Police Scotland Update
Argyll and Bute Council · 6 February 2024
Back to Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group — 6 February 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
OFFICIAL OFFICIAL POLICE SCOTLAND UPDATE Cowal, Dunoon & Isle of Bute Serious Assaults have reduced YTD across these MMW by 50 % down from 4 crimes to 2. Sextorotion remains high with 11 recorded crimes YTD which although is down 1 is still high. This is a national picture and trend across Scotland. Those committing these offences are often based abroad which makes any detections challenging. Acquisitive Crime is up from 39 crimes to 58 crimes which equates to 48.7%. A deep dive into these stats show Fraud has increased from 11 to 15 recoded crimes and housebreaking, which includes attempt housebreakings where entry hasn’t been gained has increased from 11 to 18 which equates to 34.4%. In contract to a National picture theft by shoplifting crimes have reduced by 61.5% YTD down from 13 to 5. Vandalism has reduced from 40 recorded crimes to 30 which is down 25% YTD. Persons stopped in possession of offensive weapons has increased from 1 crime last year to 5 YTD. Drink Driving offences have reduced from 8 crimes to 6 but we have seen an 85.7% increase in person being stopped driving without valid insurance. Fraud Prevention Frauds and scams continue to be a focus as offences are still being reported on a regular basis. The Scam Savvy Quiz was delivered to the Innellan’s Women’s Group and was well received. During this input, officers provide information on Call Blocker devices which block out scam phone calls on landlines and 12 call blockers have been installed following the input. Currently, officers are making use of a free call blocker initiative being run by ‘Friends Against Scams’ who are a National Trading Standards organisation. Any devices requested are being sought through this scheme which means there is no local funding is required at this time. The most updated figures from trueCall who provide these devices is that we now have 262 call blockers installed in Argyll and Bute to protect older and vulnerable people from nuisance and scam phone calls. So far 86,504 calls have been blocked, and trueCall estimate that 141 scams have been prevented. It is estimated that over the 4 year life of these units they will have blocked 207,370 nuisance calls (of which 57,149 will have been scam phone calls), prevented 337 scams, saved vulnerable households £995,357, led to a reduction of £924,550 in NHS, social care & police costs, and an increase in wellbeing & quality of life valued at £1,072,235 - total benefits of £2,992,142. The financial benefits of £1,919,907 are 28 times the project costs of £67,858.
Page 2
OFFICIAL OFFICIAL Out and About Partnership and Prevention officers provided personal safety inputs to Lomond and Argyll Advocacy Service staff as well as information on county lines drug dealing methods and risks. Divisional Recognition Awards 2023 The Argyll and West Dunbartonshire Divisional Awards 2023 took place in Oban this year to recognise the outstanding work that our officers, staff and partners do in the communities. The awards included Probationer of the Year, Special Recognition, Partnership, Outstanding Bravery, Unsung Hero, Commander’s Award, Above and Beyond and Team of the Year. PC Amy Burton from Dunoon Police Station was awarded the Outstanding Bravery Award which recognised an officer who has demonstrated outstanding bravery at an incident. PC Burton saved 2 members of the public during the recent landslide at the Rest and Be Thankful and was nearly caught in the landslide herself at the risk of saving others. The Partnership Award was presented to Jim Bowles, National Observer for the Institute of Advanced Motorists. Jim acts as a volunteer in his role to promote road safety and was vital in his role during the Dunoon Road Safety event last year. Runner up for the Partnership Award was Sheena McLean from Argyll and Bute Council. Sheena was nominated for her unmatched knowledge of Anti-Social Behaviour legislation, mediation skills and drive to improve CCTV throughout Argyll and Bute.
Page 3
OFFICIAL OFFICIAL 16 Days Against Gender Based Violence Campaign Between 25th November and 10th December, officers supported the 16 Days Against Gender Based Violence Campaign. The theme for 2023 was ‘Imagine a Scotland without Gender Based Violence’. During the campaign period Police Scotland as part of the wider Violence Against Women and Girls Partnership in Argyll and Bute heavily promoted support networks for all affected by gender based violence as well as the Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse in Scotland (DSDAS). DSDAS aims to prevent domestic abuse by giving people the right to ask about the background of their partner. It also (anonymously) allows concerned members of the public, such as relatives or friends, the right to ask about someone’s partner if they are concerned that person has been abusive in the past. DSDAS enables potential victims to make the choice on whether to remain in a relationship, and working with partners, provide them with support to assist them in their decision. The campaign also involved some local pledges by prominent male roles models in our community showing positive messages about what gender based violence means to them and what they can do to make a positive difference.
Page 4
OFFICIAL OFFICIAL