Democracy Spraffa

PS Renfrewshire SBR October 2023

Renfrewshire Council · 31 October 2023
Back to Police and Fire and Rescue Scrutiny Sub-Committee — 31 October 2023 and its agenda

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Renfrewshire
Performance Summary Report
Reporting Period: 01/04/23 - 31/08/23
Total Crime 6,303 Crimes
Incidents Recorded Overall Dishonesty Domestic Abuse 
Incidents
+11.5% +21.3% +3.2%
+9.9% -1.6% -35.9%
Road Traffic 
Casualties
-6.9%*
Sexual Crime
23,108 804 1,573 876
890 181 41 2,826
Overall Violent Crime
Missing People Counter Terrorism
298 98
Common Assault
+1.0%
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 - 31 August 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 31 August 2023.
0.0% 
+7.1%
-23.4%

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Renfrewshire
Performance Summary Report
Reporting Period: 
1 Apr 2023 to 31 Aug 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 9.9% on the previous year, with a
total of 890 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 62.9%, a fall of 5.6% on the previous year. 
181 sexual crimes have been recorded in Renfrewshire in the reporting period,
three less than the previous year. However 20 more rapes / attempted rapes were
recorded. The detection rate for sexual crimes has decreased by 12.6 percentage
points, to 61.3%. 
Overall crimes of dishonesty have increased by 21.3%, with common
theft, shoplifting and fraud (three of the highest volume acquisitive
crimes) all continuing to rise. The detection rate achieved was 35.0%,
an increase on the previous year of 6.7%. Over 40% 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 66 drugs detections in the current
year, a rise of four on the previous reporting year. In Renfrewshire & In-
verclyde Division, serious and organised criminals were deprived of 
£1,294,784 in cash and assets through use of the Proceeds of Crime
Act. Two Serious and Organised Crime Group principal members and
41 SOCG associates were arrested in the current reporting year. 
Overall, road casualties have fallen by 23, to a total of 41. Offences re-
lating to motor vehicles have fallen by 10.7% on the previous year, to a
total of 1,284. The detection rate for offences relating to motor vehicles
is 85.7%. 
RENFREWSHIRE POLICING PRIORITIES 2023/26
POLICE SCOTLAND’S POLICING PRIORITIES 2023/24
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 6,304 6,303 Total number of 
incidents 21,574 23,108 
The volume of recorded crime and offences has remained the same, however, with a rise in
recorded crimes of violence, crimes of non-sexual violence and crimes of dishonesty. Record-
ed police incidents have increased by 7.1%, however remain 2.6% below five year average
figures.

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VIOLENCE, ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR AND DISORDER
Violence
Overall violent crime has increased by 9.9% on the previous year, with a total of 890 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 62.9%, a fall of 5.6% on the previous year. 
Disorder and Antisocial Behaviour
55 wilful fireraising crimes have been recorded— a decrease of 6.8% on the previous year.
The current detection rate is 12.7%, a drop of 7.6 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
18.2% on the previous year, to a total of 435 crimes in the reporting period. 
Hate Crime
13 more hate incidents have been recorded in Renfrewshire in the reporting period (n=117)
compared to the same period in 2022/23. 100 of these incidents resulted in a crime being
recorded, an increase of 19.0% on the previous year. The detection rate for hate crimes in
Renfrewshire in the reporting period is 60.0%, up by 2.9 percentage points on last year.

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Sexual Crime
181 sexual crimes have been recorded in Renfrewshire in
the reporting period, a decrease of 1.6% on the reported
crime volume in the previous year. However, this included
an increase of over 64% in the number of recorded rapes
and attempted rapes. The detection rate for sexual crimes
has decreased by 12.6 percentage points on the previous
year, to 61.3%. 42 cyber-enabled sexual crimes were rec-
orded in the reporting period, with a large proportion of
these relating to indecent communications with children
and sending sexual images to children, 
Missing People
In the period April 2023 to August 2023, 298 missing person reports have been recorded in Renfrewshire, a
significant decrease on the 389 reports in the same period in 2022/23. 297 of the missing people in the re-
porting period were traced alive, with the remaining missing person being found deceased. Repeat missing
persons continue to be a concern, with the top five repeat missing people (all of whom were aged 16 or un-
der) featuring in a total of 54 incidents – over 18% of the overall total of missing person incidents in the re-
porting 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 within 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 3.2% on the previous year, to a total of
876. 44.0% of all recorded incidents resulted in a crime being recorded – a decrease of 4.6 percentage
points on the previous year. The detection rate for domestic crime fell by 26.3 percentage points on the pre-
vious year, to 55.2% in the reporting period. 
Drug Related Deaths
31 confirmed or suspected drugs related deaths occurred in Renfrewshire in the reporting period - an in-
crease of two on the previous year. Toxicology results are awaited for all but one of the suspected DRDs in
the reporting period.  Although almost all of the toxicology results are still awaited, Cocaine and Valium con-
tinue to be 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 92% of
officers deployed in Renfrewshire have completed Naloxone training, and there have been five instances in
the past five months where Naloxone has been deployed. 
PROTECTING VULNERABLE PEOPLE

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SERIOUS AND ORGANISED CRIME
Intelligence led policing resulted in 66 drugs detections in the current year. This comprised of
58 detected drugs supply / possession with intent to supply crimes and eight crimes relating to
the production, manufacture or cultivation of drugs. 
In Renfrewshire & Inverclyde Division, serious and organised criminals were deprived of 
£1,294,784 in cash and assets through use of the Proceeds of Crime Act - an increase of over
186% on the previous year’s POCA total. 
Two Serious and Organised Crime Group principal members and 41 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 80 drugs seizures in Renfrewshire in the report-
ing period, with 46% of these seizures relating to Class ‘A’ substances.  Over 57% of the drug
seizures 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 21.3%, with common theft, shoplifting and
fraud (three of the highest volume acquisitive crimes) all continuing to rise. The detection rate
achieved was 35.0%, an increase on the previous year of 6.7%. 
478 shoplifting crimes have been recorded – an increase of 41.4% on the previous year. The
detection rate has risen by 4.6 percentage points to 59.6%. 
Housebreaking crimes (including attempts) decreased by 1.0% on the previous year, to a total
of 98 crimes. HB crimes involved dwelling houses in Renfrewshire have risen by over 4% on
the previous year. The HB detection rate is 16.3%, a decrease of 2.2 percentage points. 
Acquisitive crimes targeting motor vehicles have risen by 15.1% on the previous year, to a total
of 137 crimes. Theft from a motor vehicle accounts for the highest proportion of motor vehicle
crime (n=61). 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 36.5%, a decrease of 3 percent-
age 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 40% of all reported cybercrimes in Renfrewshire
were acquisitive crimes. A range of online frauds and attempted fraud methods continue to be
reported, including suspects posing as bank employees in order to gain access to complainer’s
online bank accounts and online devices. Other crimes reported were internet order frauds and
social engineering frauds in which suspects used messaging apps to contact complainers while
purporting to be a relative in need of financial assistance, in order to fraudulently induce online
payments to be sent to them. 
Over 30% of the overall number of recorded cybercrimes were miscellaneous offences includ-
ing threatening and abusive communications, while cyber-enabled sexual offences constituted
around 12% of the total. Just under 10% of cybercrimes in Renfrewshire were cyber enabled
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 1 1
Number of persons seriously injured 24 19
Number of persons slightly injured 36 18
Number of children seriously injured 3 3
Road Traffic Data from 01/04/2023 to 31/08/2023 
Overall, road casualties have fallen by 23 on the previous year, to a total of 41. Road fatalities
remained the same at one year-on-year, serious injuries have fallen from 24 to 19, while slight
injuries have fallen by 18, to a total of 18. While no children have been killed on Renfrew-
shire’s roads, three have been seriously injured in the current reporting year - the same figure
as last year. 
Offences relating to motor vehicles have fallen by 10.7% on the previous year, to a total of
1,284. The detection rate for offences relating to motor vehicles is 85.7%, a fall of 1.7 percent-
age points on the previous year. 
Drink and drug driving offences have decreased by 22.3% on the previous year, to a total of
73.  While speeding offences have fallen from 244 last year to 222 this year, a drop of 9.0%.

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PUBLIC CONFIDENCE: COMPLAINTS & USER SATISFACTION
COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE POLICE From 01/04/2023 - 31/08/2023
A total of 89 complaint cases and 119 allegations have been received in Renfrewshire in the
reporting period. 83 allegations were ‘On Duty’ with a further 36 relating to quality of service. 
PUBLIC CONFIDENCE From 01/04/2023 - 31/08/2023
80.8% of respondents to the ‘Your Police’ survey reported that they felt very or fairly safe in their local
area. 30.4% agreed, or strongly agreed that they had confidence in the police in their local area. 29.8%
of Renfrewshire respondents felt that the police were doing a good job in the local area.  While 40.4%
strongly agreed that they had respect for the local police. Your Police survey results indicate that some
local residents continue to 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 by youths, speeding motorists, drug dealing and a lack of police
resources.

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LOCAL POLICING PRIORITY OUTCOMES – CASE STUDIES
The partnerships team have an Inspector in post who is committed to developing and strength-
ening partnership working in Renfrewshire. One focus for the team is supporting vulnerable
people particularly in relation to missing episodes. Recently  a missing person co-ordinator role
has been created with an officer dedicated to supporting the public and partners. Ongoing work
with the RAH continues along with continued and well established engagement with Kibble. A
joint application between Kibble and Police Scotland secured assistance from the National
Missing persons charity who are in the process of delivering additional training to Kibble staff,
with the view of reducing missing episodes. The partnership teams are currently delivering
training to Dykebar, Charleston Centre and addictions services with the offer of ongoing re-
fresher training. This provides information on staff responsibilities and police procedures which
aims to strengthen relationships and reduce periods of missing. Work is also ongoing with our
cadre of supervisors and Inspectors to keep them apprised of the ongoing work by the preven-
tions team. 
We are still continuing prevention work to deter vehicle crime incidents with a recent event at
Asda, Linwood which was very well received. Organisations/locations who have an high popu-
lation of our elderly community have received visits from the team to discuss doorstep scams,
cyber-crime and frauds. In addition the team did some promotional work at financial premises
speaking to people on the risks of financial harm and around 250 students at West college
were met by the team to discuss the dangers of Sextortion. 
To target acquisitive crime, the team have visited every fuel station in Renfrewshire engaging
staff, managers and business owners with crime prevention advice and promoting the civil re-
covery scheme through the government. This allows retailers to report and reclaim funds for
customers who forget to pay for fuel rather than reporting to Police on every occasion and
which then keeps reports to police of purely criminal instances. This has proved positive with
reduced reporting noted. 
FORTHCOMING INITIATIVES
With the work ongoing with partners on missing person instances we are hoping to roll out
training for partners to enter intelligence onto an online system which is then directed straight to
our Intelligence team. This work is in the early stages however is an ideal opportunity to cap-
ture intelligence that may have otherwise been lost. The preventions team are planning to deliv-
er inputs to all care establishments in Renfrewshire on the not at home procedure along with
the Philomena process. This is to ensure consistency, give staff reassurance and of course of-
fer the best possible response to missing person incidents of children in a care setting. The
team delivered this training to establishments in Inverclyde which was well received and report-
ing has decreased. 
On the run up to Fireworks night the team have already started engagement with colleagues in
SFRS and the local authority youth workers where joint inputs will be delivered to High Schools
in Renfrewshire. We have a joint safety letter which will be circulated to schools for emailing to
parents and we are planning on running an article with partners in local media to highlight safe-
ty messages. We plan to conduct joint visits with Trading standards to engage with retailers
and promote the joint working to keep people of Renfrewshire safe.