Argyll & Bute Local Policing Plan (2020-2023) - Quarterly Reports (Qtr4 - 2021/22 & Qtr1 - 2022/23)
Argyll and Bute Council · 25 August 2022
Back to Community Services Committee — 25 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 Group 1 crimes of violence within A&B increased by 13.6% in 2020/21 (+12). In total 100 crimes were recorded compared to 88 the previous year, which is 31.9% above the previous 5 year average (76). Increased crime levels are primarily due to a rise in serious assaults from 30 to 41 and a rise in crimes relating to threats & extortion which have increased from 8 last year to 16, the majority of these have involved threats to disclose indecent images via social media while demanding money. Almost 60% of all serious assaults were committed by persons known to the victim and 43% occurred within a public space. Across Argyll & West Dunbartonshire 47 persons linked to serious and organised crime have been arrested and £523,899 seized under POCA. Drugs supply crimes reduced significantly during 2021/22 with 22 crimes recorded compared to 55 in 2020/21. Drug possession charges also reduced by 29.8% year on year from 463 to 325. Both figures were considerably below the previous 5 year average, however a high number of absences through Covid resulted in a reduced capacity compared to previous years with Officers being moved to other core responsibilities Year-end figures show the total number of offences recorded in A&B relating to motor vehicles reduced by 5.6% (n=129) in 2021/22 compared to the previous year. The figure also remained 10.9% (n=266) below the previous 5 year average. Speeding offences have seen the biggest reduction in terms of volume (-113) followed by offences relating to failure to insure against 3rd party risks (-59). Careless driving offences also reduced by 4% (-10) while dangerous driving offences have increased by 8.3% due to proactive, targeted patrols by Road Policing Officers, albeit both figures remained slightly below the 5 year average. Drink / drug driving offences increased by 30% from 130 to 169, 31.4% above the previous 5 year average however this has been influenced by the introduction of roadside drug tests. During 2021/22 Group 2 sexual crimes increased by 11.2% from 215 to 239 when compared to the previous year. The increase is primarily due to a rise in rape and indecent / sexual assault crimes. Rape crimes increased by 81.5% from 27 to 49, 31.7% above the previous 5 year average (37). Sexual assaults increased by 17.3% from 81 to 95, and also remained above the 5 year average figure (71). A high proportion (57%) of rape and sexual assault crimes related to non-recent reports, which create additional investigative issues, tracing suspects with some deceased, and enquiry time. 71% occurred in a private setting and 24% were domestic related. These increases have been slightly offset by a 31% reduction in crimes relating to indecent images / communication which have decreased from 87 to 60. During 2021/22 the detection rate for Group 2 sexual crime overall improved from 49.3% to 54.8% compared to 2020/21. Reflecting high levels of non-recent reporting, the detection rate for rape crime reduced from 74.1% to 42.9%, while the detection rate for indecent/sexual assaults increased from 48.1% to 61.1% 162 missing person reports were recorded by police within Argyll & Bute during 2021/22, which is an increase from 103 the previous year. While almost half of all MP reports related to adults, it is notable that 25%related to 5 repeat MP allof whom were aged 13 - 16 years. Domestic related incidents increased by 9.5% in 2021/22. In total, 725 incidents were recorded compared to 662 in the previous year. 50.8% of incidents resulted in a crime being recorded. Domestic abuse crimes have also increased from 434 to 516 (+18.9%). Both figures remain above the previous 5 year average by 9.6% and 14.5%, respectively. There were 222 cyber-crimes recorded within Argyll & Bute during 2021/22, which is a 7.1% reduction from 239 in 2020/21. The most commonly reported types are cyber-enabled fraud (113), threatening messages sent via social media (49) and crimes relating to indecent images/communication (40). Extensive preventative work has been carried out in this area, with a positive impact being observed. User Satisfaction results show that in Argyll & West Dunbartonshire public confidence levels remain high with overall satisfaction levels at 70%. In 2021/22, 86 complaints against the police were recorded in A&B, which is a decrease from 116 last year. The number of allegations against officers has also reduced considerably year on year from 227 to 162. At the year-end the detection rate for Grp 1 crimes was 61%, which is below last year’s figure (76.1%) and the previous 5 year average (81%). The detection rate for serious assaults was also lower at 70.7% versus 96.7% in the previous year and for common assault it reduced slightly from 75.8% to 72.5%. The detection rate for crimes involving threats & extortion remains low at 12.5%, likely due to the complexities involved in investigating online crime, along with the protracted time required to investigate fully. In line with a continued downward trend in public reported ASB, complaints relating to disorder reduced by 3.9% in 2021/22 (-1,401) while ASB related crimes increased by 13.3% (+202). The increase in ASB crime is mainly due to a 34.4% rise in common assaults (+176), with the current figure also 10.6% above the previous 5 year average. Approx. 47% of all common assaults took place in a private setting and around 1 in 4 were domestic related. Furthermore, in almost half of the crimes occurring in a public space the offender was known to the victim. Hate crimes increased from 65 to 80 and hate incidents from 59 to 73 with an increased confidence seen in the use of Third Party Reporting Centres. Overall road casualties increased by 42.3% (+39) in Argyll & Bute during 2021/22 when compared to the previous year. Fatalities increased from 5 to 8, serious injuries increased from 33 to 49 and slight injuries from 54 to 74. However, figures for 2020/21 will have been significantly influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. No fatalities were recorded during Qtr 4. Year-end data for 2021/22 shows a marginal change of 0.2% in the number of adult concerns being raised within Argyll & Bute. In total 1539 adult concerns were recorded versus 1536 in 2020/21. In contrast, child concerns continue to show a marked increase of 24.6% rising from 1912 last year to 2383 this year. During 2021/22 acquisitive crime in A&B increased by 23.7% compared to the previous year however, this is mainly due to lower crime levels being recorded in 2020/21 during Covid-19 lockdown’s. Figures for most crime types remained below the previous 5 year average. Housebreaking crimes increased by 4.7% (+4) due to slight increases in crimes at dwelling houses (+3) and commercial properties (+5) and vehicle crimes increased by 18.6% (+8) due to a slight rise in thefts of/from vehicles. In line with trends across Scotland, fraud crimes increased significantly from 148 to 200, well above the previous 5 year average (77). While shoplifting crimes also increased by 58.8% (+47) and common thefts by 20.3% (+40), both remained below the previous 5 year average. The detection rate for Group 3 Acquisitive crimes reduced slightly to 25.5% from 36.7%. The number of bogus crimes recorded in A&B increased from 75 in 2020/21 to 92 in 2021/22, largely due to a rise in fraud crimes involving scam phone calls/texts or emails. Crimes relating to bogus workmen / callers remained low with 8 recorded across the 12month period.
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OFFICIAL OFFICIAL FRAUD PREVENTION Continuing with our Pledge to Stop Scams across Argyll and Bute, we have carried out a number of face to face inputs during this period to vulnerable community groups. This has included Dunoon Senior Citizens Group, Strachur Hub, Oban Lorn and the Isles Mental Health Forum, Jeans Bothy as well as the Area Community Planning Groups under the Community Focus section. The community inputs took the form of the Scam Savvy Quiz which took participants through a range of scenarios, text messages, emails and phone calls to help them identify tactics used by scammers and provided hints on how to keep themselves safe. A range of funded printed material on fraud prevention including the “Little Booklet of Phone Scams”, the “Little Leaflet of Cyber Scams” and no cold calling door stickers were also issued during sessions and have now been made available to Dementia Advisors and SFRS for issuing during Home Fire Safety Visits. Call Blockers have continued to be installed for those most at risk. Year to date, this has seen 130 call blockers being installed. It is estimated that over the 4 year life of these units they will have blocked 97,326 nuisance calls (of which 26,688 will have been scam phone calls), prevented 157 scams, saved vulnerable households £464,828, led to a reduction of £431,761 in NHS, social care & police costs, and an increase in wellbeing & quality of life valued at £515,511 - total benefits of £1,412,100. RURAL CRIME PREVENTION On Friday 11th February 2022, local partners from across Argyll and Bute gathered at Carloonan Farm, Inveraray to launch the new livestock worrying bill that is now live across Scotland. Representation included Police Scotland, Argyll and Bute Council, National Farmers Union Scotland, Dalriada Vets, Emma Harper MSP and Jenny Minto MSP. The Bill will significantly increase the powers of investigation and penalties to tackle the ongoing problem of dog attacks and worrying on livestock. Our message is clear, it’s your dog and it’s your responsibility. Don’t allow your dog to approach animals or people uninvited and where possible avoid anywhere there is livestock, particularly around lambing season. A number of waterproof fence post-ers have been provided to community councils, community groups and others in the community to help educate people walking their dogs to do so responsibility and lawfully. HATE CRIME February 2022 was LGBT History Month, with Police Scotland remaining firmly committed to delivering equality and diversity across the Service. March 2022 also saw the launch of the National Hate Crime Campaign with the aim to counter under-reporting of hate crime, targeting both victims and bystanders. POLICING IN A DIGITAL WORLD Cybercrime poses a real threat to our communities, therefore it’s critical that we adapt our policing to better respond to these incidents. This has led to the creation of the Policing in a Digital World Programme which includes a First Responder Guide for our front line officers. YOUTH ENGAGEMENT In January 2022, a new Youth Engagement Officer was appointed for Helensburgh and Cowal. This has enabled continuation of youth engagement activity that was in place pre-Covid 19. This activity has included inputs for secondary school pupils on Online Safety which also included a session for parents and carers on “using the internet safety”. Cyber Scotland Week was held in March 2022 which included a free online webinar for everyone in our community hosted by Neighbourhood Watch Scotland. This included an input on “Child Protection – their safety, our responsibility” which aimed to acknowledge the risks faced by young people and how this has changed over the years. KEEP SAFE IN ARGYLL AND BUTE On Wednesday 23rd March 2022, Police Scotland celebrated National Keep Safe Awareness Day. New premises have been brought on board during 2021/22 included Argyll and Bute Council Service Points at Helensburgh, Dunoon, Lochgilphead and Oban, Campbeltown Shopper- Aid, Carr Gomm in Dunoon and University of Highlands and Islands Resource Centres in Dunoon, Helensburgh, Oban, Rothesay and Tobermory. This brings the total number of Keep Safe premises in Argyll and Bute to 60 which is the 3rd highest number in Scotland. We also trained a further 2 local police officers as Keep Safe Ambassadors who can provide inputs to community groups with adults living with learning difficulties and young people. This will help develop a zero tolerance approach to hate crime within our communities. ROAD SAFETY Our Road Safety Campaign continued into the start of 2022 focussing on winter driving and drink/drug driving. Roads Policing officers carried out a number of vehicle stops with detections for those under the influence of alcohol and drugs, careless driving, no insurance, speeding and other road traffic offences. February 2022 saw the National Seatbelt Campaign with Roads Policing Officers in partnership with Road Safety Scotland engaging with members of the public in supermarket car parks to focus on seatbelts as well as ensuring child seats were properly fitted and secured in vehicles. Education messages to support changes to the Highway Code in January 2022, saw us push out messaging around safe passing distances for vulnerable road users including cyclists and horse riders. This work will continue into 2022 with more community days of action including Close Pass and Lose the Blinkers. PARTNERSHIP APPROACH TO WATER SAFETY Minister for Community Safety, Ash Regan attended Loch Lomond to launch the national Water Safety Action Plan. This included upgrading of public rescue equipment, new 999 signage with grid references and what3words location information, new hazard warning signs. This accompanies work with school pupils in and around the National Park to increase education and raising awareness of water safety risks at hotspot locations. LOOKING AHEAD • Planning for Summer Safety. • Distress Brief Intervention training for local officers. • Roll out of Naloxone. • Additional funding forthcoming from Police Scotland to enable Dementia Safeguarding Initiative and additional fraud prevention tools. 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