Police Scotland Update
Argyll and Bute Council · 11 March 2025
Back to Helensburgh & Lomond Area Committee — 11 March 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 Argyll & West Dunbartonshire Division Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee March 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. 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. 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). 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 Acquisitive Crime Across Helensburgh and Lomond shoplifting offences have seen an increase. Over the last three months we have seen a clear spike in shoplifting crimes where supermarkets have been targeted. This is however in line with a rise in this crime type across the West of Scotland. A number of these crimes have been attributed to a travelling group of young persons who have been targeting many supermarkets across the West. We are working closely with our analysts, British Transport Police and other policing divisions to share information and evidence to identify those responsible. Our detection rates this year (from April) are sitting at 70% and we continue to engage with the COPFS and the courts to ensure the community impact of these crimes are being realised. Our Preventions Team, Youth Engagement Officer and local policing teams are all providing support to local supermarkets and businesses within the local community. They are available to visit businesses and residents to provide crime prevention advice should it be requested. We remain determined to reduce the impact of acquisitive crime locally and we will continue to thoroughly investigate all reports. (Figures from 1st April – 2nd March 2025) Crime Type 5 Year Average PYTD YTD % Change from previous Year Common Theft 36.6 51 33 -35.3% Fraud 20.4 26 26 0% Theft shoplifting 28.4 36 92 +223.9% Road Safety & Road Crime Speeding and driving complaints remain prevalent within Helensburgh and Lomond. Areas such as Cardross Road from the County Hotel to Mamis Eskin Wynd remain a concern for community members. Other areas such as West Montrose Street have also been highlighted locally. We continue to support community concerns in this area through direct action, prevention and intervention work. Proactive speed checks have been carried out across the area and between 01/11/2024 and the week commencing 20/01/2025, 39 drivers have been issued with fines or reported with speeding offences. In the same period our national festive drink driving campaign was running which resulted in eight drivers being stopped who were found to be unfit to drive. We are also aware that the removal of the average speed camera on the A82 has resulted in a few queries to our elected members. I have spoken with the Safety Camera Unit who confirmed that since the installation they have been inundated with complaints relating to HGVs slowing traffic on
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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 the road. They have confirmed that they will resume enforcing via their mobile vans along this stretch of the A82. They are also hopeful that these cameras will be re-introduced in the summer as a result of the increase in seasonal traffic. Our Preventions Team continue to be proactive on our social media streams and are planning a number of road safety road shows in the coming months which were well received in 2024. Anti-social behaviour and Violent Crime Over the course of the festive period and into this year, we have provided high visibility patrols throughout our villages and towns. We supported Christmas fayres and community events during the day and at night we provided a high visibility presence in hot spot areas providing reassurance and support to our nighttime economy. Our officers carried out over 50 visits to licensed premises across Helensburgh and Lomond during December which helped reduce alcohol related anti-social behaviour and violence. The number of recorded serious assaults have reduced based on the same time scales last year. We have seen a rise in common assaults across the area particularly against emergency service personnel, where we have recorded an increase of 70%. 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. Over recent weeks there have been a number of serious assaults reported in the areas of Camis Eskan Wynd and Old Luss Road. It is important to note that these are isolated incidents, the majority of people involved have already been identified and there are further enquiries still currently ongoing. We continue to work with our partners and the wider public to ensure that these individuals are disrupted and that prevention strategies are also considered. Public Protection Public protection remains a local and force-wide priority and at the forefront of policing. We continue to support individuals through a victim-centred approach. Our officers receive regular training and guidance to ensure we are supporting those affected with 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.
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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 We also have a range of ongoing prevention work 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. National campaigns in this area are also currently active that focus on recognising and changing offender’s behaviour. Local Policing News Community Policing Our Community Police Team (CPT) have been maximising their presence across Helensburgh and Lomond. They continue to create and enhance new local links with partners from housing, RNP and Live Argyll. The officers are tasked daily with supporting the local community where it is needed most. The officers remained motivated and determined to provide a positive policing presence within the community. There have recently been issues noted regarding e-bikes and so our CPT have been improving their own awareness of these issues and along with the Youth Engagement Officer, they have been working with local communities. Our Youth Engagement Officer continues to work proactively with all schools in the Helensburgh and Lomond area, recently carrying out a range of inputs regarding cyber safety and awareness to ensure our young people are educated about the risks of being online. Looking Forward We continue to forward plan, looking ahead with summer action plans focusing on: • Seasonal ASB • Road safety • Water safety.
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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-2024-2025/