Agenda Document Pack - Police and Fire and Rescue Scrutiny Sub-Committee - 19/08/2025
Renfrewshire Council · 19 August 2025
Back to Police and Fire and Rescue Scrutiny Sub-Committee — 19 August 2025 and its agenda
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12/08/2025 Notice of Meeting and Agenda Police and Fire and Rescue Scrutiny Sub-Committee Date Time Venue Tuesday, 19 August 2025 15:00 Council Chambers (Renfrewshire), Council Headquarters, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley, PA1 1AN Membership Robert Innes (Depute Convener). Membership of the Sub-committee to comprise 5 members of the Communities and Housing Policy Board; 3 members from the Administration including the Convener or Depute Convener of the Policy Board and 2 members from the opposition group or parties. Meeting Details The meeting will take place at 3.00pm or at the conclusion of the Communities and Housing Policy Board whichever is the later. Further Information This is a meeting which is open to members of the public. A copy of the agenda and reports for this meeting will be available for inspection prior to the meeting at the Customer Service Centre, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley and online at http://renfrewshire.cmis.uk.com/renfrewshire/CouncilandBoards.aspx For further information, please email democratic-services@renfrewshire.gov.uk Members of the Press and Public Members of the press and public wishing to attend the meeting should report to the customer service centre where they will be met and directed to the meeting. MARK CONAGHAN Head of Corporate Governance Page 1 of 28
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12/08/2025 Hybrid Meeting Please note that this meeting is scheduled to be held in the Council Chambers. However, it is a hybrid meeting and arrangements have been made for members to join the meeting remotely should they wish. Webcasting of Meeting This meeting will be filmed for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site – at the start of the meeting the Convener will confirm if all or part of the meeting is being filmed. To find the webcast please navigate to https://renfrewshire.public-i.tv/core/portal/home Page 2 of 28
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12/08/2025 Items of business Apologies Apologies from members. Declarations of Interest and Transparency Statements Members are asked to declare an interest or make a transparency statement in any item(s) on the agenda and to provide a brief explanation of the nature of the interest or the transparency statement. 1 Police Scotland - Performance Report Report by Police Scotland. 4 - 13 2 Scottish Fire and Rescue Service - Performance Report Report by Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. 14 - 28 3 Local Issues Discussion on local issues. Page 3 of 28
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OFFICIAL OFFICIAL Renfrewshire Performance Summary Report Reporting Period: 01/04/25 - 30/06/25 Total Crime 4,452 Incidents Recorded Overall Dishonesty Domestic Abuse Incidents +6% +22% -1.3% +2.7% -13.7% -13.2% Road Traffic Casualties +2.1% Sexual Crime 12,848 498 969 528 540 101 33 1,686 Overall Violent Crime Missing People 265 52 Common Assault -1.9% Housebreaking Disorder Complaints Unless otherwise stated, all data provided within this report is for the period 1 April 2025 - 30 June 2025, with comparisons made against the same period in the 2024/25 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 18 July 2025. +14.5% -3.7% +24% Item 1 Page 4 of 28
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2 OFFICIAL OFFICIAL Renfrewshire Performance Summary Report Reporting Period: 1 Apr 2025 to 30 Jun 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 Page 5 of 28
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3 OFFICIAL OFFICIAL PRIORITY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Violent crime in Renfrewshire increased slightly, though crimes of serious violence fell by –25%. A proactive focus on weapon-related criminality contributed to an increase of +36% in recorded weapons offences. Police in Renfrewshire continue to contribute to a multi-agency response to tackle the issue of knife crime and violence. Although crimes of damage and reckless behaviour have increased, there has been a significant reduction in crimes of wilful fireraising. Recorded sexual crimes fell by nearly -14%, with fewer contact and non-contact offences recorded. Domestic abuse incidents and crimes fell slightly on last year’s figures. Missing person reports continue to rise, with care-experienced young people continuing to feature in the majority of cases. Nine suspected drug-related deaths occurred in Renfrewshire, with a variety of controlled drugs implicated. Crimes of dishonesty rose by +22% in Renfrewshire, driven largely by a rise of nearly +80% in shoplifting crimes. Many other crimes of dishonesty fell on last year’s figures, with fewer crimes of fraud, housebreaking, common theft and acquisitive crimes targeting motor vehicles recorded. Cyber-enabled fraud and sextortion remain key concerns, with ongoing multi-agency efforts to prevent online harm. Overall, road casualties have fallen in Renfrewshire - but serious road injuries and fatalities have both increased. Police Scotland remains committed to road safety through enforcement, education, and partnership work, including local speed checks and national campaigns. A proactive focus on road safety and road crime resulted in a significant increase in recorded road traffic offences, with the Road Policing Unit continuing to provide invaluable assistance to the Division. 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 availability of local Police Officers, allowing them to more effectively serve Renfrewshire’s communities. Page 6 of 28
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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 Consistent with an increase at the national level (+11.9%) the number of recorded crimes and offences in Renfrewshire rose by +14.5% on the same period in 2024/25, to a total of 4,452. This overall rise is attributable to an increase in Group 1 non-sexual crimes of violence (e.g. threats and extortion, common assault and robbery), which rose by +2.7%; Group 3 crimes of dishonesty (e.g. theft from motor vehicles, housebreaking and shoplifting), which increased by +22%; Group 5 crimes against society (e.g. drug possession and supply offences, possession of offensive weapons), which rose by +19.4%; Group 6 antisocial offences (e.g. breach of the peace, hate aggravated conduct) which increased by +2.9%; Group 7 miscellaneous offences (e.g. environmental offences, community and public order offences), which increased by +3.4%; and Group 8 road traffic offences (e.g. speeding, offences relating to vehicle defects, and careless driving), which increased +31% on the previous year. Meanwhile, Group 2 sexual offences (e.g. rape, sexual assault, indecent communications) fell by -14%, while Group 4 crimes of damage and reckless behaviour (e.g. culpable and reckless conduct and vandalism) remained static on 2024/25 figures, The detection rate for all crimes and offences stands at 68.8%, above the detection rate for the same period in 2024/25 (66.7%) and also national detection rate for the same reporting period (also 66.7%). Police Incidents Contrasting with the rise in recorded crime in Renfrewshire, the total number of Police incidents have fallen by 3.7% percent on the previous year, with a total of 12,848 recorded. However, when incidents relating to abandoned/silent 999 calls (which have fallen by 43% on 2024/25 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 +1.4% 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. 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 3,889 4,452 Total number of incidents 13,343 12,848 Page 7 of 28
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5 OFFICIAL OFFICIAL VIOLENCE, ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR AND DISORDER Violence Recorded violent crimes in Renfrewshire increased by 2.7% compared to the previous year, with a total of 540 crimes. The majority (over 92%) of recorded crimes of violence were common assaults (including against emergency workers) - with two-thirds of these resulting in no injury. Meanwhile, overall crimes of serious violence (i.e. attempted murder, murder, serious assault and robbery) fell by -25% to a total of 42 crimes (14 fewer victims). A significant proportion (45%) of recorded violent crimes occurred within private dwellings, with a slight increase (two additional crimes) occurring with residential settings. A further 35% of violent crimes occurred in open spaces, though the number of crimes occurring in open space dropped slightly compared to the previous year. The shift towards private space violence continues to pose additional challenges due to its hidden nature, lack of witnesses, and the greater likelihood of offenders being known to their victims and exerting fear and intimidation over them. Nearly 27% of recorded violent crimes in Renfrewshire occurred within the context of domestic abuse, with the vast majority of these crimes occurring within private households. Weapons Offences A total of 150 offensive / bladed weapons offences were recorded in Renfrewshire during the reporting period, marking a +36.4% increase on the previous year. A proactive approach to tackling the issue of weapon-carrying leading to a +30.6% 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) Crimes of damage and reckless behaviour in Renfrewshire remain static on 2024/25 figures, with 335 recorded. While crimes of culpable and reckless conduct have increased by +11.1%, crimes of vandalism fell by -1.4% and wilful fireraising fell by -14.8%. 23 fireraising crimes were recorded, the lowest number on record since the same period in 2021. Public-reported incidents of ASB and disorder increased by +2.1%, with 1,686 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, 84 hate crimes were recorded in Renfrewshire, with a detection rate of 66.3% for these crimes. Race continues to be the most commonly targeted protected characteristic, featuring in 58% of recorded hate crimes in Renfrewshire, with victims being targeted on the basis of sexual orientation in a further 24% of hate crimes. Page 8 of 28
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6 OFFICIAL OFFICIAL Sexual Crime 101 sexual crimes have been recorded in Renfrewshire in the reporting period - a decrease of -13.7% on the previous year’s total of 117 crimes. Conversely, recorded sexual crimes increased by +7.2% at the national level, with an increase noted in both contact and non-contact crimes. In Renfrewshire, there were a total of 54 contact offences (rape, attempted rape and sexual assault) - representing a decrease of -10% on the previous year. A further 47 non-contact offences were recorded (including threats to disclose intimate images and indecent communications offences) - a decrease of -17.5%. Around a third of reported sexual crimes were linked to domestic abuse - with approximately three-quarters of all recorded crimes occurring within private residences. Over 20% of recorded sexual crimes stemmed from 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 265 missing person reports were recorded - an increase of 24% on the same period in 2024/25, in which 213 missing person reports were received. In the current reporting period, a total of 113 individuals were reported missing - with 43 of these being repeat missing persons (i.e. being reported missing on multiple occasions). Over 80% of missing persons reports related to young people - with care-experienced young people in particular featuring in 61% of cases (compared to only 22% at a national level). 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 fell by -1.3% compared to the previous year, totalling 528 Incidents. Approximately 42% of these incidents resulted in a domestic crime being recorded. A total of 359 domestic abuse crimes have been recorded - a drop of -7% on 2024/25 figures. The most common recorded domestic crimes were common assault (n=140), threatening and abusive behaviour (n=57) and bail offences (n=32). The domestic abuse detection rate has increased from 57.5% to 59.6%. 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 he most suitable support to victims and families. Drug Related Deaths In the reporting period, nine suspected drug-related deaths have been recorded in Renfrewshire. Although toxicology results are awaited in all cases, drugs implicated in these deaths include heroin, cocaine, ketamine and benzodiazepines. 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 Page 9 of 28
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7 OFFICIAL OFFICIAL ACQUISITIVE CRIME A total of 969 crimes of dishonesty were recorded - an increase of 22% on the previous year. Shoplifting continues to have a disproportionate impact on overall acquisitive crime figures, with these crimes accounting for almost half all recorded crimes of dishonesty, and rising by +80.6% on the previous year’s figures. Excluding this type of crime, crimes of dishonesty have otherwise fallen by over seven percent, with crimes of housebreaking falling by nearly two percent, motor vehicle thefts falling by -18.4%, and a -20.5% reduction in common thefts. The detection rate for acquisitive crimes in Renfrewshire was 36.2%, exceeding the national rate of 35.2%. In response to the rise in recorded shoplifting crime, several action plans have been implemented at various hotspot locations across Renfrewshire, targeting repeat offenders and providing prevention advice to retailers and security staff. The Retail Crime Task Force continues to develop and deliver a coordinated response to Retail Crime through a 4Ps Approach - PREVENT, PROTECT, PURSUE and PREPARE. The aims of the Task Force include: better understanding the drivers for retail crime and mitigate against them; providing local Policing Divisions with analytical products to enhance their response to retail crime; identification of linked crimes and offenders and the facilitation of coordinated, robust investigations; supporting retailers with the provision of bespoke crime prevention tools and advice; and the development of prevent strategies and interventions, specifically for high harm recidivist offenders. Collaboration with the Task Force has already resulted in successes locally, with three individuals recently charged in relation to the high value theft of I-Phones from the Braehead Shopping Centre. With the support of the Task Force, further work will now continue into the wider criminal network involved. While fraud remains a key concern due to evolving tactics used by criminals both online and offline, recorded fraud crimes continue to fall on previous years’ figures, with a reduction of -7.1% compared to 2024/25. In Renfrewshire, consumer and retail fraud continues to be the most commonly reported category of this 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. Public electronic communications offences constitute an increasing proportion of recorded cybercrimes - predominantly relating to the sending of menacing and threatening via SMS or instant messaging platforms. Other commonly recorded cybercrimes include fraud (with continued indications of an ever-expanding range of online fraud M.O.s being used), cyber-enabled sexual extortion, and indecent communications. We continue to address this issue through local partnerships, preventions-focused educational inputs to schools and community groups and national collaboration with the Cyber Scotland Partnership and the financial sector to raise awareness of online fraud. Page 10 of 28
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8 OFFICIAL OFFICIAL ROAD SAFETY AND ROAD CRIME Road Traffic Casualties 2024/25 2025/26 Number of persons killed on our roads 1 2 Number of persons seriously injured 10 12 Number of persons slightly injured 27 19 Number of children seriously injured 1 2 Road Traffic Data from 01/04/2025 to 30/06/2025 Road Casualties In the reporting period, there were 33 road casualties in Renfrewshire - five fewer than the same period in 2024/25. However, against a backdrop of declining slight road injuries, the number of road fatalities and serious road injuries have increased on last year’s figures. 18 (54%) road casualties involved car drivers or passengers, with pedestrians and motorcyclists respectively accounting for the highest proportion of remaining road casualties. 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 members of the public and elected members relating to problem locations for speeding and dangerous driving. Officers will continue their focus along with the RPU, local partners, and communities to enhance road safety with efforts being coordinated through our established Road Safety Group. Road Traffic Offences Recorded road traffic offences in Renfrewshire have increased by +31% on 2024/25 figures, totalling 1,145 in the reporting period. This is consistent with the national picture, with offences rising by +25% across Scotland as a whole. A proactive focus on road safety and road crime by local officers in Renfrewshire, alongside specialist road policing support provided by the Operational Support Division, have resulted an increase in recorded speeding offences (+89%), vehicle defect offences (+122%), drink and drug driving offences (+44.9%) and careless driving offences (+52.2%). The detection rate for these offences is 90.2%, above the previous year’s rate (86%) and the national rate (87.2%). Page 11 of 28
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9 OFFICIAL OFFICIAL PUBLIC CONFIDENCE: COMPLAINTS & USER SATISFACTION YOUR POLICE 78% of respondents to the ‘Your Police’ survey reported that they felt very or fairly safe in their local area, while 71% of those who completed the survey felt well informed about local police activities taking place in the last 12 months. Just under 29% of respondents felt that Police in Renfrewshire were doing a good job in the local area, while 46% stated that they had confidence in their local Police. 49% reported that their concern about crime had increased in the last 12 months. Recent community feedback highlights a range of public safety concerns shared by members of Renfrewshire’s communities. Over 40% of respondents expressed concerns relating to road traffic issues including speeding, drink and drug driving, dangerous driving, as well as antisocial use of e-bikes, e-scooters, quad bikes etc. A third of respondents shared concerns relating to antisocial behaviour and disorder, including youth disorder and alcohol related disorder, particularly in Renfrewshire’s town centres. Around 17% of respondents mentioned concerns relating to drug supply and misuse within their communities - in some cases, highlighting links to other criminality e.g. violence and disorder. Eight percent of respondents described concerns relating to vandalism and other property damage. Other concern themes included violent crime (including weapons offences), acquisitive crime (including housebreaking) and serious and organised crime. Community feedback strongly reflects a desire for more localised and visible policing, and greater presence at local community meetings. Many residents consistently expressed a desire for more visible policing presence in neighbourhoods, highlighting the value the public places on having officers actively present and engaged in their daily environments. COMPLAINTS A total of 44 complaint cases and 73 allegations have been received in Renfrewshire in the period April to June 2025. While complaint cases have fallen on last year, the total number of allegations received has increased slightly. 54 allegations were ‘On Duty’, with a further 19 relating to quality of service. The largest proportion of allegations related to irregularity in procedure. Page 12 of 28
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10 OFFICIAL OFFICIAL LOCAL POLICING PRIORITY OUTCOMES – CASE STUDIES Violence and Knife Crime The Preventions Team have been engaging with the Education Department and have delivered ‘No Knives, Better Lives’ inputs to a broad audience of young people - raising awareness of the dangers and consequences of carrying weapons. As part of the wider multi-agency campaign, St Mirren Football Club has shown strong support, with arrangements made for No Knives, Better Lives T-shirts to be supplied to the Club’s players to wear during warm-ups at forthcoming fixtures. Off Road Bikes Action plans focusing on the antisocial and criminal use of off road bikes were developed and implemented in Renfrewshire, resulting in four off road bikes being seized and a number of individuals being charged for various Road Traffic Act offences as well as drug offences. Water Safety In partnership with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, The Preventions Team has delivered inputs to school pupils throughout Renfrewshire - educating young people on how to recognise hazards, encouraging safer behaviour, and teaching them how to respond in emergency situations. Respect Event A Respect Event was successfully delivered with the support of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, I Am Me Scotland, Youth Engagement Officers, and Medics Against Violence. The event focused on key issues affecting young people, including knife crime and violence, antisocial behaviour, hate crime, online safety, and consent. A multi-agency meeting was held post-event to evaluate its impact and explore the potential for scaling the model to reach a wider audience. An agreement was reached to replicate the format and arrangements are in place for the event to be rolled out to three Renfrewshire high schools in August and September. FORTHCOMING INITIATIVES Knife Amnesty Work is currently underway to organise a knife amnesty in partnership with key stakeholders. The initiative aims to provide a safe and anonymous means for individuals to surrender weapons, reducing the risk of knife-related harm in Renfrewshire’s communities. Liaison is ongoing with Renfrewshire Local Authority to identify a suitable site location, with work also ongoing in relation to promotional strategies and operational support to ensure the amnesty is delivered safely and effectively. Support Mechanisms An initial agreement has been reached with ASSIST and the Public Protection Unit to develop video content for use by attending officers at domestic incidents. The videos will provide clear information relating to the support available through ASSIST, with the aim of encouraging victim referrals where a partner or ex-partner has been charged and a case is progressing through court. In addition, a support letter has been created for families bereaved by suicide, offering guidance on available services and signposting to specialist organisations during the immediate aftermath of loss. Page 13 of 28
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2025-26 Q1 All Renfrewshire Scrutiny Report 2025-26 Q1 Renfrewshire Item 2 Page 14 of 28
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202528/07/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on About the statistics within this report The activity totals and other statistics quoted within this report are published in the interests of transparency and openness. They are provisional in nature and subject to change as a result of ongoing quality assurance and review. Because all statistics quoted are provisional there may be a difference in the period totals quoted in our reports after local publication which result from revisions or additions to the data in our systems. The Scottish Government publishes official statistics each year which allow for comparisons to be made over longer periods of time. Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Summary Trends Accidental Dwelling Fires (ADFs) Accidental Dwelling Fire Casualties Non-Fire Casualties Deliberate Fires Non-Domestic Fires Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals (UFAS) Road Traffic Collisions (RTCs) Home Fire Safety Visits (HFSVs) Fire Safety Enforcement Community Safety & Engagement Glossary of Terms 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Contents Scrutiny Report 2025-26 Q1 Renfrewshire Page 15 of 28
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1. Summary 295 Fires 142 296 False Alarms 733 43 10 1 Fire Fatalities 19 3 94 UFAS 202528/07/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Non-Fire Incidents People Rescued by Firefighters People Receiving First Aid or Hospital Treatment (Non-Fire) People Receiving First Aid or Hospital Treatment (Fires) Non-Fire Fatalities Top 10 Incident Types Fire (Outdoor) False Alarm (Due to Apparatus) False Alarm (UFAS) False Alarm (Good Intent) Fire (Building) Inter-Agency Flooding / Water Rescue Vehicle (Non-fire) Humanitarian Other Non-Fire 226 106 94 80 56 50 27 21 20 20 2025-26 Q1 Home Fire Safety Visits Total Incidents (Incl. Incompletes) 178 72 Fire Safety Audits - There was sadly 1 Fatality as a result of a Fire within the Paisley East and Central Ward. - Fire (Outdoor) Incidents totalled 226, which is a 16% increase when compared to the same quarter over a 4-year period. - Fire (Building) Incidents seen a reduction from 66 in Q1 last year, to 56 this year. Page 16 of 28
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2. Trends 202528/07/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Accidental Dwelling Fires 2021-22 Q2 2021-22 Q3 2021-22 Q4 2022-23 Q1 2022-23 Q2 2022-23 Q3 2022-23 Q4 2023-24 Q1 2023-24 Q2 2023-24 Q3 2023-24 Q4 2024-25 Q1 2024-25 Q2 2024-25 Q3 2024-25 Q4 2025-26 Q1 43 28 47 1524 3841 3232 32 36 35 36 36 36 32 Deliberate Fires 2021-22 Q2 2021-22 Q3 2021-22 Q4 2022-23 Q1 2022-23 Q2 2022-23 Q3 2022-23 Q4 2023-24 Q1 2023-24 Q2 2023-24 Q3 2023-24 Q4 2024-25 Q1 2024-25 Q2 2024-25 Q3 2024-25 Q4 2025-26 Q1 153 195 218 82 163 98 9686 135 98 117131 136 107 138 123 Non-Domestic Fires 2021-22 Q2 2021-22 Q3 2021-22 Q4 2022-23 Q1 2022-23 Q2 2022-23 Q3 2022-23 Q4 2023-24 Q1 2023-24 Q2 2023-24 Q3 2023-24 Q4 2024-25 Q1 2024-25 Q2 2024-25 Q3 2024-25 Q4 2025-26 Q1 7 14 20 8 17 8 8 9 1111 11 10 9109 13 Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals 2021-22 Q2 2021-22 Q3 2021-22 Q4 2022-23 Q1 2022-23 Q2 2022-23 Q3 2022-23 Q4 2023-24 Q1 2023-24 Q2 2023-24 Q3 2023-24 Q4 2024-25 Q1 2024-25 Q2 2024-25 Q3 2024-25 Q4 2025-26 Q1 253 94 318 100 228 283 123118 95 245 108 262 284 102 268 112 Road Traffic Collisions 2021-22 Q2 2021-22 Q3 2021-22 Q4 2022-23 Q1 2022-23 Q2 2022-23 Q3 2022-23 Q4 2023-24 Q1 2023-24 Q2 2023-24 Q3 2023-24 Q4 2024-25 Q1 2024-25 Q2 2024-25 Q3 2024-25 Q4 2025-26 Q1 15 20 23 9 23 11 14 18 15 15 18 18 15 15 18 19 Previous 16 quarters (4 years) Page 17 of 28
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3. Accidental Dwelling Fires Extent of Damage Incidents Not applicable 12 Limited to item 1st ignited 9 Limited to floor of origin (not whole building) 4 Limited to room of origin 3 202528/07/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Source of Ignition (Top 10) Cooking appliance Electricity supply Not known Other domestic style appliance Smoking Related Heating equipment Naked flame 12 7 3 2 2 1 1 Trend by Quarter (4 years) 20 30 40 50 28 Accidental Dwelling Fires in this period 2025-26 Q1 Incidents by Ward Renfrew South & Gallowhill Paisley East & Central Paisley Northeast & Ralston Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood & … Paisley Northwest Paisley Southeast Bishopton, Bridge of Weir & Langbank Erskine & Inchinnan Johnstone South & Elderslie Paisley Southwest Renfrew North & Braehead 6 4 4 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 - 12 of these fires were attributable to cooking, with 7 being attributable to electrical supply within the home. - Community safety education initiatives that focus on safe cooking practices continue to be a priority for SFRS, both nationally, via media campaigns, and locally, as a part of our Home Fire Safety Visits - Of those 28, 9 were limited to the item first ignited and 7 were limited to the room or floor of origin, as a result of the intervention by SFRS operational crews. - There were 28 Accidental Dwelling Fires in the 1st quarter of 2025/26. Page 18 of 28
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4. Accidental Dwelling Fire Casualties Non-Fatal Casualties 8 Fatal Casualties 1 Nature of Injury/Cause of Death Casualties Not known 9 Following any fatality, or serious injury caused by fire in a domestic premise, a comprehensive Post Domestic Incident Response (PDIR) is carried out to offer reassurance to the local community and offer a Home Fire Safety Visit (HFSV) and/ or advice to those who meet the criteria. SFRS Fire Investigation team work in conjunction with our Police Scotland Colleagues to identify the cause of the fire, along with any contributing factors. The SFRS Prevention team and local Station Commander then liaise with Social Work and any other relevant partner to identify areas of shared learning. 15 people were rescued from fire by Firefighters in Q1. 202528/07/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Casualties by Ward Paisley East & Central 9 Trend by Quarter (4 years) 0 5 10 15 People Rescued by Firefighters Extent of Harm (Non-Fatal) 0 5 First Aid Given at Scene Hospital Slight Injuries 3 Hospital Serious Injuries 2025-26 Q1 Page 19 of 28
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5. Non-Fire Casualties 202528/07/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on There were 3 x fatalities at incidents not involving Fire (Special Services): 1 x Water Rescue, 1 x Assist Other Agencies & 1 x Road Traffic Collision (RTC). 19 x Non-Fatal Casualties in Q1, which replicates Q1 last year. 28 People were rescued by Firefighters, down slightly on the 32 rescued in Q1 last year. Casualties by Ward Paisley Northwest Renfrew South & Gallowhill Paisley Northeast & Ralston Bishopton, Bridge of Weir & Langb… Renfrew North & Braehead Houston, Crosslee & Linwood Paisley Southeast 7 6 3 2 2 1 1 Trend by Quarter (4 years) 10 20 30 Non-Fatal Casualties 19 Fatal Casualties 3 28 People Rescued by Firefighters Extent of Harm (Non-Fatal) 1 15 First Aid Given at Scene Hospital Slight Injuries 3 Hospital Serious Injuries Nature of Injury/Cause of Death Casualties Back / Neck injury (spinal) 4 Chest / Abdominal injury 4 Cuts/Lacerations 2 Head injury 2 Other 2 Other medical condition 2 Bruising 1 Chest pain / Heart condition / Cardiac arrest 1 Collapse 1 Drowning 1 Hypothermia 1 Not known 1 2025-26 Q1 Page 20 of 28
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6. Deliberate Fires Property Type Incident Grassland, woodland and crops 73 Refuse 71 Other outdoors (including land) 27 Road Vehicle 7 Dwelling 5 Outdoor structures 4 Non Residential 3 Other Residential 3 Outdoor equipment and machinery 2 195 Deliberate Fires for Q1 is a 9% increase when compared to Q1 averaged over a 4-year period. Our Community Action Team (CAT) continues to engage with local residents to offer reassurance and safety advice, whilst delivering targeted engagement initiatives in high activity areas as part of our overall Prevention Strategy. Hour of Day 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 202528/07/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Incidents by Ward Johnstone South & Elderslie Paisley Northwest Paisley Southwest Houston, Crosslee & Linwood Paisley East & Central Bishopton, Bridge of Weir & Langbank Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood & … Erskine & Inchinnan Renfrew South & Gallowhill Paisley Southeast Paisley Northeast & Ralston Renfrew North & Braehead 29 26 22 20 17 15 15 14 12 11 8 6 Trend by Quarter (4 years) 100 150 200 195 Deliberate Fires in this period 2025-26 Q1 Page 21 of 28
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7. Non-Domestic Fires Top 15 Property Types Property Type Incidents Residential Home 4 Retail 4 Industrial Manufacturing 2 Education 1 Food and Drink 1 Transport buildings 1 Warehouses and bulk storage 1 Our Protection team continues to audit non-domestic premises covered under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 to ensure compliance and offer support, where required. Post-Fire audits are carried out to identify compliance with legislative requirements and to identify any learning, which may help prevent similar incidents in the future. 13 (92.9%) 1 (7.1%) Accidental Deliberate 202528/07/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Incidents by Ward Erskine & Inchinnan Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood & … Paisley East & Central Paisley Northwest Renfrew South & Gallowhill Bishopton, Bridge of Weir & Langbank Houston, Crosslee & Linwood Paisley Southwest Renfrew North & Braehead 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 Extent of Damage Not applicable Limited to item 1st ignited Limited to floor of origin (not whole building) Limited to room of origin Roof space and other floors(s) 8 3 1 1 1 Trend by Quarter (4 years) 10 15 20 14 Non-Domestic Fires in this period 2025-26 Q1 Page 22 of 28
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8. Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals Top 15 Property Types Property Type Incidents Residential Home 39 Hospitals and medical care 20 Sheltered Housing - not self contained 13 Hotel/motel 9 Student Hall of Residence 4 Education 2 Offices and call centres 2 Car Parks 1 Hostel (e.g. for homeless people) 1 Public admin, security and safety 1 Retail 1 Warehouses and bulk storage 1 SFRS responded to 95 UFAS incidents in Renfrewshire throughout Q1, with residential homes and hospitals being the most frequent sources. Efforts to reduce false alarms through policy adjustments and improved alarm system management continue to enhance operational efficiency. Our response to Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals (UFAS) changed as of July 1 2023. This change helps mitigate the need for unnecessary blue light journeys, improving resource availability, reducing the environmental impact and creating availability to focus on community safety initiatives. It also minimises unnecessary disruption to business. Where we attend, we seek to engage and educate with the responsible person to minimise future attendances. 202528/07/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Incidents by Ward Paisley Northwest Bishopton, Bridge of Weir & Langbank Paisley Southeast Paisley East & Central Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwoo… Johnstone South & Elderslie Erskine & Inchinnan Houston, Crosslee & Linwood Renfrew North & Braehead Renfrew South & Gallowhill Paisley Northeast & Ralston Paisley Southwest 28 16 14 8 6 6 4 4 3 3 1 1 Trend by Quarter (4 years) 100 200 300 94 Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals in this period 2025-26 Q1 Page 23 of 28
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9. Road Traffic Collisions Operational crews attended 22 RTCs in Q1, providing rescue and first aid assistance to 13 non-fatal casualties. Sadly, there was 1 fatality as a result of an RTC. Road Safety continues to be a priority, both nationally and locally, and we continue to work with partners to educate road users and pedestrians and we undertake seasonal Road Safety Campaigns. 202528/07/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Incidents by Ward Bishopton, Bridge of Weir & Langbank Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood & … Renfrew South & Gallowhill Renfrew North & Braehead Paisley Northwest Houston, Crosslee & Linwood Paisley East & Central Paisley Northeast & Ralston 5 5 4 3 2 1 1 1 Trend by Quarter (4 years) 10 15 20 25 30 22 Road Traffic Collisions in this period Non-Fatal Casualties 13 Fatal Casualties 1 3 People Rescued by Firefighters Extent of Harm (Non-Fatal) 0 10 First Aid Given at Scene Hospital Slight Injuries 3 Hospital Serious Injuries Property Type Incidents Car 16 Multiple Vehicles 4 Bus/coach 1 Van 1 2025-26 Q1 Incident Type Incidents Vehicle (Non-fire) 20 Inter-Agency 2 Page 24 of 28
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10. Home Fire Safety Visits 202528/07/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on 11. Fire Safety Enforcement SFRS recently introduced a new HFSV system and it is currently being adapted to allow data to be pulled-through into this report. Until such times as this has been finalised, this page will contain key data only. We completed 178 HFSVs in Q1, up from 71 from the previous quarter. 72 Fire Safety Audits were completed by our Prevention (Fire Safety Enforcement) Team. Audits by Ward 2025-26 Q1 HFSVs by Ward Home Fire Safety Visits Declined HFSVs Partner Referral HFSVs 178 27 N/A Fire Safety Audits 72 Page 25 of 28
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12. Community Safety & Engagement Mentoring A number of our colleagues are involved with the mentoring of young people through Career Ready and MCR Pathways. These inspiring mentors help the young people reach their potential by meeting with them at school, or welcoming them into fire stations to speak about different career options and pathways, the world of work, and the skills needed to kickstart a rewarding future. Water Safety Accidental Water-Related Fatalities in 2024: The 2024 figures show that overall water-related fatalities decreased. When compared to Scotland’s Drowning Prevention Strategy (SDPS) baseline and the Six Year Review average, the 2024 figures are below both. Overall water-related fatalities are at their lowest number in Scotland since 2018. Youth Engagement We continue to deliver Fireskills courses throughout ERRI. Young people participate in a packed itinerary including CPR, search and rescue and youth fireground drills. Our partners from Police Scotland also engage with the participants, discussing the impact and consequences of anti-social behaviour. Throughout the week, the Community Action Team are assisted by operational crews who facilitate a RTC demonstration for the participants. This allows the young people to visualise how fire crews approach an RTC. We receive positive feedback from the young people who attend. 202528/07/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on 2025-26 Q1 Page 26 of 28
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13. Glossary of Terms Term - What it means ADF Accidental Dwelling Fire. HFSV Home Fire Safety Visit. PDIR Post Domestic Incident Response, a term used to indicate actions taken following attendance at a fire or other incident in the home. PDIRs include amongst things the offer of a free follow up home fire safety visit. RTC Road Traffic Collision. Special Service Calls to incidents which are not fires or false alarms such as RTCs, rescues, flooding, incidents involving hazardous materials or the provision of assistance to other agencies. UFAS Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals. When an automatic fire detection and alarm system is activated as a result of anything other than an actual fire the activation is classed as a false alarm. If an attendance is made to such an event by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, then the event is recorded as an UFAS incident. UFAS Policy Change In response to COVID, on the 6th May 2020, the SFRS decided to send 1 pump to UFAS premises that did not have their own Predetermined attendance (PDA). As of 1st July 2023, the COVID interim 1 pump response was ended and a new UFAS policy was implemented. The new policy is to call challenge all UFAS incidents with the intention of non-attendance. Hospitals, care homes, and sleeping risk premises are all exempt and receive either 2 pumps or their premise specific PDA. 202528/07/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Page 27 of 28
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Design, figures and charts by the Business Intelligence team. Page 28 of 28