Police Scotland
Argyll and Bute Council · 16 August 2022
Back to Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group — 16 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 Argyll and Bute Bute and Cowal - Area Community Planning Group Partner Update – Police Scotland Resourcing One new probationer has arrived in Dunoon in the past month, with 2 additional probationary Officers scheduled to arrive in October. The long standing Policing Presence at Stronafian has now concluded, all of which will have a positive impact on resources. Rothesay is due to welcome PC Max Hitchings on the 17th of August from P Division (Fife) on secondment, as PC David Gordon departs for P Division. Currently PC Joseph Malarkey is at the SPC receiving his initial training and will join the Rothesay Team in a few months’ time on Group 1. Our Policing Division has moved towards a new response Inspector model – which in turn has led to Sergeant Chris Dibbs being temporarily promoted to Inspector at Rothesay. Together with colleagues across Argyll work is being undertaken to recruit staff into the remote areas of the division (Inc. Rothesay) and a working group currently exists around recruitment and retention. Local Events Police have recently attended the Lochgoilhead Gala and in the next month expecting to attend Sandbank and Kirn Gala’s and any other we are made aware of. The main or largest event in August will be the Cowal Highland Gathering with the planning of policing the event well under way. As usual it will be policed by local officers and mutual aid from other offices in Argyll and other divisions. ‘Butefest’ proved to be a policing success with public safety maintained with security staff and no arrests. The event was supported by an officer from our Special Constabulary. The 20th of August sees the Bute Highland Games return to the island. A policing plan is already in place and Rothesay staff will be supported by the Special Constabulary and resources from the mainland. Ongoing Work of Note The Old Academy at Rothesay continues to present a challenge in terms of ASB and Fire/Health & Safety. A meeting was convened by T/PI Dibbs and involved local Councillors, Fyne Homes, HIE, and the Fire Service. Representations have been
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OFFICIAL OFFICIAL made to A&B Council, particularly with reference Fire Safety and a survey is due to take place where an assessment will be made on whether fire loading can be reduced at the school in a safe manner. A&B have commissioned a consultative process regards the Academy and will be seeking views from those with a vested interest in due course. Police patrols have been increased to the locus and T/PI Dibbs worked with the Isle of Bute Newspaper last week, releasing an article appealing to the community to stay away from the locus. Calls to the 3 in 1 Takeaway, Argyle Street, Rothesay appear to have dropped in recent times, following an increased police presence at relevant times. This was following a number of concerns raised directly with police and at our Local Community Council Meeting. Keep Safe – Ukrainian Support Updates have been provided previously around the Keep Safe initiative, which operates throughout Scotland with Argyll and Bute having over 50 Keep Safe Places throughout its communities. Keep Safe was designed with disable people however it can be used by anyone who feels lost, scared or vulnerable when out in the community. Ukrainian translated Keep Safe materials have been shared with all Keep Safe places and key contacts through the Violence Against Women and Girls Partnership to enable people from Ukraine to be aware and be able to access Keep Safe places if they feel vulnerable when in our communities. Doorstep Crime Guidance A newly established partnership agreement between Police Scotland, Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) and Argyll and Bute Council Trading Standards provides a more robust process for reporting and identifying those who carry out doorstep crimes such as fraud and consumer protection offences. When
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OFFICIAL OFFICIAL Police Scotland and Argyll and Bute Council Trading Standards are contacted by the public and notified of an incident where criminals have purported to carry out works such as driveway and roofing repairs, professional trade’s people from ACHA will now attend and provide an independent assessment of the work carried out. This will provide Police Scotland and Argyll and Bute Council Trading Standards a clearer ability to determine if any crime has taken place and if so what charges are relevant. This process has been used in the Dunoon area recently. Road Safety On Monday 6th June 2022, officers from Argyll and Dunbartonshire Roads Policing Unit, Mounted Branch and the Community Engagement Team carried out Operation Close Pass and Lose the Blinkers in Dunoon. Both are designed to increase road safety by highlighting to drivers the importance of their speed and passing distances in relation to other more vulnerable road users. On Thursday 28th July 2022, officers from the Roads Policing Unit and Community Engagement Team held a Facebook Live Q&A in relation to motorcycle safety as Bute and Cowal are popular areas not only for resident motorcyclists but also visitors to the area, particularly in summer. This was the first Facebook Q&A live session held in this manner with 21 comments of engagement which was well received. On Sunday 7th August 2022, the Drive Scot Free Event will be held at Dunoon Grammar School. This includes a number of assessors from the Institute of Advanced Motorists attending to offer free driving inputs including driving licence legislation, eye sight tests, manoeuvrability sessions as well as an assessment drive. Local support for this has been appreciated with Morrison’s, Shearwater Marine Services, Western Ferries and Argyll and Bute Council providing donations to enable
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OFFICIAL OFFICIAL the event to run. The event has been promoted on Social Media, Dunoon Observer as well as a number of posters and leaflets delivered to petrol stations, cafes, opticians and GP practices. The event is open for everyone. Youth Engagement In response to increasing demand for positive engagement with children and young people across Cowal, Bute and Helensburgh, an additional Youth Engagement Officer post has been created to service Bute and Rothesay to supplement PC Mark Toner who will now be based solely in Helensburgh. This additional capacity will allow us focus on re-establishing previously successful Police Scotland Youth Volunteer Groups and to work more closely with Care Experienced Young people to deliver on our responsibilities as a corporate parent. We are looking at opportunities to learn from Glasgow’s implementation of the ‘Respect’ Programme and options to utilise our Youth Engagement Officers to deliver against the outcomes and provide support and reduce harms for Care Experienced Young People. Suicide Prevention We are delighted that the Friendship Benches for Cowal have either been installed or are now ready to be affixed. The Friendship Benches have been provided through funding and partnership work with Ardentinny, Sandbank, Lochgoilhead and Strachur Community Councils, Argyll and Bute Council, Dunoon Mens Shed, the Corra Foundation and Bute Sign and Graphics and provide a place for people to sit and enjoy their area, but also support numbers on the sign provided on the bench for Samaritans, Breathing Space and Shout and we would encourage people to ask anyone sitting there “are you ok” as a way to reduce isolation and loneliness often leading to poor mental health. Your Police Survey Police Scotland has continued to meet the needs of our communities during a demanding and difficult period for the people of Scotland. Understanding the views
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OFFICIAL OFFICIAL and priorities of Scotland's diverse communities is fundamental to how Police Scotland responds to the needs of the public. Our public engagement activities help us improve how we deliver our policing services in local communities, ensuring they are accessible for everyone. This survey will help us improve how we deliver policing services in your area. Our Annual Police Plan sets out what we will do to keep our communities safe. It has been developed using your responses to last year’s survey – along with focus groups, workshops and other ways we listen to you. They survey is designed to be completed online – you can visit consult.scotland.police.uk What happens with what you tell us? It is vital that we listen, understand, and take action using your views and experiences. Our Annual Police Plan 2022/23 sets out what we will do to keep our communities safe and this has been developed using your responses to last year's survey, along with focus groups, workshops and other ways we listen to communities. Complete the survey in a different way A British Sign Language version of this survey is available at https://consult.scotland.police.uk/strategy-insight-and-innovation/bsl-version-your- police-2022-2023. You may find this version easier if you use BSL to communicate. Please let us know if you want to complete the survey in a different way (for example, over the phone): InsightEngagement@scotland.pnn.police.uk. Your response is anonymous and you will not be identified through the information you provide unless you choose to identify yourself in your responses. If you are a young person aged 12-25, there is more information about how to claim your 150 Rewards points shown after you submit your response. Not a Member yet? Go to young.scot to sign up.