Police Scotland Update
Argyll and Bute Council · 13 August 2024
Back to Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group — 13 August 2024 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 Argyll & West Dunbartonshire Division Cowal and Bute Area Community Planning Group August 2024 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 from our Local Policing Survey. The Priorities are: ➢ Serious and organised crime ➢ Crimes of theft and dishonesty ➢ Road safety and road crime ➢ Violent crime ➢ Public protection. Serious & Organised Crime Cowal, Bute & Helensburgh benefits from a dedicated Pro-active Serious and Organised Crime Team (SOCT). These specialist officers are supported by dedicated intelligence officers in tackling serious and organised crime in our communities. We have been upskilling officers across Argyll ensuring they understand and appreciate the importance of community intelligence and information. This information is key are often results in the targeting of those involved in the sale and supply of controlled drugs. In Cowal and Bute, this has led to an increase in applications to the courts for Sheriff search warrants resulting in various drugs recoveries from specific individuals. A number of Sheriff search warrants have been executed recently on the Isle of Bute, led by Local Policing, which have seen individuals having been identified as being involved in the supply of controlled substances and these have been reported to the Court for same. 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 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 suspicions around drug dealing either by calling 101 or by reporting anonymously via Crimestoppers 0800 555 111. Acquisitive Crime Acquisitive crime remains a local priority. Figures across the country are on an upward trajectory, which in part is a result of the cost of living. We are working with our Preventions team looking at maximising our crime prevention opportunities and looking at innovative ways to increase local awareness. We are working with our communities to identify areas of vulnerability where we can engage with our partners to maximise our response. In Cowal and Bute our local policing officers are engaging with local businesses in the retail sector to reduce shoplifting. Officers are taking ownership by identifying those responsible, collating information and seeking bail conditions restricting access by the perpetrators. Theft of fuel from petrol stations continues to be an increasing trend. Along with our preventions team we are supporting local business to ensure that we are proving crime prevention advice and seeking local business to review practises to reduce the volume of these crimes. Road Safety & Road Crime We have continued to maximise our visibility on the trunk roads with our focus on speed detection and driver behaviour being the primary activities. Our summer road safety campaign has ensured that we are prepared for the increase in road users across our communities particular with the increase in tourists and those who unfamiliar with our roads. As a result of our continued presence within local community councils and partnership meetings we are able to identify locations which our community have identified as areas of concern for speeding. Our officers are all trained in the use of hand help speed detection devices and will always look for opportunities to target these areas throughout the course of their shift. We participate in the Cowal Transport Forum which provides a wide range of community members the opportunity to engage directly with local policing giving us a great opportunity to listen and identify local risk and to provide a suitable policing response. Violent Crime Violent crime continues to be closely monitored and reviewed with investigations being resourced across Local Policing Teams and the Criminal Investigation Department. Each crime is subject of daily review and scrutiny and thereafter allocated to the most appropriate department to progress to assist in identification of repeat victims, offenders and locations. Any emerging issues and risks are shared and appropriate actions identified.
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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 Across Cowal and Bute we continue to support our nighttime economy by providing a visible presence in our licensed premises. Weekend policing plans allow us to maximise our efforts across our towns as we look for opportunities to reduce early signs of ASB which may escalate into violence. We often work with partners to maximise our presence. Public Protection Our partnerships team are working with A&B licensing to increase the awareness of domestic violence and in particular violence against women and children. Providing better awareness and support to other agencies will allow them to consider the “by stander approach” Which will give confidence to report their concerns to local policing. Local Policing News Fraud Prevention Frauds and scams continue to be a focus as offences are still being reported on a regular basis and we would welcome invites from any community groups or organisations in the Cowal and Bute area who feel they could benefit from an input from our preventions team. Community Policing PC Rachael Wells has recently taken up post as the Police Youth Engagement officer at Dunoon Police Office, covering both Dunoon and Bute. A Police Youth engagement officer plays a crucial role in fostering positive relationships between the Police and young people within the community, their role is to engage individuals in more positive lifestyles away from crime and anti-social behaviour. Helping to build trust and confidence between young people and the police through open and honest conversations, providing mentoring and guidance to the young people within the communities of Cowal and Bute as well as their families to tackle any ongoing issues and build positive experiences with the Police. Local Policing are also carrying out licensed premises checks as often as they can, engaging with staff within to identify any concerns or issues which arise as a result of alcohol consumption and providing assurance and a service where required. Looking Forward Local policing will continue to 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 provide a more 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 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-2023-2024/