Argyll & Bute Local Policing Plan (2020 - 2023) - Quarterly Report (Qtr 3 2022/23)
Argyll and Bute Council · 9 March 2023
Back to Community Services Committee — 9 March 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 OFFICIAL At the end of Qtr. 3 Group 1 crimes of violence within A&B had increase by 40.8% with 107 crimes recorded compared to 76 in the PYTD (+31). The current figure also remains above the previous 5 year average (63). Increased crime levels are primarily due to a rise in serious assaults from 29 to 40 crimes (+11) year on year, which is also 35% above the previous 5 year avg. (29.6). Offences relating to the cruel treatment of children have also seen an increase (+9), however 11 of the 16 crimes recorded relate to a historic child abuse investigation, while domestic abuse crimes have also risen from 15 to 21. Across Argyll & West Dunbartonshire 17 persons linked to serious and organised crime have been arrested and £124,825 seized under POCA. Drugs supply crimes have increased by 57.9% YTD with 30 crimes recorded compared to 19 the previous year but remains 17.1% below the previous 5 year average (36.2). Drug possession charges also increased by 19% year on year from 256 to 305, which is in line with the previous 5 year average. Figures at the end of Qtr. 3 show the total number of offences recorded in A&B relating to motor vehicles has increased by 7.8% to 1791 from 1661 last year albeit the current figure remains 2.3% (n=42) below the previous 5 year average. Drink/ drug driving offences have seen the highest increase (+54), followed by careless and dangerous driving offences with 221 recorded compared to 188 (+33) and 82 compared to 62 (+20), respectively. All remain above the previous 5 year average. Speeding offences continue to show a reduction of 10.6% with 448 recorded versus 501 last year (-53). Group 2 sexual crimes have reduced by 13.8% from 189 to 163 compared to the PYTD. Both rape crimes and sexual assaults have reduced from 41 to 33 (-8) and 73 to 69 (-4) respectively but remain above the previous 5 year average. 83% of rape & sexual assault crimes were committed by persons known to the victim, 68% occurred in a private setting and 21% were domestic related. Crimes relating to indecent images/communication have seen a slight increase YTD from 45 to 52 crimes, with approximately 35% being committed by persons known to the victim. Around 45% of all rape and sexual assault crimes related to non-recent reports. At the end of Qtr. 3 the detection rate for Group 2 sexual crime overall has increased slightly (n=5.1%) to 56.4% compared to 51.3% last year and is slightly above the previous 5 year average (52.6%). The detection rates for rape crime and sexual assaults are also relatively unchanged from PYTD and are currently at 39.4% and 55.1% respectively. While the detection rate for rape remains below the previous 5 year average (-14.3%), the detection rate for sexual assault is currently 7.3% above, which equates to an increase of 9 crimes. 125 missing person reports were recorded by police within Argyll & Bute by the end of Qtr. 3, which is a slight increase from 121 the previous year. The increase is due to a rise in the number of children and young persons being reported missing (up from 43 to 65 year on year) . Almost half related to looked after children. Domestic related incidents being reported have reduced by 7.5% from PYTD. In total, 518 incidents were recorded compared to 560 the previous year, which is in line with the previous 5 year average. 52.1% of incidents resulted in a crime being recorded. Domestic abuse crimes have increased slightly from 408 to 416 (+2%), while the current figure remains 14.9% above the previous 5 year average (362.2). 74 cyber-crimes had been recorded within Argyll & Bute at the end of Qtr. 3, which is a significant reduction of 55% from 166 last year. Cyber-enabled frauds accounted for half of all crimes recorded (n=38) while a further 14 crimes related to indecent images or communication and 13 involved threatening and abusive messages sent via social media. User Satisfaction results show that in Argyll & West Dunbartonshire public confidence levels remain high with overall satisfaction levels at 71.9% at the end of Qtr. 3. 61 complaints against the police were recorded in A&B, which is a decrease from 74 last year. The number of allegations against officers has also reduced year on year from 195 to 146. At the end of Qtr. 3 the detection rate for Grp 1 crimes was at 62%, which is slightly above last year’s figure (59.2%) but remains below previous 5 year average (73%). The detection rate for serious assaults however has risen by 32.9% and is currently high at 95%. For common assault the rate is relatively unchanged at 71.9%, slightly below the previous 5 year average (74.9%) and for crimes relating to the cruel and unnatural treatment of children it has reduced marginally by 0.9% and is currently at 43.8%. In line with a continued downward trend in public reported ASB, complaints relating to disorder reduced by 25.7% (-575) while ASB related crimes increased slightly by 2.9% (+38) but is below the previous 5 year average (n=1380). The increase in ASB crime is mainly due to a 6.5% rise in common assaults (+35) and a 76% increase in alcohol related offences (+19). Common assaults are also 17.4% above the previous 5 year average (485.4). Approx. 43% of common assaults recorded YTD occurred within a private setting with 51% being domestic related. Furthermore, in 43% of all public space crimes the offender was known to the victim. Approx. 70% of all alcohol related crime involved refusing to quit or disorderly conduct within a licenced premise, which have risen from 14 to 31 crimes YTD. There were no fatal road casualties within Argyll & Bute during Qtr. 3 compared to 3 in the previous year. Overall road casualties decreased by 15.7% (-18) in Argyll & Bute by the end of Qtr. 3 compared to the same YTD period last year. Unfortunately the number of fatalities have increased slightly YTD from 8 to 11 however, there has been a reduction in serious injuries which have decreased from 41 to 36 (-5) and slight injuries, down from 66 to 50 (-16). Figures at the end of Qtr. 3 now show a reduction of 8.3% in the number of adult concerns being raised within Argyll & Bute. In total 1076 adult concerns were recorded versus 1173 the previous year. Child concerns have also seen a reduction of 11.5% decreasing from 1851 last year to 1638 this year. The cost of living can have a detrimental effect on acquisitive crime. In A&B acquisitive crime has increased by 3.4% compared to last year with 582 crimes recorded compared to 563, which remains above the previous 5 year average (n=553). The increase is due to a rise in common thefts from 183 to 204 (+21) and shopliftings from 80 to 133 (+53). Fraud crimes are currently unchanged from PYTD with 132 recorded year on year. All figures remain above the previous 5 year average. Housebreakings have reduced from 71 to 50 (-21) largely due to a 37.5% decrease in HB’s at domestic dwellings from 32 to 20 crimes. The detection rate for Group 3 acquisitive has increased from 26.5% to 35.2% and is in line with the 5 year rate (35.7%). The number of bogus crimes recorded in A&B has reduced by 22% from last year with 67 crimes recorded compared to 48 at the end of Qtr. 3. Approx. 90% of all crimes recorded related to social engineering frauds involving scam phone calls/emails or WhatsApp messaages.
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OFFICIAL OFFICIAL Violent Crime & Antisocial Behaviour Our CID officers continue to robustly investigate all serious crimes ensuring every investigative avenue is explored. Our newly formed Community Policing Teams based in Helensburgh have made an immediate impact providing support to Cowal and Bute. This team are focused on proactively targeting antisocial behaviour, violent crime and drugs. They have been visible and engaging in our communities to maximise understanding and concerns. Dedicated patrols, antisocial behaviour enforcement and community clinics organised by the police have helped to reassure residents in areas after officers organised and carried out a comprehensive community engagement and reassurance plan. Over the festive period we proactively policed our licensed premises ensuring we were on hand to provide support and guidance to the licensed trade and to ensure a high visibility approach offering reassurance to our communities. Our Youth engagement officers are now providing a policing presence across Argyll they have been making a positive impact, delivering vital personal safety, anti-violence and other key presentations to our children and young people as part of the curriculum. The Violence Against Women Group is attended by specialist officers from our Public Protection Unit who have provided inputs as to how partners can be pro-active in reporting domestic abuse incidents. This was extremely well received. Public Protection Local policing continues to promote the multiple award winning “That Guy” campaign, its positive approach in changing and challenging unacceptable male behaviours, not the actions of victims. It is clear that there is an increased confidence in reporting sexual crime to Police. We continue to work together to raise awareness of reporting mechanisms, support measures and to encourage survivors of abuse to come forward and engage with services. Our officers work proactively to highlight reporting mechanisms and danger signs from those who wish to cause them sexual harm. We continue to engage with our Alcohol & Drugs partnerships and as an organisation we take learning from partners to ensure that our front line officers are equipped with the skills and knowledge to support and signpost those struggling with addictions. Our Youth engagement officers will provide a valuable presence within our schools where they can deliver vital information and advice to all in relation to domestic and sexual violence. These officers will work with pastoral care staff to ensure a joint and effective approach is provided. Acquisitive Crime Financial Harm remains a priority for policing in Argyll & Bute. A best practice guide has been disseminated to all supervisors for early recognition of fraud and further action in this area of business. Our Locality Policing Teams regularly liaise with banking staff to provide advice and respond to reported incidents of fraud. As a result strong partnerships are in place with early alerting. Our social media channels continue to be utilised to highlight and provide advice to guard against current or emerging online fraud methods alongside more traditional ‘Bogus Worker’ type offences. The cost of living will undoubtedly impact on acquisitive crime and we will continue to engage with partners to work together in signposting and supporting our community. Our Preventions team proactively seek out vulnerable premises and offer crime prevention advice. This team also contacts victims of acquisitive crime offering support. They have installed numerous call blockers and work closely with partners to share good practice and identify local trends. Vulnerable Persons We continue to engage with or partners looking to identify new ways in which we can engage with and support vulnerable individuals and groups. We have increased the number of officers across A&B who are trained in Distress Briefing Intervention (DBI). This ensures that we are able to signpost those most vulnerable to the most appropriate support. We are delivering in our role as corporate parents in line with the Scottish Government’s ‘Promise’ working with our Care homes to ensure Looked After and Accommodated young people are not stigmatised or treated differently to those not in care. We have introduced a new missing person’s protocol specifically to support care experienced young persons. The local Youth Engagement Officers based in Argyll & Bute are well on the way to launching the renewed Police Scotland Youth Volunteers (PSYV). The PSYV team will support local policing operations and events and will contribute to community events and local partnerships. We continue to robustly police domestic violence Bail conditions set by the courts ensuring they are being adhered to and where necessary arresting and reporting repeat offenders. We continue to engage with partners to ensure the safety of victims of domestic violence. We have maximised the use of social media to promote our campaign on violence against women, signposting victims of Domestic Abuse. We have also introduced a new Domestic Abuse Safeguarding Team to ensure the best services to victims. Serious & Organised Crime In the last quarter CID officers in Oban have executed in excess of 37 search warrants in the Oban and Argyll area, this was predominantly intelligence led drug search warrants which resulted in varying degrees of success with drug and cash seizures, additional intelligence gleaned and persons reported to the Procurator Fiscal service. Local officers ensured that they maximised all investigative opportunities to target known County lines nominals who were believed to be operating within the Oban area. Officers executed 9 search warrants resulting in a large amount of Class A drugs, cash and the county lines nominals being apprehended. We have engaged with Partners and schools across A&B delivering awareness sessions and training in relation to County Lines. We continue to ensure that our front line officers are trained and kept abreast of appropriate legislation and local intelligence to ensure we maximise efforts in relation to drug misuse. Road Safety & Road Crime Road safety remains a priority. Road Policing officers carry out both high visibility and unmarked patrols across A&B. Our winter safety campaign was a success detecting numerous offences including drivers driving under the influence or alcohol and drugs. We continue to listen to our communities and look for ways where we can offer support and influence road users to reduce road deaths. We have had 2 live social media events which have been a great success and have more events planned. We continue to maximise the use of social media and look for other ways to engage with local communities to drive the safety message forward. LOOKING AHEAD Police Scotland Youth Volunteers group being established across Argyll &Bute Not at Home Protocol and Corporate Parenting development Water Safety initiative Improved MATAC Domestic Abuse process New Town Centre Community Officers to assist in rural areas Development of the Dementia Safeguarding Initiative Economy is Diverse & Thriving Infrastructure supports sustainable growth Education, skills & training maximise opportunities for all Children & Young People have the best possible start People live in safer, stronger communities People live active healthier & independent lives