Democracy Spraffa

Item 13 - Safe DIG Report

West Dunbartonshire Council · 22 May 2025
Back to Community Planning West Dunbartonshire Management Board — 22 May 2025 and its agenda

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OFFICIAL 
Management Board Meeting
Development and Improvement Groups (DIGs): Highlights and Issues Report 
FOR INFORMATION ONLY x
FOR DECISION 
Name of DIG Safe DIG
Date of report 16/05/2025
Name and email of lead contact Supt Trish Robertson
Patricia.Robertson@scotland.police.uk 
1 Highlights of activity and progress since last meeting
On 15/05/2025, the SafeDIG met under the chair of Supt Trish Robertson. This
meeting had been rescheduled from April 2025 due to the number of apologies due
to the easter holidays.
This was the second SafeDIG under the chair of Superintendent Robertson and the
opportunity was taken to review all of the outstanding actions and milestones and
make a number of updates to reduce duplication and ensure all actions focused on
where partnership activity could truly make a difference to the safety of residents of
and visitors to the West Dunbartonshire area.
The updated list of actions and milestones were agreed in principle by the group,
however it was agreed that further actions needed to be added to reflect where the
group could contribute towards the work of the Violence Against Women and Girls
group, the Community Justice Partnership and the Alcohol and Drugs Partnership.
Representatives from each of these groups agreed to review and provide suggested
milestones and once these have been received the updated actions will be added to
Pentana for ongoing monitoring.
Discussions also took place with regards the remit of the group and whilst it was
acknowledged that this is outlined to some extent within the Local Outcomes
Improvement Plan (LOIP), it would be of benefit to agree a formal Terms of
Reference (ToR) for the SafeDIG. It was agreed that this would be discussed
alongside the ongoing review of the DIG groups and presented back to the next
meeting.
Furthermore, membership of the group was discussed and it was recognised that a
number of key partners were either not included or had not attended. Work is
ongoing to identify the correct representatives and secure their attendance at future
meetings.
ITEM 13

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In terms of activity since the last meeting, a successful partnership event was held at
Loch Lomond Shores on 12th April 2025, entitled To Emergencies and Beyond. This
event included stalls and demonstrations from various Police Scotland departments,
alongside Luss Rescue, HM Coastguard, Scottish Ambulance Service, Scottish Fire
and Rescue Service, Royal Navy, Ministry of Defence, Victim Support, Institute of
Advanced Motorists, First Bus, WDC Green Space, Strathclyde 4x4 Rescue,
Mountain Rescue Teams, National Parks and many more. The event was attended
by more than 12,000 members of the public, who were able to access safety
information, learn first aid and CPR and improve relations with the various services.
Partnership work is ongoing regarding the recent increase and risk of wild fires,
including public messaging and education to prevent fires starting. The FireSkills
programme is relaunching next week, with eleven S3 students attending from across
five West Dunbartonshire secondary schools (Vale of Leven Academy, Our Lady and
Saint Patrick’s High School, Dumbarton Academy, Clydebank High School and Saint
Peter the Apostle High School). Over the 3-day programme, the young participants
will take part in a range of fire-service related workshops and exercises, designed to
challenge and inspire participants as they develop key skills in teamwork and
communication, build their self-confidence and learn important fire and rescue
techniques including basic first aid and CPR. FireSkills is a programme driven by
partnership working and provides an excellent diversion opportunity for young
people.
Operation Ballaton was launched early this year due to the unseasonably good
weather and has seen multi-agency patrols around south Loch Lomond and Balloch
as visitor numbers begin to soar. Partners include Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and
Rescue Service, West Dunbartonshire Council, British Transport Police, Network
Rail and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. The aim of Operation
Ballaton is to reduce anti-social behaviour and ensure people can enjoy the green
spaces and water based spaces safely and responsibly.
Significant work has taken place around the Herbert Protocol, designed to reduce
the risk to people with dementia should they go missing. Advertisements have now
been placed within all GP surgeries in West Dunbartonshire, with doctors
encouraged to promote the protocol at point of diagnosis.
Inputs have been delivered in schools from a lived experience colleague working in
the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit, around gang culture and developing a
personal exit strategy. Youth Engagement Officers have also continued to deliver
inputs on domestic violence, consent and misogynistic behaviours and the Rosey
project continue to work to reduce sexual violence. 
2 Outline of any issues/risks and how these are being managed

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Attendance at the SafeDIG and progression of actions outwith individual organisation
updates continues to be a challenge, however it is hoped that the reinvigoration of
the action log and attendance list will improve this going forwards.
3 Outline of the main outputs expected before next meeting
It is planned that the updated action log and milestones will be formalised and
published on Pentana, along with an agreed Terms of Reference for the group.
Road Safety inputs are planned for all West Dunbartonshire High Schools for the
beginning of June. This will include inputs from the Safety Camera Unit, making use
of a virtual-reality headset to put the students in the driver’s seat of a vehicle and use
of dashcam footage from a fatal accident, narrated by relatives of the deceased.
Roads Policing officers will also attend and will provide demonstrations on checking
vehicles for safety, including inspections of the vehicles belonging to any young
drivers within the groups.

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4 What are your requirements of partners in the Community Planning Management
Board?
Support re attendance at future meetings.
5 Please outline any good news story you wish to share
See activity section.