Item 15a - Police Scotland Scrutiny Report - 20220804 - WDC Housing and Communties Ctte Submission - Q1 2022-23
West Dunbartonshire Council · 24 August 2022
Back to Housing & Communities Committee — 24 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 Figures recorded at the end of Qtr. 1 show no change in Group 1 crimes of violence compared to the same period last year. In total 46 crimes have been recorded, which is slightly higher than the previous 5 year average (+6). Compared to last year serious assaults have reduced by 30% from 30 to 21 however this has been offset by slight increases in domestic abuse crimes and crimes relating to cruel and unnatural treatment of children which have increased from 3 to 7 (+4) and 2 to 4 (+2), respectively. Across Argyll & West Dunbartonshire 4 persons linked to serious and organised crime have been arrestedand £15,530seizedunder POCA. Compared to the same period last year, the total number of bogus crimes recorded within West Dunbartonshire has decreased from 17 to 8 crimes. Four of the 8 crimes recorded during Qtr. 1 related to social engineering frauds involving scam phone calls and 4 related to bogus callers/workmen. At the end of Qtr. 1 acquisitive crimes show a 29.7% increase compared to the same period last year (n=101), which is 9.6% above the previous 5 year average. Housebreaking crime have increased by 71.4% (n=20) due to a rise in domestic HB’s from 17 to 26 (+9) and a rise in HB’s at commercial properties from 6 to 16 (+10). The increase in commercial HB’s is due to a spate of crimes in Alexandria at the beginning of the financial year for which two offenders have been reported. Fraud crimes have increased slightly from 63 to 70 crimes with the current figure remaining considerably above the previous 5 year average (n=35.8). Frauds involving taxi fares have seen a notable increase from 1 to 12 crimes year on year. Common thefts and shopliftings have also increased on last year from 87 to 115 (+28) and 94 to 146, respectively. At the end of Qtr. 1, drugs supply charges had decreased slightly from 25 to 23. Drug possession charges had also reduced by 33.2% from 211 to 141. Both figures remain below the previous 5 year average. At the end of Qtr. 1, figures show a 5.7% increase in the total number of road traffic offences recorded within West Dunbartonshire from 610 to 645, while the current figure is also 7.9% above the previous 5 year average (n=598). Offences relating to using a motor vehicle without a test certificate have seen the highest increase from 91 to 113 crimes (+22) while seat belt and careless driving offences have also increased slightly. Speeding and drink driving offences have both seen marginal reductions compared to last year. Set against figures recorded at the end of Qtr. 1 last year, Group 2 sexual crimes have seen a slight reduction with 58 crimes recorded compared to 59 (-1). Rape crimes have reduced from 14 to 11 (-3), while sexual assaults have increased slightly by 2 crimes year on year. Approximately 75% of sexual assaults occurred within a private space setting, with 40% relating to non-recent reports and 25% domestic related. Crimes relating to indecent images/communications have decreased marginally from 20 to 19 crimes with 74% being committed by strangers to the victim. The overall detection rate for Group 2 sexual crime has reduced from 54.2% to 22.4% compared to the same period last year and is currently below the previous 5 year average (50.8%). This is due to several protracted enquiries that have since been detected since Q1 reporting. The detection rate for indecent/sexual assault has reduced very slightly from 21.1% to 19%. At the end of Qtr. 1, 91 missing person reports had been recorded which is an increase of 72% from 53 in the same perod last year. MP incidents recorded on STORM also increased by 53.4% from 133 to 204 but remain 15.9% below the previous 5 year average. Figures recorded at the end of Qtr. 1 show a reduction of 10.3% in domestic abuse incidents from 358 to 321 (-37) which is 7.3% below the previous 5 year average. Domestic abuse crimes have also reduced by 5.7% from 211 to 199 (- 12) however the current figure remains marginally higher (1.1%) than the previous 5 year average. In total 18 cyber-crimes had been recorded within West Dunbartonshire at the end of Qtr. 1, which is a significant reduction from 74 in the same period last year. A vast education programme has taken place to assist in reducing this figure. Cyber-enabled frauds accounted for 78% of all cyber-crimes recorded (n=14) in Qtr. 1. User Satisfaction results show that in Argyll & West Dunbartonshire public confidence levels remain high with overall satisfaction levels at 73.4%. At the end of Qtr. 1, 34 complaints about the police were recorded within West Dunbartonshire which is a slight increase from 29 last year. The number of allegations against officers has reduced marginally year on year from 46 to 45. The detection rate for Group 1 crime has reduced from 76.1% to 60.9% compared to the same period last year and is below the previous 5 year average (74%). The detection rate for common assault has increased from 59.5% to 65.4% compared to last year but is also marginally lower than the previous 5 year average (67.1%). Overall public reported ASB incidents continue to show a noticeable downward trend, largely due to a decrease in public nuisance incidents. Complaints relating to disorder have also reduced by 25.4% (-356). ASB related crimes have seen a slight increase of 5.5% (+38) and the current figure is also 30.5% above the previous 5 year average. The increase in ASB crime is largely due to a 27% increase in common assaults (n=64). Stranger assaults occurring in a public space have seen the biggest increase (+26), in almost half of these alcohol was a contributory factor. Assaults on police and emergency workers have increased (+20). There was 1 fatal road collision recorded within West Dunbartonshire during Qtr. 1 compared to 0 last year. Overall road casualties have seen an increase of 60% (n=6) from 10 to 16. The number of serious and slightly injured casualties have both seen marginal increases from 5 to 7 (+2) and 5 to 8 (+3), respectively. The number of incidents recorded in West Dunbartonshire where an adult concern has been raised has reduced marginally by 8.6% from 476 to 435 compared to figures recorded at the end of Qtr 1 last year. Child concerns have also shown a slight reduction of 1.3% from 1004 to 991.
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OFFICIAL OFFICIAL Empowered Residents Safe (Communities) Nurtured (Children & Young People Flourishing Local Economy Independent (Older People) Heart Start Training Youth Engagement Officers have delivered heart start training to Police Scotland Youth Volunteers (PSVY) to enable them to feel more confident in CPR and using a community defibrillator if the occasion ever arises. In return, the PSYV are now in the process of fund raising to buy a community defibrillator. Keeping Ukrainian Families Safe The well-known Keep Safe initiative has continued to develop in West Dunbartonshire. There are now 31 Keep Safe Places throughout West Dunbartonshire and recent developments have included having the Keep Safe materials translated into Ukrainian to enable anyone who is seeking safety with the ability to access these premises by knowing their remit and where to find them. Argyll and West Dunbartonshire Police Division have been involved in partnership discussions regarding Homes for Ukraine and ensuring full support is available to those from Ukraine now residing in West Dunbartonshire. Missing Person Co-ordinator A new dedicated missing person coordinator is now in place with work ongoing to make introductions with the local Looked After and Accommodated Establishments to break down barriers and raise awareness of missing person procedures. This will assist Police Scotland meet their obligations as a corporate parent. We are looking at opportunities to learn from the ‘Respect’ Programme and options to utilise our Youth Engagement Officers to deliver against the outcomes and provide support and reduce harms for Care Experienced Young People. Work is also ongoing in relation to repeat missing persons to ensure adequate support is in place for these individuals. Your Police – Your Local Policing Plan The 2020-2023 Local Policing Plan sets out the priorities that we have been focussing on in West Dunbartonshire. Work is ongoing to revise this for 2023-2026 and understanding the views and priorities of our 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. The “Your Police” survey will help us improve how we deliver local policing services. The survey is designed to be completed online whether you work, visit or reside in West Dunbartonshire with easy read formats availalble – visit consult.scotland.police.uk Pitching In Programme The “pitchin in” programme has been successfully delivered for Vale of Leven Academy, Dumbarton Academy and Our Lady and St Patricks High School. The Pitchin’ In Programme was developed by Police Scotland after recognising organisations involved in football could work together to reduce harmful behaviour and promote individual and community wellbeing, both in relation to football and more widely, through a collaborative approach to prevention, diversion and education based upon building decision-making skills and resilience. The “Pitchin’ in” Programme can be used proactively to assist young people to develop their decision making skills to help them avoid being drawn into harmful behaviour. Each group consist of 14 pupils and is targeted at those who are disengaged from school and has shown some success. A further funding bid has been submitted to deliver additional programmes this year when the new school term commences. Water Safety Water safety inputs and workshops have been delivered to West Dunbartonshire Secondary Schools, Looked After and Accommodated premises and some youth groups. During these inputs we discussed the consequences of tampering with water safety equipment. Waterside throw line training has been delivered to Police Scotland Youth Volunteers as well as some staff members within local schools. Anti-Social Behaviour Disclosures Dedicated Anti-Social Behaviour and Disclosure officers provide real time disclosures to Local Authority and Registered Social Landlords of offenders and request warnings where appropriate. These roles monitor repeat addresses of ASB closely liaising with the relevant partners to tackle these addresses as quick as possible after the ASB was reported. This has been received well by the relevant partners and several warnings have been issued as a response. Inputs on anti- social behaviour have been delivered to young people at some primary schools in Dalmuir as a response to increased ASB in Dalmuir. Hate Crime Campaign Police Scotland takes hate crime very seriously. We will take appropriate action and do everything we can to bring those responsible to justice. Everyone in Scotland has rights that protect them from hate crime. We have supported a national Hate Crime awareness campaign and locally, officers attended The Big Disability Group in Dalmuir to promote our services and provide positive engagement opportunities. Operation Ballaton This is a multi-agency action plan aimed at tackling the rise in ASB traditionally observed during the summer months within the Balloch locality. In conjunction with partners from BTP, WDC and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park officers stepped up additional patrols within the Balloch Park and wider Balloch area to engage with members of the public and deal with ASB and instances of criminality. Forward Look The Offensive Weapons Act 2019 forms part of the UK Government’s response to the rise in serious violence. The Act creates new powers and amends existing legislation with the first part of this coming into effect in June 2022 with further amendments in December 2022.