Item 7a - Police Scotland Scrutiny Report Q3
West Dunbartonshire Council · 25 February 2026
Back to Housing & Communities Committee — 25 February 2026 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 West Dunbartonshire Performance Summary Report Reporting Period: April to Dec 25 Total Crime 849 Crimes Incidents 19,693 Recorded Dishonesty Crimes 1539 Domestic Abuse Inc 1115 +10.7% +13.5% +4.7% -0.3% +27.8% +30%* Road Deaths & Serious Injuries 26 +0.3%* Sexual Crime 221 -584*PYTD +77*PYTD, +130*5YR AVG +183*PYTD, +341*5YR AVG +50*PYTD, +113*5YR AVG -3*PYTD, +113*5YR AVG +48*PYTD, +67*5YR AVG +6*on PYTD +9*PYTD Violent Crime 1066 Missing People 196 Counter Terrorism -66*PYTD -25%* +12*PYTD, -6*5YR AVG Common Assault 796 +12.9% Housebreaking 105 Disorder Complaints 2740 The National Terrorism Threat level is SUBSTANTIAL This means that an attack is likely. *PYTD = Previous Year to Date *5YR = 5 year average +11.3% -2.9% ITEM 7a
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OFFICIAL SECTION PAGE NUMBER Introduction 2 Executive Summary 3 Demand Analysis 4 Acquisitive Crime 5 Public Protection 6 Road Safety 7 Serious Organized Crime 8 Violence 9 Antisocial Behaviour 10 Public Confidence - Complaints & Allegations 11 Introduction I am pleased to present this performance summary report to the West Dunbartonshire Housing Committee for its information and consideration. The Reporting Period for this report is cumulative for Quarters 1 to 4 of 2025/26, with available figures being shown from 1st April 2025 through to 31st Dec 2025. 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 correct as of date of publication. Unless stated otherwise numerical comparisons are against the previous year to date and the previous five year average for the same data period specified. Crimes and offences are grouped under recognised categories for statistical purposes. The Scottish Government defines these categories, as follows: Group 1 - Non Sexual Crimes of Violence Group 6 – Anti-social offences Group 2 - Sexual Crimes Group 7 – Miscellaneous Offences Group 3 - Crimes of Dishonesty Group 8 – Road traffic offences Group 4 – Damage and reckless behaviour PYTD - Previous Year to Date Group 5 – Crimes against society CYTD - Current Year to Date
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OFFICIAL PRIORITY AREA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Acquisitive Crime At the end of Qtr. 3, acquisitive crimes have increased by 13.5% from 1356 to 1539 crimes compared to the same period last year. This is largely attributed to a rise in shoplifting’s (+58) common thefts (+41), vehicle crime (+44) and housebreaking’s (+12) during 2025/26. Public Protection Group 2 sexual crimes have also risen by 27.8% with 221 crimes recorded compared to 173 at the end of 2024/25. This is largely due to an increase in the number of crimes relating to indecent images/communications from 48 to 99 crimes with the majority predominantly being committed via online platforms. Both sexual assaults and rape offences have seen marginal reductions compared to the same period last year. Road Safety & Road Crime The number of fatal road traffic collisions within West Dunbartonshire has remained consistent to the position in 2024/25 with one recorded during both reporting periods. Road traffic collisions resulting in serious injuries have risen slightly with 25 recorded compared to 19 last year while those resulting in slight injuries have reduced by 4. Serious Organised Crime As at the end of Qtr. 3 drugs supply crimes show a reduction of 51% from 70 to 34 crimes while possession charges have also decreased from 347 to 285 crimes. Across Argyll & West Dunbartonshire 20 crimes linked to persons associated with serious and organised crime have been recorded and £109,226 has been seized under POCA since 1st April 2025. Violence & ASB At the end of Qtr. 3, Group 1 crimes of violence have reduced marginally with 1066 crimes compared to 1069 the previous year to date. Anti-social behaviour (ASB) related crimes have also risen from 910 to 959 due to increases in breach of the peace/threatening abusive behaviour (+67) compared to last year. 1. Acquisitive Crime 2. Public Protection 3. Road Safety & Road Crime 4. Serious Organised Crime 5. Violence & Anti-social behaviour WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE POLICING PRIORITIES 2023-2026
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OFFICIAL CRIME PYTD CYTD INCIDENTS PYTD CYTD Total Crimes & Offences 7513 8362 Total number of incidents 20,277 19,693 DEMAND ANALYSIS - * PYTD - PREVIOUS YEAR TO DATE CYTD - CURRENT YEAR TO DATE * * * * The total volume of crimes and offences recorded within West Dunbartonshire has seen an overall increase when compared to the previous year while the current figure is also above the previous 5-year average (+14.3%). Most crime types have experienced an increase compared to last year, with the exception of a slight reduction in crimes relating to damage and reckless behaviour (-4.6%) and a marginal reduction in crimes of violence. Road traffic offences (+27.8%) continue to experience the most significant increase year on year from 1974 to 2523 crimes followed by acquisitive crimes (+183 crimes).
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OFFICIAL ACQUISITIVE CRIME At the end of Qtr. 3, shoplifting crimes have seen an increase of 9.5% compared to the previous year from 612 to 670 and are currently above the previous 5-year average (405). Year to date an additional 49 shoplifting crimes have been detected year on year, while the detection rate has risen from 55% to 57.6%. Motor vehicle crimes have increased by 46.2%, which is due to a rise in thefts from motor vehicles through 2025 from 26 to 70 crimes, which is also considerably above the previous 5-year average (33). The increase has largely been attributed to a repeat offender whose MO was to target insecure (unlocked) vehicles for personal belongings at various loci in both Clydebank and Alexandria, which have since been detected. The DR for vehicle crime is at 37.6%. Housebreaking crimes have increased by 12 from 93 to 105 crimes. The increase is largely due to a rise in crimes at domestic dwelling’s (+10), while housebreakings at commercial premises have seen a slight reduction (-6). Approx. 55% of crimes at dwellings were recorded as attempts or HBWI’s with no property being stolen. The detection rate for housebreaking overall is currently at 36%, which is a slight increase from 34% in 2024/25. Common thefts have risen by 13% compared to the previous year from 315 to 356 crimes, which is currently above the 5-year average of (160). The detection rate has also increased, rising from 25.1% to 27.3% year on year. In number terms an additional 18 crimes have been detected. The Division successfully applied for funding though the National Retail Crime Task Force which resulted in the formation of a Divisional Retail Crime Unit. The funding has allowed for additional patrols in and around the main town centre retail business areas to further compliment the Community Policing model. This new unit has been very successful and since its inception mid-November, they have made notable detections of the most active criminals with regards retail crime. The court has imposed custodial sentences on a number of individuals which has provided the retailers with the confidence that shoplifting is being taken seriously. This is evidenced by the increase in reports being made to officers as their dedicated presence in the main shopping areas is appreciated by the retail workers. The increase in detections is testament to these dedicated patrols in both uniform and plain clothes. We are working in partnership with the National Crime Unit and Retailers Against Crime (RAC) to increase the likelihood of identifying offenders by accessing their national databases of travelling criminal’s images and identities.
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OFFICIAL Both rape and sexual assaults have seen a combined reduction of 7%. In terms of online offences, we continue to work tirelessly to combat these as we recognise that although these crimes do not involve physical contact, they can have a very serious and lasting negative impact on the victim. Our Youth Engagement Officers are delivering inputs on misogynistic behaviours, online sexual harms and domestic violence with the intention of preventing the youths becoming the future perpetrators of such criminality. Additionally, our YEOs are speaking with children who have, or are, witnessing domestic violence and intervening to prevent those behaviours becoming normalised. We are engaging with the public through social media. We are partners in the VAWG group and have recently approached the larger private sector companies in West Dun seeking buy-in to highlight the seriousness of domestic violence. Through this initial engagement, we have been asked to deliver an input on coercive behaviours to a mixed gender group of employees at a business as part of their own staff welfare programme. Speaking about domestic violence and sexual violence can give victims the confidence to report matters and others the confidence to no longer accept what is inappropriate behaviours which sometimes can be dismissed as just ‘work banter.’ At the end of Qtr. 3 2025/26, Group 2 crimes have increased by 59% (+49) compared to the same period last year. Despite the overall increase both rape offences and sexual assaults have recorded marginal reductions from 47 to 43 and 57 to 54 crimes respectively. Much of the overall rise in Group 2 figures is due to a rise in online sexual activity involving indecent images/communications. Approximately 98% of rape crimes occurred in a private space setting with the majority being committed by persons known to the victim. Similarly, around 68% of sexual assaults also occurred in a private place and 96% of crimes were committed by persons known to the victim. Just over half of all sexual assaults (51%) recorded during the current reporting period related to non-recent reports. Both the detection rates for rape and sexual assault have risen significantly by 13.3% and 28.2% on PYTD respectively. Crimes relating to indecent images/communications have experienced a considerable increase compared to last year from 48 to 99 crimes with the majority being committed by strangers via online platforms. Approx. 25% of recorded offences were committed by 2 repeat offenders, which have since been detected. The number of domestic abuse incidents has increased by 4.7% compared to PYTD from 1065 to 1115, while the number of crimes recorded have also risen by 13.8% from 782 to 890 as at the end of Qtr. 3. The crime/incident conversion rate has reduced marginally from 50.7% to 50.3%. A total of 196 missing person reports had been recorded by the end of Qtr. 3, which is a decrease of 25% from 262 last year. PUBLIC PROTECTION
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OFFICIAL At the end of Qtr. 3, the number of fatal road collisions in West Dunbartonshire, remains unchanged from the position last year with one recorded during both periods. Serious injuries have increased by 6 from 19 to 25, while the number of slight injuries has decreased by 4 from 26 to 22. The number of serious injuries involving children has risen marginally from 1 to 3. Offences relating to motor vehicles have seen a considerable increase of 27.8% from 1974 to 2523 (+549). Speeding offences have experienced the highest increase (+274) followed by vehicle defect such as construction and lighting offences (+121) and unlawful use of motor vehicle such as licence, insurance and registration offences (+117). The increase in vehicle offences is testament to proactive policing within West Dunbartonshire throughout 2025/26. Road Traffic Casualties 2024/25 2025/26 Number of persons killed on our roads 1 1 Number of persons seriously injured 19 25 Number of persons slightly injured 26 22 Number of children seriously injured 1 3 As stated above, the substantial increase in road traffic offences is as a direct result of pro- active policing across West Dunbartonshire. Specialist traffic officers, supported by their divisional colleagues, have been ensuring those using the roads are doing so in line with road traffic legislation. We are briefing officers daily and this includes intelligence on persons driving illegally be that under the influence of drugs or alcohol or without the required documentation. We are targeting these individuals who are a danger to other road users and pedestrians. Our very successful school road safety days presented during 2025 will be repeated in 2026 across West Dunbartonshire. The Preventions & Partnerships Team have, similarly to our work around VAWG, approached both Chivas and Aggreko in Dumbarton seeking to deliver road safety inputs to their apprentices as part of their own employee wellbeing responsibilities. These companies have younger staff driving to and from work at all hours resourcing 24/7 coverage shift patterns. The offer has been very well received, and dates are being agreed for the events. From early December, we have been accessing the Scottish Government road safety campaign resources relating to the launch of the Real Roads Don’t Reset – new Road Safety Scotland campaign targeting young drivers. The campaign addresses drink and drug-driving reminding young drivers of the potentially devastating consequences for themselves, their passengers and other road users. It also reinforces the penalties they could face, including points, driving bans, fines and even prison. The campaign messaging will change in January with new creative assets which specifically look at speeding as a risky behaviour. The creative taps into this audience's love of gaming, reiterating the key message ‘Real Roads Don’t Reset’. Driving under the influence is a dangerous game. There are no extra lives so the campaign urges drivers to think twice before they get behind the wheel if under the influence. ROAD SAFETY AND ROAD CRIME
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OFFICIAL Across Argyll & West Dunbartonshire, 20 crimes linked to persons associated with serious and organised crime have been recorded and £109,226 has been seized under POCA since 1st April 2025. As at the end of Qtr. 3, drug supply charges have reduced from 70 to 34 crimes, which is currently below the previous 5-year average (60), while drug possession charges have seen a decrease of 17.9% from 347 to 285 crimes. The monies seized under POCA seizures has increased by 194.3% since the end of the previous quarter, £37,109 to £109,226. A substantial sum removed from the criminal fraternity that would have been re-invested to peddle further harms. The reduction in the overall number of persons charged with drug supply offences is mainly due to the instigation of new tactics and longer-term investigations targeting higher level criminals involved in the production and supply of controlled drugs. These investigations are protracted however focussing policing activity on these individuals continues to achieve far more impactful results to better disrupt the supply of controlled drugs into our communities. A change of service provider for addictions services across West Dunbartonshire has been confirmed, services will be moving from DACA and Alternatives to With You. Appropriate partnership work is ongoing to ensure a smooth transition of services for those people already engaging with services and also for those persons being referred into services from police custody. This is part of the overall Alcohol & Drug Partnership work to reduce the number of people with addictions, some who resort to criminality to fund their addiction. All monies spent to purchase controlled drugs at street level is funding serious and organise crime. Youth Engagement Officers are delivering inputs on drug harms and the dangers of using such commodities. We are working with our Trading Standards partners to target retailers supplying counterfeit cigarettes and vapes and also developing intelligence to target unscrupulous shop keepers selling products to underage persons. SERIOUS & ORGANISED CRIME
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OFFICIAL VIOLENCE & ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR A considerable volume of violent crime is directly related to the consumption of alcohol; we are conducting licensed premise visits to monitor levels of intoxication. We are statutory partners within the Alcohol & Drug Partnership and will be placing more emphasis on alcohol addiction & misuse as we move through 2026. We will be looking at over provision of alcohol availability and working with our Trading Standards colleagues to ensure we impact on any alcohol sales to persons under 18. We are working with the retail sector and providing security surveys with recommendations for improving staff and premises safety and security. Robbery investigations, by their very nature, are often prolonged and require the deployment of scenes of crime officers. Any subsequent forensic opportunities take a considerable period to be processed allowing for the identification and arrest of perpetrators. This is evidenced by the fluctuating detection rates of robbery crimes. The detection can be made and attributed to following reporting periods. We have several robbery crimes currently being investigated and the detection rate is expected to increase over the following months. Levels of violence in West Dunbartonshire overall have reduced marginally by 0.3% from 1069 to 1066 (-3) crimes. Approx. 56% of all crimes took place in a private place. Furthermore, almost 40% of public space crimes were committed by persons known to the victim. Despite an overall reduction, the number of common assaults has risen from 719 to 796 year on year. Serious assaults have decreased from 58 to 45 crimes (-22.4%) year on year while robberies have seen an increase of 25% (+7 crimes). Approx. 56% of serious assaults occurred within a public space and around 64% of crimes were committed by persons known to the victim. Half of all crimes were committed whilst the victim and/or offender was under the influence of alcohol. Robberies were largely spit 60/40 public/private space with 14 crimes occurring within a residential premise and 14 related to street robberies. The remaining 8 crimes occurred within a commercial locus. Half of all robbery crimes were committed by persons known to the victim with 4 being domestic related. The detection rate for robbery has reduced by 16.4% from 71.4% to 55%, while the DR for serious assault remains relatively unchanged at 71.1% from 72.4% PYTD.
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OFFICIAL Common assaults continue to experience an increase of 10.7% from 719 to 796 and is currently above the 5-year average (666). This has been offset however by a 21.4% reduction in assaults on police and emergency workers (-31 crimes). Around 60% of common assaults occurred in private space settings and in nearly half of public space crimes, offenders were known to victims. Much of the increase on last year is attributed to a rise in domestic assaults from 230 to 298 crimes as at the end of Qtr. 3. Across the recording period the number of ASB related calls to Police Scotland has increased slightly by approx. 5.6% compared to last year. Similarly anti-social related offences (Group 6) have increased by 5.4% with 959 crimes recorded compared to 910 PYTD, however the current figure remains marginally below the previous 5-year average (1008). VIOLENCE & ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR During this reporting period, the area experienced a substantial volume of calls relating to the misuse of fireworks, generally coded as public nuisance calls which play into the overall ASB figures. We have an ongoing investigation into the firework disorder, and this has involved many hours of CCTV interrogation. Our CID are leading this enquiry. The recent upgrade to the CCTV infrastructure is of great importance and benefit to both the police and the residents of West Dunbartonshire. The provision of CCTV is crucial to our activities around ASB and general disorder in public places. The quality of CCTV footage has been greatly enhanced increasing the likelihood of positive identification of persons involved in criminality. The mere presence of CCTV has a positive impact on reducing ASB. The CCTV team, based within Clydebank Police Office, have an excellent working relationship with our officers and their knowledge and experience of working in the local areas is invaluable. The Preventions Team and dedicated Disclosure Officer are collaborating with both the WD ASB Team and the area Registered Social Landlords to ensure we are disclosing ASB by tenants at the earliest opportunity in line with the legislation to allow for proportionate executive action to be taken against those responsible without undue delay.
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OFFICIAL PUBLIC CONFIDENCE: COMPLAINTS & USER SATISFACTION Overall satisfaction with Police Scotland User Satisfaction results show that locally, public confidence levels remain high within Argyll and West Dunbartonshire with overall satisfaction levels at 74.5%, which is above the position as at the end of Qtr. 3 during the 2024/25 reporting period (73%) and the position in the West (71%). Overall satisfaction nationally with contacting the police was at 67% in Quarter 3, no percentage change from the previous quarter. Satisfaction remained between 68%-74% in the past 2024-25 financial year. Detailed below are our User Experience results for L Division for Q3, the table above shows YTD stats. Overall Satisfaction (3,704) L Division (134) Argyll & Bute (36) West Dumbartonshire (41) 67% 69% 81% 56% Healthy Performance Assessments Under our People Plan, we are keen to engage in proactive initiatives which can assist in creating a positive working environment where our people feel valued and help maximise availability to the front line. This in turn will put us in the strongest position to serve our local communities. In keeping with our priority of creating a thriving workforce, we are very pleased to have offered Healthy Performance Assessments with Optima Health, at sites across L Division from December 2025 to March 2026. What are Healthy Performance Assessments? Healthy Performance Assessments are completely voluntary and confidential onsite health assessments lasting approximately 30 minutes. Officers will be provided with a same day report of their results. The assessments include - Height & weight - Blood Pressure - Resting heart rate - Diabetes - Body fat % - Lifestyle Review - Bowel Screening (optional) Hydration % - Total Cholesterol – Basal Metabolic Rate – HDL (good cholesterol – Estimated Daily Calories – Total/Good Cholesterol ratio 74.5% Satisfied/Very Satisfied - YTD Total of 432 responses