Democracy Spraffa

2 Renfrewshire SBR August_2023

Renfrewshire Council · 22 August 2023
Back to Police and Fire and Rescue Scrutiny Sub-Committee — 22 August 2023 and its agenda

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Renfrewshire
Performance Summary Report
Reporting Period: 01/04/23 - 30/06/23
Total Crime 3,895 Crimes
Incidents Recorded Overall Dishonesty Domestic Abuse 
Incidents
+8.5% +24.6% +2.9%
+6.2% +2.5% +11.1%
Road Traffic 
Casualties
-9.2%*
Sexual Crime
13,808 486 977 532
532 123 30 1,696
Overall Violent Crime
Missing People Counter Terrorism
193 47
Common Assault
-20.3%
Housebreaking
Disorder Complaints
The threat level from INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM is SUBSTANTIAL —an attack has been deemed as likely to occur.
*All data provided is for the period 1 April 2023 - 30 June 2023 unless otherwise stated. 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 of 30 June 2023.
+1.6% 
-5.7%
-27.2%

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Renfrewshire
Performance Summary Report
Reporting Period: 
1 Apr 2023 to 30 Jun 2023
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 cor-
rect as of date of publication. Unless stated otherwise, numerical comparisons are against the
comparable period in the preceding reporting year. 
CI William Graham
Renfrewshire Area Commander
SECTION PAGE NUMBER 
Introduction 2 
Executive Summary 3
Demand Analysis 4
Antisocial Behaviour, Violence & Disorder 5
Protecting Vulnerable People 6
Serious and Organised Crime 7
Counter Terrorism and Domestic Extremism 7
Acquisitive Crime  8
Cyber and Digital Crime 8
Road Safety and Road Crime 9
Public Confidence - Complaints & Allegations 10
Recent Initiatives and Results 11
Forthcoming Initiatives 11

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PRIORITY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
Overall violent crime has increased by 6.2% on the previous year, with a
total of 532 crimes recorded in the reporting period. A greater number of
murders, robberies, common assaults and threats and extortion were
recorded as compared to last year. The detection rate for overall crimes
of violence is 58.8%, a fall of 9% on the previous year. 
123 sexual crimes have been recorded in Renfrewshire in the reporting period,
three more than the previous year. 13 more rapes / attempted rapes were record-
ed. The detection rate for sexual crimes has decreased by 29.6 percentage points,
to 52%. 
Overall crimes of dishonesty have increased by 24.6%, with common
theft, fraud and shoplifting (three of the highest volume acquisitive
crimes) all continuing to rise. The detection rate achieved was 32.7%,
an increase on the previous year of 2.8%. Over 41% of crimes tagged
with the ‘cybercrime’ marker recorded in the current reporting year were
acquisitive crimes, most commonly online frauds. 
Intelligence led policing resulted in 52 drugs detections in the current
year, a rise of 24 on the previous reporting year. In Renfrewshire & In-
verclyde Division, serious and organised criminals were deprived of 
£808,553 in cash and assets through use of the Proceeds of Crime Act.
One Serious and Organised Crime Group principal member and 29
SOCG associates were arrested in the current reporting year. 
Overall, road casualties have increased by three, to a total of 30. Of-
fences relating to motor vehicles have fallen by 12.8% on the previous
year, to a total of 813. The detection rate for offences relating to motor
vehicles is 85.2%. 
RENFREWSHIRE POLICING PRIORITIES 2023/26
POLICE SCOTLAND’S POLICING PRIORITIES 2022/23
Protecting vulnerable people
Renfrewshire & Inverclyde Division continues
to support a multi-agency approach to reduce
drug deaths, to engage with Scottish Govern-
ment and stakeholders to influence approach-
es to supporting individuals with complex men-
tal 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 part-
nerships to find synergy in policy making and
shared resources. Police in Renfrewshire rec-
ognise the importance of engaging with com-
munities to understand their needs, and strive
to support innovation in local partnership set-
tings. 
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, re-
sources and equipment needed to tackle the
threat arising from cyber related criminality and
technological advancement. 
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. Significant developments arising
from the Digitally Enabled Policing Programme
which have resulted in direct benefits to Ren-
frewshire Police include the National Network /
Project ADEL, the rollout of mobile devices and
the suite of applications delivered via Core Op-
erational Systems (COS).

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DEMAND ANALYSIS    PYTD - PREVIOUS YEAR TO DATE    CYTD - CURRENT YEAR TO DATE
CRIME PYTD CYTD INCIDENTS PYTD CYTD
Total Crimes & 
Offences 3,835 3,895 Total number of 
incidents 13,067 13,808 
The volume of recorded crime and offences has increased by 1.6% with a rise in recorded
crimes of violence, crimes of non-sexual violence, sexual crimes and crimes of dishonesty.
Recorded police incidents have increased by 5.7%, however remain 2.3% below five year av-
erage figures.

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VIOLENCE, ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR AND DISORDER
Violence
Overall violent crime has increased by 6.2% on the previous year, with a total of 532 crimes
recorded in the reporting period. A greater number of murders, robberies, common assaults
and threats and extortion were recorded as compared to last year. The detection rate for
overall crimes of violence is 58.8%, a fall of 9% on the previous year. 
Disorder and Antisocial Behaviour
31 wilful fireraising crimes have been recorded— a decrease of 11.4% on the previous year.
The current detection rate is 12.9%, a drop of 18.5 percentage points on the previous year.
Advice continues to be issued to all householders regarding the dangers of leaving combus-
tible items in common close areas. Meanwhile, recorded vandalism crimes have fallen by
16.3% on the previous year, to a total of 261 crimes in the reporting period. 
Hate Crime
17 more hate incidents have been recorded in Renfrewshire in the reporting period (n=70)
compared to the same period in 2022/23. 61 of these incidents resulted in a crime being rec-
orded, an increase of 29.8% on the previous year. The detection rate for hate crimes in Ren-
frewshire in the reporting period is 65.6%, up by 8.1 percentage points on last year.

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Sexual Crime
123 sexual crimes have been recorded in Renfrewshire in
the reporting period, an increase of 2.5% on the reported
crime volume in the previous year. This included an in-
crease of over 61% in the number of recorded rapes and
attempted rapes. The detection rate for sexual crimes has
decreased by 29.6 percentage points on the previous
year, to 52%. 31 cyber-enabled sexual crimes were rec-
orded in the reporting period, with a large proportion of
these relating to indecent communications with children,
sending sexual images to children, and the disclosure (or
threats to disclose) of intimate images. 
Missing People
In the period April 2023 to June 2023, 193 missing person reports have been recorded in Renfrewshire, a
significant decrease on the 265 reports in the same period in 2022/23. 192 of the missing people in the re-
porting period were traced alive, with the remaining missing person being found deceased. The decrease
was most evident in missing person reports involving younger people, with the incidents involving people
aged under 20 years falling by 32.7% year on year. Repeat missing persons continue to be a concern, with
the top five repeat missing people (all of whom were aged 16 or under) featuring in a total of 38 incidents –
almost 20% of the overall total of missing person incidents in the reporting period. Police Scotland remains
committed to reducing harm related to people who go missing and continues to develop and implement key
measures to ensure missing persons and their friends and family receive a consistently high level of service
wherever the person has gone missing from. In Renfrewshire, over 65% of missing people were traced with-
in 24 hours of being reported as missing, with this proportion rising to approximately 84% being traced within
two days. 
Domestic Abuse
Victims of domestic abuse remain one of Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Division’s top priorities.
Recorded domestic abuse incidents in Renfrewshire increased by 2.9% on the previous year, to a total of
532. 41.2% of all recorded incidents resulted in a crime being recorded – a decrease of 3.9 percentage
points on the previous year. The detection rate for domestic crime fell by 22.8 percentage points on the pre-
vious year, to 60.1% in the reporting period. 
Drug Related Deaths
13 confirmed or suspected drugs related deaths occurred in Renfrewshire in the reporting period - an in-
crease of four on the previous year. Toxicology results are awaited for all suspected DRDs in the reporting
period.  Although toxicology results are still awaited, Cocaine and Valium are the most commonly suspected
substances to be involved. 
Following the Naloxone introduction in 2022, Renfrewshire & Inverclyde Division commenced their divisional
rollout in February 2023. The rollout incorporated all forward facing police resources. Approximately 60% of
officers deployed in Renfrewshire have completed Naloxone training, and there have been three instances
in the past three months where Naloxone has been deployed. 
PROTECTING VULNERABLE PEOPLE

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SERIOUS AND ORGANISED CRIME
Intelligence led policing resulted in 52 drugs detections in the current year. This comprised of
45 detected drugs supply / possession with intent to supply crimes and two crimes relating to
the production, manufacture or cultivation of drugs. 
In Renfrewshire & Inverclyde Division, serious and organised criminals were deprived of 
£808,553 in cash and assets through use of the Proceeds of Crime Act - an increase of over
184% on the previous year’s POCA total. 
One Serious and Organised Crime Group principal member and 29 SOCG associates were
arrested in the Division in the current reporting year. 
Intelligence-driven stop and search continues to be utilised to proactively target serious and
organised criminals, with this tactic resulting in 50 drugs seizures in Renfrewshire in the report-
ing period, with 44% of these seizures relating to Class ‘A’ substances.  59% of the drug sei-
zures occurred within the Paisley North West ward. 
COUNTER TERRORISM & DOMESTIC EXTREMISM
At this time there is nothing to suggest that there is any specific threat to Scotland. However,
the threat from Islam-ic, Northern Ireland and Right-wing terrorism remains a serious threat.
The terrorist threat picture in Scotland is diverse and complex with current investigative activity
ongoing for activity linked to Islamist extremism, NIRT and ERWT. The threat from Self-Initiated
Terrorists (S-ITs) continues to represent the most significant risk of a terrorist attack occurring
in Scotland. Any terrorist attack in Scotland is most likely to be conducted by a S-IT using a low
-sophistication methodology such as a bladed or blunt force weapon or vehicle as a weapon.
The threat from S-ITs manifests in the form of their ability to successfully plan and conduct their
attacks with little or no warning. This can be particularly challenging to detect and can be moti-
vated by ideologies across the entire ideological spectrum, and on occasion with mixed or un-
clear ideologies. Mental health issues are a persistent feature of investigations, and this grow-
ing issue remains a risk in relation to S-IT activity. This continues to be evidenced across all
threat areas, indicating how vulnerable individuals can be influenced by extremist narratives. 
Renfrewshire has an embedded CTLO (Counter Terrorist Liaison Officer) who provides expert
guidance and support regarding emerging threats from national and international terrorism &
Extremism. The CTLO has provided support, security advice and reassurance to locally elected
representatives. CT Awareness and PREVENT training has been carried out over the last peri-
od with partners and other agencies such as UWS staff, KIBBLE Paisley staff, ENGAGE, BAR-
NARDO`S, WCS students.  CTSA training was carried out with BRAEHEAD security and other
shop staff. This consisted of national CT products such as ScAN and ACT. At the Glynhill Hotel
in K Division a PROTECT CT Exercise was carried out with key managers from Renfrewshire
council in attendance.  Further CT Awareness and PREVENT training is planned over the com-
ing months with ENGAGE, BEACONS Art centre staff, Domestic staff at Renfrewshire council.
A CT PREVENT Presentation was given to all Head teachers in Renfrewshire with a view of
additional CT Awareness training being provided to all school teachers and further details of the
PREVENT referral process over the coming period. A Safe Steeple event by CT Emergency
planning is being held at the Beacons Art centre Inverclyde with key partners invited. K Division
has seen a 22% increase in referrals made to PREVENT since CT Awareness and PREVENT
training has begun in 2021. K Division currently has 3 PREVENT nominals that are managed
by the Prevent Delivery Unit. Work continues with all Op Bridger and Op Sandbed nominals in
K Division with all addresses being offered security surveys and markers added to police sys-
tems.

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ACQUISITIVE CRIME
Overall crimes of dishonesty have increased by 24.6%, with common theft, fraud and shoplift-
ing (three of the highest volume acquisitive crimes) all continuing to rise. The detection rate
achieved was 32.7%, an increase on the previous year of 2.8%. 
270 shoplifting crimes have been recorded – an increase of 36.4% on the previous year. How-
ever the detection rate has fallen by 6.3 percentage points to 53.3%. 
Housebreaking crimes (including attempts) decreased by 20.3% on the previous year, to a total
of 47 crimes. While over half of all recorded HB crimes involved dwelling houses, housebreak-
ing crimes to Renfrewshire homes have fallen by over 16% on the previous year. The HB de-
tection rate is 19.1%, a decrease of 4.6 percentage points. 
Acquisitive crimes targeting motor vehicles have fallen by 31.3% on the previous year, to a to-
tal of 88 crimes. Thefts of motor vehicles continue to account for the highest proportion of mo-
tor vehicle crime (n=32). There continues to be a focus on proactive response and preventative
work in Renfrewshire & Inverclyde Division to tackle the emerging trend of the keyless thefts of
motor vehicles. The motor vehicle acquisitive crime detection rate is 50%, a decrease of 2.2
percentage points on the previous year. 
CYBER & DIGITAL CRIME
Cyber-enabled crime continues to impact on the communities of Renfrewshire, with analysis
suggesting that cyber-enabled frauds remain the most commonly recorded type of cybercrime
in Renfrewshire in the reporting period. Over 41% of all reported cybercrimes in Renfrewshire
were acquisitive crimes. A range of online frauds and attempted fraud methods were reported,
including suspects posing as employees in order to gain access to complainer’s online bank
accounts and online devices. Other common crimes continue to be internet order frauds, fraud-
ulent cryptocurrency investment schemes and social engineering frauds in which suspects
used messaging apps to contact complainers while purporting to be a relative in need of finan-
cial assistance, in order to fraudulently induce online payments to be sent to them. 
Over 23% of the overall number of recorded cybercrimes were miscellaneous offences includ-
ing threatening and abusive communications, while cyber-enabled sexual offences constituted
around 13% of the total. Just under five percent of cybercrimes in Renfrewshire were cyber en-
abled sexual-extortion crimes.

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ROAD SAFETY AND ROAD CRIME
Road Traffic Casualties  2022/23 2023/24
Number of persons killed on our roads 0 1
Number of persons seriously injured 8 16
Number of persons slightly injured 19 13
Number of children seriously injured 2 2
Road Traffic Data from 01/04/2023 to 30/06/2023 
Overall, road casualties have increased by three on the previous year, to a total of 30. Road
fatalities increased from zero to one year-on-year, serious injuries have risen from eight to 16,
while slight injuries have fallen by six, to a total of 13. While no children have been killed on
Renfrewshire’s roads, two have been seriously injured in the current reporting year - the same
figure as last year. 
Offences relating to motor vehicles have fallen by 12.8% on the previous year, to a total of
813. The detection rate for offences relating to motor vehicles is 85.2%, a fall of 3.1 percent-
age points on the previous year. 
Drink and drug driving offences have decreased by 23.2% on the previous year, to a total of
43.  While speeding offences have fallen from 177 last year to 133 this year, a drop of 24.9%.

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PUBLIC CONFIDENCE: COMPLAINTS & USER SATISFACTION
COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE POLICE From 01/04/2023 - 30/06/2023
A total of 47 complaint cases and 63 allegations have been received in Renfrewshire in the re-
porting period. 41 allegations were ‘On Duty’ with a further 22 relating to quality of service. 
PUBLIC CONFIDENCE From 01/05/2022 - 31/03/2023
66.7% of respondents to the ‘Your Police’ survey reported that they felt very or fairly safe in their local
area. 36.4% agreed, or strongly agreed that they had confidence in the police in their local area. 50% of
Renfrewshire respondents felt that the police were doing a good job in the local area.  While 58.3%
strongly agreed that they had respect for the local police. Your Police survey results indicate that some
local residents feel Renfrewshire Police could be doing better by having more officers on patrol and
more visibility.  Issues which were highlighted which continue to cause concern in the local community
include antisocial behaviour, housebreaking, speeding motorists and a lack of police resources.

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LOCAL POLICING PRIORITY OUTCOMES – CASE STUDIES
With the lighter evenings of the summer now in place the Community Policing teams have been
engaged with the “It’ll Cost You!” programme. This initiative is a collaboration between Police
Scotland, local authorities and alcohol producers and retailers with the aim to raise awareness
of the damaging effects and criminal nature of buying alcohol for under 18s. It has seen an in-
crease in patrols in and around identified hotspots in an attempt to reduce attempted purchases
of alcohol for under 18s.”
Across the last quarter the community policing teams have continued to deliver the annual pro-
gramme of safety inputs to local schools (both primary and secondary) and nurseries. The in-
puts cover a wide range of subjects and are targeted towards age appropriate year groups.
In April 2023 the Community Policing team organised the Annual Renfrewshire Schools Foot-
ball Tournament, the competition held at the On-X Sports centre in Linwood and was spon-
sored and supported by local businesses including Tescos, Linstone Housing and both Lin-
wood and Houston Community Councils. St Mirren Football Club sent representation for the
awards ceremony. The aim of this annual event is to help build relationships between young
people and the Police.
Additional youth engagement also took place in May through the representation of Community
Policing officers at the multi-agency Renfrewshire ‘Safe Kids’ initiative. The event held at the St.
Mirren football club stadium with the police focus on Online Safety and Bullying.
Throughout the last quarter Community officers were also involved with Operation SMEW a
multi-agency SEPA led operation that focussed on unlawful use of landfill site in Renfrewshire.
With the opening of the largest Asylum hotel in Scotland in Erskine, the Community Officers
have been engaged in a continuous programme of service user engagement by making them-
selves available at regular drop-in sessions at the hotel whereby the residents can informally
engage with officers who can provide advice and a range of matters related to Policing in Scot-
land.
The month of June also saw the formation of the new Preventions and Interventions Depart-
ment within K Division. This department comprises of many functions and responsibilities in-
cluding but not limited to: developing and strengthening partnerships and networks; liaising with
the National Partnership, Preventions and Community Wellbeing Division to deliver policies
around vulnerable people, anti-social behaviour and educational programmes; developing pre-
ventions activities; and exchanging and developing ideas between police and partners.
FORTHCOMING INITIATIVES
An initial focus of the department is conducting work around repeat missing persons and get-
ting the groundwork in place for the implementation of the Philomena Protocol which Police
Scotland has adopted. The national Philomena Protocol initiative, aims to help locate a young
person as quickly as possible when they are missing from care. The scheme enables partner
agencies to record on a dedicated form, vital information about the young person which can be
used to locate them. The intention is that if a child in care should then go missing the partner
agency can quickly supply Police Scotland with a copy of the form which speeds up the re-
sponse time. The police officer seconded to Kibble has been progressing the implementation of
the protocol which builds on the best practice that she has achieved already within Kibble
around prevention of absconding, and actions to be taken when absconding does take place.
This has been invaluable in terms of improving the relationship between both organisations,
and bridging the gaps with the young people accommodated there. Another focus has been
progressing missing person inputs to hospital settings in Renfrewshire. At the start of July the
team delivered an input to nurses at the RAH on how police and NHS can work together to pre-
vent people going missing from hospitals. The input was very well received and plans are in
place to deliver these on a regular basis to NHS staff within the hospital. We hope that this mul-
ti-agency approach to community safety will bring about long term improvements which cannot
be achieved by police action alone.