly 32% - with many of these being cyber-enabled sexual offences such as indecent communications or sending indecent images. Almost a third of sexual crimes recorded in Renfrewshire involved non-recent reporting, with specific challenges associated with the investigation and detection of such crimes, due to the passage of time and resulting loss of various forensic opportunities. The detection rate was 56.5%, compared to the national rate of 57.5%. Missing People In the reporting period, a total of 872 missing person reports were recorded - an increase of 58% on the same period in 2023/24, in which 553 missing person reports were received. In the current reporting period, a total of 326 individuals were reported missing - with 101 of these individuals being repeat missing people (i.e. being reported missing on multiple occasions). 87% of missing persons reports related to young people, with nearly half of all reports involving young people going missing from Children’s Homes. It should be noted that a significant contributory factor for the increase is the National Missing Persons Unit’s implementation of national business rules relating to how these incidents are recorded and when forms must be raised, which have helped establish an accurate reflection of the number of missing people and the resulting demand of these incidents on frontline officers. We continue to engage with appropriate partners to safeguard and reduce threat risk and harm to our most vulnerable people, especially when they go missing. Domestic Abuse Domestic abuse incidents in Renfrewshire rose by 6.7% compared to the previous year, totalling 1,906 incidents. Though this increase may be partially attributable to continuous efforts to increase victims’ confidence to report domestic abuse to Police and our partners, changes in reporting standards and new systems should also be considered when comparing figures. Of these incidents, 43.1% led to a recorded crime, with domestic abuse-related crimes rising by 0.7% to 822. The detection rate has increased considerably, rising from 58.6% to 71.1%. The MATAC (Multi-Agency Tasking and Coordination) and MARAC (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences) frameworks remain vital in safeguarding victims, providing tailored support, coordinating partnerships, and ensuring agency accountability. We will continue to work together with our partners to ensure that victim centred approach adopting the most suitable support to victims and families. Drug Related Deaths In the reporting period, Renfrewshire saw nine suspected and 19 confirmed drug-related deaths. Although drug harm occurs throughout the local authority area, the most significant clusters were located in Paisley Central and Renfrew West, with four drug-implicated deaths occurring in each of these multi-member ward areas. Cocaine continues to feature increasingly commonly in toxicology results, overtaking other controlled substances such as etizolam and heroin to become the most commonly implicated in drug deaths. Local officers have been conducting proactive initiatives and intensification days, while also collaborating with the Renfrewshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) to provide support, guidance, and resources aimed at reducing drug-related harm. PROTECTING VULNERABLE PEOPLE
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7 OFFICIAL OFFICIAL ACQUISITIVE CRIME A total of 3,386 crimes of dishonesty were recorded - an increase of 3.7% on the previous year. The detection rate for acquisitive crimes in Renfrewshire was 37%, exceeding the national rate of 35.3%. Shoplifting continues to have a disproportionate impact overall on acquisitive crime figures, accounting for almost 40% of all recorded crimes of dishonesty, and rising by almost 26% on the previous year’s figures. Excluding this type of crime, crimes of dishonesty have otherwise fallen by nearly seven percent, with crimes of housebreaking falling by 8.7%, recorded fraud crimes falling by 11.3%, and common theft decreasing by 4.2%. Problem-solving initiatives are also underway in collaboration with our new Retail Crime Task Force which has been set up to address a rise in offences, such as shoplifting. This dedicated unit will support our officers in Renfrewshire in delivering prevention activities and on a daily basis the Taskforce will target repeat offenders of retail crime by using data and intelligence to carry out proactive enforcement activities in areas most heavily impacted. While fraud remains a key concern due to evolving tactics used by criminals both online and offline, recorded fraud crimes continue to fall as compared to previous figures, with a drop of over 11%. In Renfrewshire, consumer and retail fraud and banking/credit industry fraud constitute a significant proportion of recorded fraud crime, with other fraud methods in the reporting period including advance fee payment frauds and bogus/doorstep crime. Police in Renfrewshire continue to engage with the community to raise awareness of emerging fraud methods and provide practical advice to help individuals protect themselves from financial harm. CYBER & DIGITAL CRIME Cyber-enabled crime remains a significant concern for communities in Renfrewshire. Fraud continues to be the most commonly recorded cyber-enabled in Renfrewshire in terms of num- ber of reports received, with 39% of all recorded frauds being perpetrated online. We continue to address this issue through local partnerships and national collaboration with the Cyber Scot- land Partnership and the financial sector to raise awareness of online fraud. Threats and extortion are another key cyber-threat in Renfrewshire, with the majority (71%) of recorded extortion crimes being cyber-enabled sextortion crimes. These crimes are a form of online blackmail where offenders manipulate victims into sharing intimate images or videos, and then threaten to expose them unless further images, videos, or money are provided. Offenders (who are commonly located outwith the UK) build trust through social media or messaging platforms before making demands - often resulting in serious emotional and financial consequences for victims. Sexual offences also constitute a significant proportion of cybercrimes, with specific crimes such as communicating indecently, causing to view sexual activity or images, indecent photos of children and threats to disclose intimate images all commonly possessing a cybercrime as- pect. To combat online child sexual abuse and exploitation, we engage with specialist national units and a range of partner agencies to promote preventative awareness.
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8 OFFICIAL OFFICIAL ROAD SAFETY AND ROAD CRIME Road Traffic Casualties 2023/24 2024/25 Number of persons killed on our roads 1 9 Number of persons seriously injured 55 45 Number of persons slightly injured 83 88 Number of children seriously injured 6 5 Road Traffic Data from 01/04/2024 to 28/02/2025 Road Casualties In the reporting period, there were 142 road casualties in Renfrewshire, an increase of three compared to the previous year. This includes eight additional road fatalities (n=9) and five additional slight road injuries (n=88). However, ten fewer serious road injuries occurred (n=45), including a reduction in serious child road injuries. Police Scotland remains committed to reducing road casualties through ongoing enforcement and education efforts. The dedicated Road Policing Unit (RPU) from Police Scotland’s Operational Support Division continues to support local policing through a range of road safety and crime prevention campaigns. Police in Renfrewshire also undertake speed checks in areas based on information received from mem- bers of the public and elected members relating to problem locations for speeding and danger- ous driving. Officers will continue their focus along with the RPU, local partners, and communi- ties to enhance road safety with efforts being coordinated through our established Road Safety Group. Road Traffic Offences Recorded road traffic offences in Renfrewshire have fallen by 0.3% on 2023/24 figures, totalling 2,973 in the reporting period. Conversely, at a national level these offences increased by just over two percent. The drop in Renfrewshire has been driven by a decrease in speeding offences (-38%), mobile phone offences (-12.2%) and drivers’ neglect of traffic directions (-4.6%). Meanwhile, moderate increases have been observed in respect of careless driving offences (+10.4%), driving under the influence (+11.9%) and vehicle defect offences (+19.8%). The detection rate for these offences is 86%, which remains closely comparable to the previous year’s rate (86.4%) and the national rate (87.5%).
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9 OFFICIAL OFFICIAL PUBLIC CONFIDENCE: COMPLAINTS & USER SATISFACTION YOUR POLICE 84.8% of respondents to the ‘Your Police’ survey reported that they felt very or fairly safe in their local area, while 42.2% of those who completed the survey stated that their concern about crime had increased in the last 12 months. 45.3% agreed, or strongly agreed that they had confidence in the police in their local area, while 36.4% of respondents felt that Police were doing a good job in the local area. In Renfrewshire, the proportion of positive responses were closely aligned with or exceeded comparable national figures for the reporting period. Recent community feedback highlights a range of public safety concerns, with a strong focus on visibility, deterrence, and enforcement. Many residents raised ongoing issues around road safety, with specific concerns around dangerous driving, speeding, and antisocial use of vehicles such as unregistered motorcycles. Youth-related antisocial behaviour was also a recurring theme of concern, including groups congregating in public areas, vandalism, noise, and instances of intimidating or threatening behaviour. Specific references were made to behaviour around schools, bus stops, and town centres, as well as damage to public transport infrastructure. Residents have also expressed concern about drug-related activity, including visible street-level dealing, with many expressing support for more localised enforcement and disruption activity. Additional concerns include fly tipping, littering, noise disturbances, and concerns relating to environmental maintenance, such as overgrown trees obstructing signage and walkways, with some perceiving these issues as contributing to reduced safety in local neighbourhoods. Community feedback strongly reflects a desire for more localised and visible policing, with residents consistently expressing that a greater presence in neighbourhoods would enhance feelings of safety and community reassurance - highlight how much value the public places on having officers actively present and engaged in their daily environments. COMPLAINTS A total of 153 complaint cases and 246 allegations have been received in Renfrewshire in the period April 2024 to December 2024. Total complaint cases have fallen by nearly 22% compared to the previous year, while the number of allegations have decreased by almost 14%. 182 allegations were ‘On Duty’ with a further 62 relating to quality of service. The largest proportion of allegations related to irregularity in procedure.
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10 OFFICIAL OFFICIAL LOCAL POLICING PRIORITY OUTCOMES – CASE STUDIES McGills Buses – Action Plan The McGills Buses action plan continued to run effectively in the recent period, with a combina- tion of high visibility and plain clothes patrols. Regular engagement with management has been maintained, and a Local Problem Solving Team (LPST) officer has taken ownership of the enquiries. As a result, 10 individuals have been charged and reported for various offences related to disorder, including antisocial behaviour (ASB) and vandalism, in response to the rise of these issues on buses. Violence – PPT Focus A continued focus on violence and weapon carrying across Renfrewshire has been driven by the Priority Policing Team (PPT). Key activities included targeted patrols, enforcement actions, and community engagement efforts. Specific days of action have been conducted to target violent wanted nominals and to disrupt drug packages, contributing to the ongoing reduction in violence and weapon-related offences in the area. Acquisitive Crime – Retail Crime Initiative The Retail Crime Initiative has been actively targeting hotspot areas such as Phoenix Retail Park and Renfrew Road Retail Park. This initiative involves the deployment of dedicated resources, direct engagement with retail staff, and collaboration with security teams to address and prevent retail crime. Disruption of known nominals continues as part of the strategy to reduce acquisitive crime in these areas. Partnerships and Collaborations Efforts to strengthen key partnerships are continuing, with ongoing return discussions with local authorities and collaborative initiatives aimed at improving local safety. Renfrewshire Police have supported nation-wide events running from February to April, covering important themes such as cybercrime, fuel theft, and equality-focused awareness campaigns. FORTHCOMING INITIATIVES Preventions Inputs Upcoming engagements will focus on raising awareness around cybercrime and internet safety through presentations across multiple schools in Renfrewshire. These sessions will also include topics such as equality, diversity, and inclusion (E&DI), adult protection, and antisocial behaviour (ASB), ensuring a broad approach to community education and safety. Additional business includes enhanced signposting for officers and social workers, financial harm prevention discussions, and continued efforts on fraud and theft prevention. Road Safety and Road Crime Police in Renfrewshire, assisted by specialist Road Policing Officers, will continue to support and promote national road safety campaigns in the forthcoming period, including the 2 Wheels Campaign in June, Summer Drink Drug Drive campaign (June - July) and the Drug Driving Week campaign in August.