Item 9e - SAFE DIG Update
West Dunbartonshire Council · 16 February 2023
Back to Community Planning West Dunbartonshire Management Board — 16 February 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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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 18th January 2023 Name and email of lead contact Supt Lorna Gibson, (lorna.gibson2@scotland.police.uk) 1 Highlights of activity and progress since last meeting The Safe DIG convened a short life working group to review their Safe DIG strategy which runs from 2020-2023. It was agreed that the Safe DIG needed to focus on prevention and early intervention outcomes ensuring the thematic strands are also incorporated: Sustainability, Empowerment and Wellbeing. This would also ensure the learning from the Christie Commission report was addressed with prevention taking precedence over failure demand. It was noted that the Cost of Living Crisis was paramount to the revised Strategy as the knock on effect of this will have an impact on community safety. Suggestions discussed included: • Focus on prevention and early intervention • Link to the Community Empowerment Strategy • Incorporate the work around Night zone West • Encourage use of Railway Guardian App • Be aligned to other strategic groups to avoid duplication • Ensure alignment with current LOIP through the Safe DIG as recorded on Pentana • Capture cost of living crisis challenges and impact All members of the Safe DIG have been tasked to provide comment for end January to enable redraft and consultation prior to the revised Safe DIG strategy coming to CPWD in May 2023 for approval. The cost of living crisis may be linked with a rise in low level thefts such as shoplifting which has an effect on our economy and business communities. In response to this there is now a dedicated town centre Police Office in Dumbarton and in February there will be a new officer starting who will cover Balloch and the ITEM 9e
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OFFICIAL Vale of Leven. This is in addition to the existing officer in Clydebank to ensure the town centre officer approach is enhanced. Funding from Night Zone West was provided for Festive Safety work for both increased police patrols and CCTV opportunities. This had a positive impact on local communities for both ASB and acquisitive crime. This enabled 80 licensed premises visits during the festive season. Discussions are now ongoing to utilise any underspend. British Transport Police have seen a 12% reduction in crime over the festive season, which may be linked to additional patrols as well as the train strikes. Establishments for Looked After Children in Clydebank will now be using the “Not at Home” protocol which will ensure all young people are treated equally, based on risk assessments on individual circumstances. This links in with the Scottish Government work around The Promise. 2 Outline of any issues/risks and how these are being managed The issue around the Cost of Living Crisis was discussed and will be incorporated into future Safe DIG strategies and actions moving forward. Work has already began to review plans for Spring ASB around Operation Balleton with all partners involved. 3 Outline of the main outputs expected before next meeting Before the next Safe DIG, a draft of the Safe DIG Strategy will be drawn up ensuring full connectivity with the LOIP and other relevant strategies. Plans will also be in place for Easter holidays and related ASB that may come with this. 4 What are your requirements of partners in the Community Planning Management Board? None. 5 Please outline any good news story you wish to share The Communities Team from West Dunbartonshire Council and Police Scotland provided a presentation to the local Elected Members around CCTV in West Dunbartonshire and its successes and effectiveness. The public space CCTV upgrade funds have arrived and are currently with Glasgow City Council with drawn down agreements being prepared. The CCTV working group will be re-established with representation from Communities Teams, Housing, Legal, Roads, Building Services, Procurement, CCTV operators and Police Scotland. The West Dunbartonshire CCTV operators also were highly commended runners up at the Argyll and West Dunbartonshire Award Ceremony in the category of Partner of the Year and thanks was expressed to their excellent work in contributing to the safety of communities throughout West Dunbartonshire.