Police Scotland Update
Argyll and Bute Council · 12 August 2025
Back to Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group — 12 August 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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OFFICIAL: POLICE AND PARTNERS 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. OFFICIAL: POLICE AND PARTNERS Classification: OFFICIAL Argyll & West Dunbartonshire Division Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group August 2025 The priorities for your area are decided by data from our strategic assessment which details threats and risks, and also from feedback from local authorities, partners, and residents in the Local Policing Survey. The priorities are: • Serious and organised crime • Crimes of theft and dishonesty (acquisitive crime) • Road safety and road crime • Violent crime • Public protection. The ‘Your Police’ survey for 2024-25 has closed and the results of which have now been analysed. Levels of public engagement remain high, with a total of 16,666 responses received over the 12-month period, including over 50,000 free-text responses. The 2025-26 survey is now open here - Your Police 2025- 2026 - Police Scotland - Citizen Space. Serious & Organised Crime Cowal, Bute & Helensburgh benefits from a dedicated specialist resource, the Serious and Organised Crime Team (SOCT). These specialist officers are supported by dedicated intelligence officers in taking a proactive approach to tackling serious and organised crime in our communities. We have been upskilling officers across our policing division, ensuring they understand and appreciate the importance of community intelligence and information. Through intelligence led policing, officers are able to apply to the courts for Sheriff search warrants and take positive action in the detection and disruption of those involved in the sale and supply of controlled drugs. COWAL, BUTE & HELENSBURGH PRIORITIES 2023-2026
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OFFICIAL: POLICE AND PARTNERS 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. OFFICIAL: POLICE AND PARTNERS Classification: OFFICIAL Community information is key for us and may just provide us with the last piece of evidence required to apply to the courts for a warrant. We encourage our communities to share concerns and suspicions around drug dealing either by calling 101 or by reporting anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their website and online form (https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give- information/forms/pre-form). Acquisitive Crime Across Cowal and Bute, thefts and theft by shoplifting remain a consistent issue. There have been 11 recorded in the area from May to July 2025. Our Preventions Team and local policing officers continue to investigate and identify any trends in this area. We have been providing local security surveys to retailers where there have been repeat thefts. Prevention work has been ongoing in Dunoon and surrounding areas, with a focus on community engagement and partnership building. One of the key aspects of this work has been educating the public on fraud and scams, with regular talks and presentations being delivered to various groups and communities. By doing so, we aim to empower local residents with the knowledge and skills needed to protect themselves from potential threats. If you know of any community groups that would benefit from such an input, please do not hesitate to get in touch with PC Michael Cunningham or PS Sophie Marshall and this can be arranged. Road Safety and Road Crime Speeding and driving complaints remain prevalent within Cowal and Bute. Driver behaviour and the impact this has on our community remains a focus for local policing. We continue to support community concerns in this area through direct action and prevention and intervention work. Proactive speed checks continue to be carried out across the area. Between 01/05/2025 until 01/08/2025 there have been 56 road traffic offences detected across Cowal and Bute. The main offences in this area pertain to speeding, driving a vehicle with no MOT and careless driving. Despite a reduction in overall road offences across Argyll & Bute earlier in the year, speeding and careless/dangerous driving remain amongst the most persistent issues. Proactive measures include: targeted speed checks in high-risk areas (for example, on the A83 and A815) and continued community engagement to address local concerns. We remain committed to reducing collisions and improving driver behaviour through enforcement, education, and infrastructure improvements.
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OFFICIAL: POLICE AND PARTNERS 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. OFFICIAL: POLICE AND PARTNERS Classification: OFFICIAL Our community policing team continues to collaborate with partners across our neighbourhoods on road safety initiatives. These initiatives have been well-received and provide an opportunity for a multi-agency approach to enhancing safety on our roads. Through these efforts, we aim to positively influence driver behaviour, address community concerns, and foster a collective commitment to making our streets safer for everyone. Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) and Violent Crime Officers continue to be tasked with carrying out high visibility patrols and regular visits to licenced premises, particularly on the weekends and in high demand summer periods where the nighttime economy sees increased footfall and more visitors. Between May and July, across both Cowal and Bute, our officers have carried out 205 visits to licensed premises and 29 of these have been a result of incidents recorded at them. Between 01/05/2025 until 01/08/2025 there have been 63 assaults recorded (six of which have been serious assaults). 12 of these have been assaults on Police Officers. Violence towards emergency service personnel, particularly against police officers continues to be a persistent issue in this area. Attacks on emergency services personnel are unacceptable but we continue to work with staff to ensure they have sufficient training and support to make sure they are serving the community with confidence and the appropriate skills. At a national level, Police Scotland also continues to work with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) regarding the increasing number of police assaults and how these are being progressed in the Criminal Justice system. Public Protection We continue to support individuals through a victim-centred approach. Our officers receive regular training and guidance to ensure that we are supporting those affected with a professionalism and empathy. We have an effective governance structure in place to ensure all reports are scrutinised. This ensures all investigative opportunities are considered by the enquiry officers before any report can be filed. We continue to robustly manage those domestic offenders released on Bail to ensure they are adhering to restrictions placed on them by the courts. Local Policing News Youth engagement continues to be a priority in the local area. We have been working to build relationships with local young people through various initiatives. A notable example of this is the Police 5-a-side football tournament, which took place for the first time since the Covid pandemic.
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OFFICIAL: POLICE AND PARTNERS 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. OFFICIAL: POLICE AND PARTNERS Classification: OFFICIAL The event brought together primary schools from Dunoon, Innellan, Strone, Strachur, Tighnabruaich, and Lochgoilhead, with an impressive turnout of competitors and spectators. This tournament was a great way to build relationships with local young people and promote a positive image of the Police. Furthermore, the tournament also included an over-18s section, which saw 20 teams compete and drew a large crowd of spectators. This event helped to foster a sense of community and provided an opportunity for people to come together and engage with the police in a positive way. Meanwhile, our partnership with the Cowal Golf Club has been yielding some fantastic results. Through the golf club hire scheme, we have donated five sets of golf clubs to help get the junior golf programme started. The programme has been a huge success, with junior membership increasing from 20 to over 75. In fact, the programme has been so popular that they have had to create a waiting list - something that hasn't been seen in 30 years. This success has not gone unnoticed, with a journalist from The Scotsman highlighting the programme's achievements. Our efforts to address specific areas of concern have also been paying off. For example, we conducted an audit of the Rose Gardens, which had been plagued by anti-social behaviour issues. Following a presentation to the Dunoon Community Council, action was taken to address the issues, including the removal of bushes and a general tidy-up. This has seen a reduction in ASB calls to the area. In another example of our preventative work, we attended the Dalmally Cattle Auction to raise awareness of important issues such as sheep worrying, fuel theft, and quad bike theft. This event provided a valuable opportunity to engage with the local farming community and promote our message. Overall, our prevention work in Dunoon and surrounding areas has been focused on building relationships, promoting community engagement, and addressing specific areas of concern. By working in partnership with local organisations and communities, we aim to deliver effective prevention strategies and promote a safer, more positive environment for everyone. On the Isle of Bute, officers took part in a charity football match to raise money for local charity, Calum’s Cabin and continue to work with all local educational establishments to promote positive engagement opportunities with the Police. Recent community events have yielded positive engagement, including the recent Pride march and we look forward to the Bute Highland Games later this month. Looking Forward As the summer season continues we will carry on providing high visibility patrols at hot spot areas and pro-actively engage with the public in the Cowal and Bute communities to provide re-assurance and support as well as gaining a deeper understanding of how we can adapt our policing to ensure that we continue to provide a tailored approach to our community’s needs.
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OFFICIAL: POLICE AND PARTNERS 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. OFFICIAL: POLICE AND PARTNERS Classification: OFFICIAL Useful Links/Contacts • Argyll and Bute Communtiy Directory - https://abcd.scot/ including warm spaces information • Crimestoppers – Crimestoppers in Scotland | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org) 0800 555 111 • Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime – www.scottishparc.co.uk • Women’s Aid - Home - Women's Aid (womensaid.org.uk) • Citizens Advice – 0808 164 6000 • Argyll and Bute Council Trading Standards – 01546 605 519 • Argyll and Bute Council – https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/my-council/how-contact-us • Transport Scotland – road related incidents and road closures - https://www.traffic.gov.scot/traffic-information/incidents • Scottish Water - https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/Help-and-Resources/Contact-Us 0800 0778 778 • NHS24 (including mental health support) – 111 or https://www.nhsinform.scot/ Follow us on Social Media and help share loacl appeals and education messages • Facebook - Police Scotland Argyll and West Dunbartonshire • X (formerly Twitter) – PSOSArgyllBute and PSOS ArgWestDunb Sign up to Neighbourhood Watch to receive local alerts and bulletins for your community area - https://neighbourhoodwatchscotland.co.uk/#0 Have your say on your local policing priorities - https://consult.scotland.police.uk/strategy-insight- and-innovation/your-police-2025-2026/