Police Scotland Update
Argyll and Bute Council · 17 August 2022
Back to Oban Lorn & the Isles Area Community Planning Group — 17 August 2022 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 Argyll and Bute Oban, Lorn and the Isles - Area Community Planning Group Partner Update – Police Scotland Resourcing Following the retirement of Chief Inspector Marlene Baillie, who served the area so tirelessly, we are pleased to introduce our new Area Commander, Chief Inspector Simon Shanks. Simon is based in Oban has provided the following message for the group: “I am very pleased to join the team as the Local Area Commander for Oban, Lorn and the Isles and Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands. I have 20 years policing experience from a variety of areas with Police Scotland and whilst new to this Sub Division, I have been part of L Division for two and half years and previously worked as the Area Inspector for Cowal and Bute, so have a real understanding of rural Policing.” The OLI area has also welcomed two new Probationary Officers to Oban Police Station. PCs Kieran Barr and Rena Timsit are already on patrol in Oban, bolstering the numbers at the station and are looking forward to serving the community as they develop in their careers. Further, following a restructure, the Division is pleased to welcome 3 new Inspectors to the area, recruited from current staff within the division, who will be working in the Response Directorate. Temporary Inspector Alasdair MacLaren will be operating out of Campbeltown, and Temporary Inspectors Karen MacLennan and Ian Hutchison will be working out of Oban. When on duty they will have responsibility for the MAKI area, monitoring and managing the calls for service that occur during their shift. Succession planning is being reviewed closely for the OLI area. Together, with colleagues across Argyll, work is being undertaken to recruit staff into the remote areas of the division and a working group currently exists around recruitment and retention. Local Events Over the coming months OLI Police will be launching an initiative to try and recruit more Special Constables, to increase our Policing footprint and to engage the community more in the Policing that takes place. We will be linking with the larger employers in the area to assist us in spreading this message and to help incentivise participation & recruitment, through assistance with time off so Special Constables can attend key events and support community initiatives. Should you have contacts within large organisations, would like to know more, or feel that you could contribute in some way to this process, please link with PS Christopher Edwards at Oban Police Station on Christopher.edwards@scotland.police.uk
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OFFICIAL OFFICIAL Ongoing Work of Note The Community Team, led by Inspector Paul Collins, is increasing its collaboration with Neighbourhood & Rural Watch, training up local Policing representatives to increase the footprint of this worthwhile enterprise in the OLI area. We will be doing initiatives over the coming months to try and increase the engagement of members of the community. Keep Safe – Ukrainian Support Updates have been provided previously around the Keep Safe initiative, which operates throughout Scotland with Argyll and Bute having over 50 Keep Safe Places throughout its communities. Keep Safe was designed with disable people however it can be used by anyone who feels lost, scared or vulnerable when out in the community. Ukrainian translated Keep Safe materials have been shared with all Keep Safe places and key contacts through the Violence Against Women and Girls Partnership to enable people from Ukraine to be aware and be able to access Keep Safe places if they feel vulnerable when in our communities. Doorstep Crime Guidance A newly established partnership agreement between Police Scotland, Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) and Argyll and Bute Council Trading Standards provides a more robust process for reporting and identifying those who carry out doorstep crimes such as fraud and consumer protection offences. When Police Scotland and Argyll and Bute Council Trading Standards are contacted by the public and notified of an incident where criminals have purported to carry out works such as driveway and roofing repairs, professional trade’s people from ACHA will now attend and provide an independent assessment of the work carried out.
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OFFICIAL OFFICIAL This will provide Police Scotland and Argyll and Bute Council Trading Standards a clearer ability to determine if any crime has taken place and if so what charges are relevant. This process has been used in the Oban area recently. Road Safety On Thursday 28th July 2022, officers from the Roads Policing Unit and Community Engagement Team held a Facebook Live Q&A in relation to motorcycle safety as Bute and Cowal are popular areas not only for resident motorcyclists but also visitors to the area, particularly in summer. This was the first Facebook Q&A live session held in this manner with 21 comments of engagement which was well received. Your Police Survey Police Scotland has continued to meet the needs of our communities during a demanding and difficult period for the people of Scotland. Understanding the views and priorities of Scotland's diverse communities is fundamental to how Police Scotland responds to the needs of the public. Our public engagement activities help us improve how we deliver our policing services in local communities, ensuring they are accessible for everyone. This survey will help us improve how we deliver policing services in your area. Our Annual Police Plan sets out what we will do to keep our communities safe. It has been developed using your responses to last year’s survey – along with focus groups, workshops and other ways we listen to you. They survey is designed to be completed online – you can visit consult.scotland.police.uk What happens with what you tell us?
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OFFICIAL OFFICIAL It is vital that we listen, understand, and take action using your views and experiences. Our Annual Police Plan 2022/23 sets out what we will do to keep our communities safe and this has been developed using your responses to last year's survey, along with focus groups, workshops and other ways we listen to communities. Complete the survey in a different way A British Sign Language version of this survey is available at https://consult.scotland.police.uk/strategy-insight-and-innovation/bsl-version-your- police-2022-2023. You may find this version easier if you use BSL to communicate. Please let us know if you want to complete the survey in a different way (for example, over the phone): InsightEngagement@scotland.pnn.police.uk. Your response is anonymous and you will not be identified through the information you provide unless you choose to identify yourself in your responses. If you are a young person aged 12-25, there is more information about how to claim your 150 Rewards points shown after you submit your response. Not a Member yet? Go to young.scot to sign up.