Item 7a - Police Scotland Scrutiny Report Q4 - 2025-2026
West Dunbartonshire Council · 13 May 2026
Back to Housing & Communities Committee — 13 May 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
OFFICIAL OFFICIAL West Dunbartonshire Performance Summary Report Reporting Period: April 25 to Mar 26 Total Crime 1087 Crimes Incidents 25,877 Recorded Dishonesty Crimes 2068 Domestic Abuse Inc 1487 +9.1% +17.5% +2.6% +1.1% +8.4% +17.9%* Road Deaths & Serious Injuries 33 +2.4%* Sexual Crime 284 -540*PYTD +87*PYTD, +170*5YR AVG +308*PYTD, +490*5YR AVG +38*PYTD, +161*5YR AVG +15*PYTD, +184*5YR AVG +22*PYTD, +58*5YR AVG +5*on PYTD +84*PYTD Violent Crime 1441 Missing People 285 Counter Terrorism -60*PYTD -17.4%* +15*PYTD, -22*5YR AVG Common Assault 1047 +12.7% Housebreaking 133 Disorder Complaints 3583 The National Terrorism Threat level is SUBSTANTIAL This means that an attack is likely. *PYTD = Previous Year to Date *5YR = 5 year average +10.9% -2% ITEM 7a
Page 2
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 March 2026. 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
Page 3
OFFICIAL PRIORITY AREA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Acquisitive Crime At the end of Qtr. 4, acquisitive crimes have increased by 17.5% from 1760 to 2068 crimes compared to the same period last year. This is largely attributed to a rise in shopliftings (+107), common thefts (+47), vehicle-related thefts (+81) and housebreakings (+15) during 2025/26. Public Protection Group 2 sexual crimes have also seen an increase of 8.4% with 284 crimes recorded compared to 262 at the end of 2024/25. This is largely due to an increase in the number of crimes relating to indecent images/communications from 75 to 112 crimes with the majority predominantly being committed via online platforms. Both sexual assaults and rape offences have seen slight reductions compared to the same period last year. Road Safety & Road Crime The number of fatal road traffic collisions within West Dunbartonshire has reduced marginally from the position in 2024/25 with only 1 collision recorded compared to 2 during the previous reporting period. Road traffic collisions resulting in serious injuries have risen slightly with 32 recorded compared to 26 last year while those resulting in slight injuries have reduced by five. Serious Organised Crime As at the end of Qtr. 4, drugs supply crimes show a reduction of 42% from 79 to 46 crimes while possession charges have also decreased from 449 to 420 crimes. Across Argyll & West Dunbartonshire 26 crimes linked to persons associated with serious and organised crime have been recorded and £506,641 has been seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) since 1st April 2025. Violence & ASB At the end of Qtr. 4, Group 1 crimes of violence have increased slightly with 1441 crimes compared to 1426 the previous year to date. Anti-social behaviour (ASB) related crimes have also risen from 1207 to 1280 due to increases in breach of the peace/threatening and abusive behaviour offences (+88) 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
Page 4
OFFICIAL CRIME PYTD CYTD INCIDENTS PYTD CYTD Total Crimes & Offences 9,983 11,070 Total number of incidents 26,417 25,877 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 year on year from 9983 to 11070, representing an increase of 10.9% (which is the same increase as the 5-year average). All crime types have experienced an increase compared to last year with road traffic offences experiencing the highest increase (+20.2%) year on year, followed by acquisitive crimes (+308 crimes) and crimes against society (+106 crimes) such as drug and weapons offences. Despite this the overall number of incidents reported to the police over the previous year is marginally lower than the 5-year average. This general upward trajectory is representative of the national crime recording picture.
Page 5
OFFICIAL OFFICIAL ACQUISITIVE CRIME At the end of Qtr. 4, shoplifting crimes have seen an increase of 13.4% compared to the previous year from 801 to 908 and are currently above the previous 5-year average (542). Year to date an additional 39 shoplifting crimes have been detected year on year, while the overall detection rate has reduced marginally from 56.4% to 54.1%. Motor vehicle crimes have increased by 77.9%, which is largely due to a continued rise in thefts from motor vehicles from 29 to 77 crimes, which is also considerably above the previous 5-year average (43). Thefts of vehicles have also risen from 63 to 84 crimes year on year. Much of the increase was previously 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 detection rate for vehicle crime is at 35.6% (-3.8% PYTD). Housebreaking crimes have increased by 12.7% from 118 to 133 crimes. The increase is largely due to a rise in crimes at domestic dwellings (+16), while housebreakings at commercial premises have also risen slightly (+7). Nearly half of all HB offences were recorded as attempts or HBWI’s with no property being stolen. The detection rate for housebreaking overall is currently at 38%, which is a slight increase from 34% in 2024/25. Common thefts have risen by 11.4% compared to the previous year from 413 to 460 crimes, which is currently above the 5-year average of (422). The detection rate has increased slightly, rising from 25.2% to 27.8% year on year. In number terms an additional 24 crimes have been detected. Recent policing activity in West Dunbartonshire shows a strong focus on tackling acquisitive crime through targeted enforcement of prolific offenders and partnership working. Preventative work is equally important. The national Retail Crime Taskforce, launched in 2025, continues supporting retailers improving reporting, deterrence and offender management. This has included the recent launch of an online reporting portal for shoplifting, allowing the online submission of CCTV evidence, to speed up the reporting and investigation of such offences. Locally, this is complemented by partnership activity with businesses, such as the ongoing roll-out of the shop link radios in West Dunbartonshire, and initiatives such as Partnerships Against Rural Crime, which share intelligence and promote security measures to reduce opportunities for theft. Current levels of acquisitive crime in West Dunbartonshire show modest increases - particularly in shoplifting, fraud and vehicle-related theft - mirroring national trends where acquisitive crime has risen year-on-year and remains above the five-year average. This increase is representative of the broader national picture, driven by post-pandemic demand and evolving offending methods.
Page 6
OFFICIAL OFFICIAL Recent police activity in West Dunbartonshire demonstrates a clear focus on public protection, particularly around domestic abuse, violence against women and girls (VAWG), vulnerable children and missing persons. Locally, we continue to prioritise domestic abuse as a high-risk area, supported by national campaigns which seek to challenge abusive behaviour, encourage early intervention and police reporting. Domestic abuse remains a significant concern in the area, with West Dunbartonshire recording one of the highest incident rates in Scotland, reinforcing the need for proactive safeguarding and partnership work. In relation to VAWG and vulnerable persons, police undertake joint working with social work, education and third-sector partners to identify at-risk children and respond to missing person reports swiftly, recognising links to exploitation and harm. Multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) and regular risk-assessment processes ensure ongoing monitoring of high-risk individuals. Overall, current activity reflects a preventative, partnership-driven approach, combining enforcement with early intervention to safeguard vulnerable people and build community confidence. At the end of Qtr. 4 2025/26, Group 2 crimes have increased by 8.4% (+22) compared to the same period last year. Despite the overall increase both rape offences and sexual assaults have recorded slight reductions from 65 to 59 and 93 to 80 crimes respectively. Much of the overall rise in Group 2 figures is due to a continued rise in online sexual activity involving indecent images/communications. Approximately 94% of rape crimes occurred in a private space setting with the majority being committed by persons known to the victim. Similarly, around 67% of sexual assaults also occurred in a private place and 94% of crimes were committed by persons known to the victim. Nearly half of all sexual assaults (49%) recorded during the current reporting period related to non-recent reports. The detection rate for rape has remained quite consistent compared to last year at 55.9%, while the detection rate for sexual assault has risen by 15.4% from 40.9% to 56.3%. Crimes relating to indecent images/communications have experienced a considerable increase compared to last year from 75 to 112 crimes with the majority being committed by strangers via online platforms. Approx. 30% of recorded offences were committed by 3 repeat offenders, which have since been detected. The number of domestic abuse incidents has increased by 2.6% compared to PYTD from 1449 to 1487, while the number of crimes recorded have also risen by 9.4% from 1061 to 1161 as at the end of Qtr. 4. The crime/incident conversion rate has risen marginally from 49.9% to 50.2%. A total of 285 missing person reports have been recorded by the end of Qtr. 4, which is a decrease of 17.4% from 345 last year. PUBLIC PROTECTION
Page 7
OFFICIAL At the end of Qtr. 4, the number of fatal road collisions in West Dunbartonshire, has reduced marginally by one from the position last year. Serious injuries have increased from 26 to 32, while the number of slight injuries have seen a slight decrease (-5). The number the number serious injuries involving children has risen marginally from 2 to 3. Offences relating to motor vehicles have seen a considerable increase of 20.2% from 2695 to 3239 (+544). Speeding offences have experienced the highest increase (+222) followed by unlawful use of motor vehicle such as licence, insurance and registration offences (+148) and vehicle defect such as construction and lighting offences (+95). 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 2 1 Number of persons seriously injured 26 32 Number of persons slightly injured 35 30 Number of children seriously injured 2 3 Recent and current police activity in West Dunbartonshire to improve road safety and tackle road traffic crime reflects a combination of targeted enforcement, national campaigns and strong partnership working. Road safety and road crime remain key priorities within Argyll and West Dunbartonshire. The reduction in fatalities from collisions in West Dunbartonshire is welcome and the number of injury collisions almost remains static, with only a slight year on year variation. Locally, officers undertake proactive patrols and intelligence-led deployments focusing on the “Fatal Five” offences: speeding, careless driving, drink and drug driving, mobile phone use and failure to wear seatbelts. These are the main contributory factors in serious and fatal collisions. The notable increase in recorded road traffic offences year on year is reflective of our pro-active approach to road policing across West Dunbartonshire. A range of national initiatives underpin this activity. Campaigns are delivered through a national road safety calendar, ensuring consistent messaging across Scotland while allowing local flexibility. Operation Close Pass is a key example, where officers monitor driver behaviour around cyclists, providing guidance or enforcement where unsafe passing occurs. Additionally, seasonal operations - such as winter safety campaigns - combine enforcement with advice on vehicle condition and safe driving. Partnership working is central at a local level. Police collaborate with West Dunbartonshire Council, Transport Scotland and the Safety Camera Partnership to deliver engineering, enforcement and education measures. This includes the use of mobile safety cameras to deter speeding. Decriminalised Parking Enforcement, led by the local authority, also supports road safety by improving traffic flow and reducing hazardous parking. Preventative work extends to schools and communities, where road safety education programmes and active travel initiatives aim to instil safe behaviours from an early age. Overall, current activity combines visible enforcement with education and partnership initiatives, aligning local efforts with national strategy to reduce collisions, tackle dangerous driving and improve safety for all road users. ROAD SAFETY AND ROAD CRIME
Page 8
OFFICIAL OFFICIAL Across Argyll & West Dunbartonshire, 26 crimes linked to persons associated with serious and organised crime have been recorded and £506,641 has been seized under POCA since 1st April 2025. As at the end of Qtr. 4, drug supply charges have reduced from 79 to 46 crimes, which is currently below the previous 5-year average (75), while drug possession charges have seen a decrease of 6.5% from 449 to 420 crimes. Recent policing activity in West Dunbartonshire demonstrates a sustained focus on disrupting serious and organised crime, with particular emphasis on drug supply networks. The work of our Serious and Organised Crime Team (SOCT) continues to impact on the criminal activities of those involved. The seizure of £506,641 under POCA since 1st April 2025 is not an insignificant amount of money. This is money that will not be re-invested into further illegal activity including the supply of illegal drugs which brings so much misery to many. The primary harm caused by organised crime groups locally relates to drug misuse. This includes addiction, violence, exploitation of vulnerable individuals and associated acquisitive crime used to fund drug dependency. There has been no significant year on year variation in the number of drug related deaths and near fatal overdoses in West Dunbartonshire, which bucks the national trend as virtually all areas are showing significant increases. It nonetheless remains the case that our levels in West Dunbartonshire remain amongst the highest per head of population. Preventative work is delivered through partnership working. We are engaging with ongoing work between us and many of our partners across the third sector who are referring, supporting, signposting and diverting those involved in criminality to fund an addiction. We continue to contribute to the Alcohol & Drug Partnership, Drug Death Review Group, Rapid Action Drug Alerts & Response (RADAR) Group to reduce the number of people dependent on drugs and alcohol while supporting those impacted by the individual’s addiction. SERIOUS & ORGANISED CRIME
Page 9
OFFICIAL VIOLENCE & ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR Recent police activity in West Dunbartonshire to address crimes of violence, including robbery, has centred on targeted enforcement and partnership prevention. Officers have been carrying out intelligence-led patrols in identified hotspots, undertaking proactive stop-search activity, and targeted operations against repeat violent offenders. There has been an overall rise in violent crime, although it is encouraging to see a reduction in the number of serious assaults and an increase in the number of those detected. Robbery levels remain relatively low, although there has been a small year on year increase. The overall increase in recorded violent crime mirrors the national picture, although it remains a concern that approximately one third of our recorded assaults in West Dunbartonshire are domestic abuse related, with many repeat victims. Levels of violence in West Dunbartonshire overall have increased slightly by 1.1% from 1426 to 1441 (+15) crimes. Approx. 55% of all crimes took place in a private place. Furthermore, almost 40% of public space crimes were committed by persons known to the victim. Much of the increase is attributed to the rise in common assaults from 960 to 1047 year on year. Serious assaults have decreased from 75 to 63 crimes (-16%) year on year while robberies have risen marginally from 39 to 42. Approx. 57% of serious assaults occurred within a public space and around 55% of crimes were committed by persons known to the victim. Around 47% of crimes were committed whilst the victim and/or offender was under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Robberies were largely spit 60/40 public/private space with 18 crimes occurring within a residential premise and 16 related to street robberies. The remaining 8 crimes occurred within a commercial locus. Approx. 57% of robbery crimes were committed by persons known to the victim with 7 being domestic related. The detection rate for robbery has reduced by 7.3% from 69.2% to 61.9%, while the detection rate for serious assault has seen a marginal increase at 71.4% from 69.3% the previous year.
Page 10
OFFICIAL OFFICIAL Common assaults continue to experience an increase of 9.1% from 960 to 1047 and is currently above the 5-year average (877). This has been offset by a slight reduction of 5.2% in assaults on police and emergency workers (-10 crimes). Around 58% 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 324 to 389 crimes as at the end of Qtr. 4. Across the recording period the number of ASB related calls to Police Scotland has increased slightly by approx. 3.4% compared to last year. Similarly anti-social related offences (Group 6) have increased by 6% with 1207 crimes recorded compared to 1280 PYTD, while the current figure is marginally above the previous 5-year average (1277). VIOLENCE & ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR Operation Ballaton, which is a multi-agency safety initiative led by Police Scotland to manage peak visitor periods in Balloch and Loch Lomond, was again launched in April 2026 at the Headquarters of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority in Balloch. This is a tried and tested operation we lead, partnering with the British Transport Police, West Dunbartonshire Council, the National Park Authority and other key partners, with the aim of curbing anti-social behaviour, promoting water safety. By maintaining a high-visibility presence at transport hubs and in Balloch Park and local area, we all work together to protect residents and ensure the area remains a safe, welcoming destination, and ensuring the smooth flow of seasonal tourism. In general terms, partnership working is key to preventing all forms of anti-social behaviour. Collaborative working has focused on early intervention, youth diversion and education. Multi- agency approaches have been targeting underlying causes such as alcohol misuse, deprivation and youth violence. Our approach combines enforcement with prevention, with a focus on reducing harm and improving community safety. Of note, the fine level for ASB fixed penalty notices issued by police has just almost been doubled from £40 to £70, which might have something of a deterrent effect if that is the penalty for minor ASB offences.
Page 11
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 74.4%, which is slightly above the position as at the end of the 2024/25 reporting period (73%) and the position in the West (71%). Community Engagement Event in Balloch – Saturday 11th April 2026 The "To Emergencies and Beyond" family fun day took place at Lomond Shores, Balloch, on Saturday 11th April 2026. This was a free event showcasing the emergency services and various public service agencies. Persons attending were able to engage with personnel, explore emergency vehicles and watch live demonstrations. The event was organised by Police Scotland and featured dozens of other agencies, including the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Ambulance Service, HM Coastguard and many others. Highlights of the day included live water safety demonstrations by the Loch Lomond Rescue Boat, police dog displays and CPR demonstrations, along with performances by the Police Scotland Pipe Band. The event, which included a ‘quiet hour’ to facilitate the attendance of persons with neurodivergent conditions, was extremely well attended. The event fostered good community relations and received much positive publicity. Body Worn Video (BWV) Police Scotland has completed its national rollout of body worn cameras, with officers in West Dunbartonshire now routinely equipped as of April 2026. This modernisation effort focuses on three primary benefits: 1. Better Evidence: Real-time, high- quality footage provides objective records for court, leading to swifter justice, more guilty pleas, and less reliance on written statements. 2. Accountability: The cameras ensure transparency for both the public and the police. Knowing interactions are recorded deters misconduct and allows for the faster, fairer resolution of complaints. 3. Public Trust: By providing unbiased evidence of professional conduct and helping to de-escalate tense situations, the technology is designed to boost community confidence and strengthen the bond between the police and the public. Overall, the initiative represents a significant shift toward a more transparent, efficient, and modern justice system. 74.4% Satisfied/Very Satisfied Total of 583 responses