Police Scotland Update
Argyll and Bute Council · 6 May 2025
Back to Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group — 6 May 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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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 Argyll & West Dunbartonshire Division Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group April 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 recently closed and the results are currently in the process of being analysed. Levels of public engagement remain high, with a total of 16,666 responses being received nationally. The 2025-26 survey will open imminently. 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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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 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 35 recorded in the area from February to April 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. For example, it was noted that some retailers were experiencing the repeat theft of vapes. This type of crime will soon be designed out due to the incoming legislation and vapes will be less readily accessible in shop displays. Fraud and scam talks are regularly organised with various community groups, with a recent talk taking place in Ardentinny and one is currently being organised in Strachur. 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 01/02/2025 until 28/04/2025 there have been 119 road traffic offences across Cowal and Bute. The main offences in this area pertain to speeding, no MOT and careless driving. Working with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, officers have been putting on regular Road Safety Hubs in Dunoon. These have been well received and due to their positive engagement and impact,, further events are in the process of being planned. 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 where the nighttime economy sees increased footfall. In March and April, across both Cowal and Bute, our officers have carried out over 60 visits to licensed premises.
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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 Since February to the end of April 2025, there have been 54 assaults recorded (two of which have been serious assaults). This figure includes 12 police assaults. 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. We also have a range of prevention work ongoing which targets a wide age range of individuals from school pupils to the professional. One such initiative involves taxi drivers and providing them with training on how to report concerns or deal with an incident taking place in front of them. Local Policing News Youth engagement continues apace with our Youth Engagement Officer (YEO), PC Rachael Wells, driving forward excellent opportunities for children and young people in our communities. The Police Scotland Youth Volunteers (PSYV) continue with their regular meetings in Dunoon and can often be found providing assistance at a range of community events, recently taking part in a beach clean. PC Michael Cunningham, in the Community Engagement Team, has also established a Golf Juniors Programme in Dunoon which has begun with lots of enthusiasm and a wide range of participants. Once established he is also hoping to replicate this programme on the Isle of Bute. Local community events continue to be regularly attended by officers. This has included a careers fair held at Bute Yard in March and continued involvement in Planet Youth in both Dunoon and Bute. Officers regularly deliver prevention inputs around key areas such as fraud and internet safety to a broad range of community groups. If you would like to organise one of these inputs please contact PC Michael Cunningham or PS Sophie Marshall.
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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 Looking Forward We have recently welcomed new officers in both Dunoon and the Isle of Bute. These officers will bolster our existing officer numbers and help to provide more resilience and support to our communities. Looking further ahead into summer, we are forward planning on issues such as: • Seasonal ASB • Road Safety • Water Safety 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 - Your Police 2024-2025 - Police Scotland - Citizen Space