Item 15a - Scrutiny Report from Police Scotland - Q2 2022-23
West Dunbartonshire Council · 23 November 2022
Back to Housing & Communities Committee — 23 November 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 at the end of Qtr. 2 show a 9.5% increase (+8) in Group 1 crimes of violence compared to the previous YTD. The current figure (91) remains above the previous 5 year average (76). Serious assaults have reduced by 6.3% (47 to 40), with an increase in domestic abuse crimes from 5 to 11. Crimes relating to Human Trafficking and Abduction have both increased by 4 crimes each. 3 of the 4 abductions occurred in a private place (2 were domestic related). Across Argyll & West Dunbartonshire 4 persons linked to serious and organised crime have been arrested and £44,116 seized under POCA. Compared to the same period last year, the total number of bogus crimes recorded has increased slightly from 30 to 34. 79% (27) of all bogus crimes recorded YTD relate to social engineering frauds involving scam phone calls/emails and 7 related to bogus workmen/callers. At the end of Qtr. 2, acquisitive crimes show a 15.1% increase compared to the same period last year (107), which is slightly above the previous 5 year average. Housebreaking crimes have increased by 24.6% (16) due to a rise in domestic HB’s from 39 to 50 (+11) and a rise in HB’s at commercial properties from 14 to 21 (+7). 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 by 32.4% from 111 to 147 with the current figure above the previous 5 year average (75.2). Frauds involving bank account takeovers have increased from 5 to 14, while taxi and online market frauds have risen by 7 and 5 crimes year on year. Common thefts have also seen a notable increase of 37.2% (68) largely due to a rise in thefts of fuel from petrol station forecourts. At the end of Qtr. 2, drugs supply charges had reduced slightly from 49 to 46. Drug possession charges had also reduced by 19.2% from 381 to 308. Both figures remain below the previous 5 year average. At the end of Qtr. 2, figures show a 20.8% increase in the total number of road traffic offences recorded within West Dunbartonshire from 1111 to 1342. The current figure also remains 15.8% above the previous 5 year average (1159). Speeding offences have seen the highest increase from 175 to 320 crimes (+145) while using a motor vehicle without a test certificate and seat belt offences have also risen from 157 to 208 (+51) and 18 to 51 (+33) respectively. Insurance, mobile phone and careless driving offences have seen a reduction year on year. Set against figures recorded at the end of Qtr. 2 last year, Group 2 sexual crimes have seen a 19% reduction with 98 crimes recorded compared to 121 last year (-23). Rape crimes have reduced from 27 to 19 (-8), while sexual assaults have also decreased from 48 to 33 year on year. Approximately 74% of all sexual assaults occurred within a private space, with 47% relating to non- recent reports and 15% domestic related. Crimes relating to indecent images/communications have also reduced from 33 to 27 crimes with 74% being committed by strangers. The overall detection rate for Group 2 sexual crime has increased from 44.6% to 62.2% compared to the previous YTD and is currently above the previous 5 year average (46.7%). The detection rate for indecent/sexual assault has also increased from 22.9% to 75.8%. At the end of Qtr 2, 174 missing person reports had been recorded which is an increase of 24.2% from 140 in the previous YTD. Missing Person incidents recorded on STORM also increased by 25.5% from 325 to 408 but remain 19.4% below the previous 5 year average. Figures recorded at the end of Qtr. 2 show a reduction of 13.5% in domestic abuse incidents which have decreased from 739 to 639 (-100) which is 7.8% below the previous 5 year average. Domestic abuse crimes have seen a slight reduction of 1.8% from 433 to 413 (-10), the current figure remains 5.4% higher than the previous 5 year average (392). In total 51 cyber-crimes had been recorded within West Dunbartonshire at the end of Qtr. 2, which is a significant reduction from 129 in the same period last year. Cyber- Enabled frauds account for 69% of all cyber-crimes recorded (35) YTD. User Satisfaction results show that in Argyll & West Dunbartonshire public confidence levels remain high with overall satisfaction levels at 69.8%. At the end of Quarter 2, a total of 58 complaints about the police had been recorded within West Dunbartonshire. This is a slight decreased from 60 recorded at the same time last year. The number of allegations against officers has reduced slightly year on year from 111 to 104. The detection rate for Group 1 crime has reduced to 57.1% compared to 75.9% last year and is below the previous 5 year average (75.5%). The detection rate for common assault has increased from 64.2% to 69.8% compared to last year and is above the previous 5 year average (66.3%). 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 23.5% (-647). ASB related crimes have seen a slight increase of 0.7% (+10) which is 3.3% below the previous 5 year average. The increase in ASB crime is largely due to a 15.5% increase in common assaults (79). Domestic related assaults have seen the highest increase YTD from 122 to 149 (+27), whilst assaults on commercial workers and police assaults have also risen from 22 to 32 (+10) and 86 to 93 (+7). There were no fatal road casualties within West Dunbartonshire during Qtr. 2. Overall road casualties have seen a slight decrease from 24 to 23 compared to the previous YTD. Fatalities have reduced from 2 to 1, serious injuries remain unchanged at 8 and slight injuries have increased slightly from 13 to 15. The number of incidents recorded in West Dunbartonshire where an adult concern has been raised has reduced by 8.6% from 955 to 873 compared to figures recorded at the end of Qtr 2 last year. Child concerns have also shown a reduction of 8.4% from 2001 to 1833.
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OFFICIAL OFFICIAL Empowered Residents Safe (Communities) Nurtured (Children & Young People Flourishing Local Economy Independent (Older People) Bogus Caller and Fraud Prevention Fraud crimes have been increasing since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, whilst this is not unique to West Dunbartonshire, local prevention work has included our Dumbarton Police Scotland Youth Volunteers (PSYV) who carried out a leaflet drop throughout the Dumbarton East area with over 100 leaflets delivered. This focussed on streets and locations where either a report of a bogus caller had been passed to Police Scotland, or to areas we know vulnerable people reside. This included residential addresses including sheltered housing to help keep our older community safe. Fuel Theft Prevention Forecourt retailers have been challenged by an increase in fuel thefts from petrol station forecourts. In response to this, our local officers have shared guidance from the Association of Convenience Stores with every petrol station which includes the preventing fuel theft guide, technical guidance and a reporting template for drive off of fuel and no means of payment. Officers have attended forecourts who are facing the greatest loss providing them with detailing crime prevention advice due to increase in this type of theft. Road Safety and Road Crime Dumbarton Road Policing Officers have been carrying out a number of static point speed checks at locations identified within the local community. This has included outside Braehead Primary School in Dumbarton and Glasgow Road, Clydebank. In addition to enforcement, our Youth Engagement Officers have been providing Road Safety inputs at the local secondary schools with pupils who may soon be considering learning to drive. Scottish Families Affected by Drugs Our new community police officers learned about the support available if you know someone with an addiction. The charity, Scottish Families explained how they can support families who have loved ones struggling with drug and alcohol addictions. Only be engaging in effective partnerships can we truly support our local communities. Distress Brief Intervention Local response police officers have received training to enable them to make referrals for Distress Brief Intervention (DBI). DBI is an NHS-led initiative which aims to provide people aged 18-24yrs in low level distress with early, time limited, intervention and provide them with self-help to lower their distress levels. Training includes an input from SAMH who referrals are made to help officers understand when a referral may be suitable. New Fireworks Legislation The Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 received Royal Assent on 10 August 2022. The Act includes a number of new offences including knowingly buying or attempting to buy a firework or pyrotechnic for a person under the age of 18, and an offence for a person to possess a pyrotechnic article in a public place. Sexual Assaults and Consent Inputs have been provided by our Youth Engagement Officers to secondary school pupils throughout West Dunbartonshire. This has included domestic abuse presentations. Our PSYV have also received an input from the West Dunbartonshire Rape Crisis centre about sexual assaults and the meaning and importance of consent. Domestic Abuse Inputs Youth Engagement Officers have provided inputs on domestic abuse at local secondary schools. The aim was to raise awareness of signs of domestic abuse, ways to repot this and available support. Publicly Accessible Defibrillators Police Scotland Youth Volunteers from Clydebank and Dumbarton developed, planned and carried out a lung bursting 3-hour continuous CPR session at Loch Lomond Shores where they successfully raised over £300 on the day. This money will go towards maintaining existing Publicly Accessible Defibrillators (PADs) within West Dunbartonshire, Helensburgh and Lomond Areas. Bike Marking A bike marking event was held in Queens Square, Clydebank where over 43 bike marking kits were provided to help cyclists keep their bike safe and register it with the national Bike Register database. Not only does this aid Police returning lost/stolen bikes to their rightful owners, it also deters potential thieves as they will see the tamper proof stickers. 23 Bike Marking kits have also been donated to the Vale of Leven Trust Active Travel Hub so they can register their fleet of bikes. New West Dunbartonshire Community Policing Model We have been listening to what our communities want most from their local police, and this includes visibility of local officers. We have restructured our frontline response to create a dedicated community policing team led by an Area Commander, with an Inspector, Sergeant and their team of dedicated officers providing an improved service to communities within West Dunbartonshire. Community Police will attend Community Council meetings where emerging trends or concerns can be addressed. Officers are attached to ward areas however are flexible and can provide patrols in areas according to greatest need. Partnership Approach to Tackle Wilful Fire-raising Police Scotland has established a multi-agency wilful fire-raising partnership following community concerns over a number of fire- raising incidents. The partnership incudes Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and West Dunbartonshire Council. It aims to engage with the local community and deliver education inputs to highlight the dangers of consequences of fire-raising. This has included letter drops to abandoned premises. After Dark Police Scotland Youth Volunteers have been delivering “after dark” awareness leaflets throughout our communities owing to an increase in domestic housebreakings with the darker evenings coming in. These are to remind residents of steps they can take to keep themselves, their homes, vehicles and outbuildings safe and include advice on lighting, and remembering to lock your windows and doors. Forward Look: Local Policing Plan Consultation Bonfire Night including enforcement of new legislation Darker days and nights initiatives Festive Safety Winter Driving