Police Scotland
Argyll and Bute Council · 23 August 2022
Back to Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group — 23 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 Helensburgh and Lomond - Area Community Planning Group Partner Update – Police Scotland Resourcing 4 new Probationers have arrived at Helensburgh from the Scottish Police College. Work is ongoing to review capacity for targeting local problems with a small team of dedicated officers. Action plans have been drawn up to tackle anti-social behaviour, drug misuse and violence in hot spot areas and increased hi visibility patrols in these areas is hoped will increase public confidence and build relationships with local communities. 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. Ongoing Work of Note During this quarter we have concentrated efforts on positive role models for children and young people. Working with our partners at Live Argyll, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Ministry of Defence Police and Royal Navy Police we have been delivering football sessions every Friday night throughout the summer holidays to young persons aged between 12 and 17 years old. We have consistently had between 40 and 70 attendees, both boys and girls, and have used this as an opportunity to build positive relationships with the young people whilst enhancing awareness of the positive impact that they can have on our communities with the overall aim to reduce crime and the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour. Police Scotland, Royal Navy Police and Ministry of Defence Police have established joint patrols of Helensburgh Town Centre on weekends to promote the safety and wellbeing of members of the public and prevent criminality taking place or escalating. The patrols are also being utilised to work with licensed premises, including staff and managers promoting the responsible sale of alcohol. The overall objective is to adopt a collaborative approach to provide a safe recreational environment, maximising public safety and reduce anti-social behaviour and disorder. We are working closely with the Drug and alcohol Partnership to look at ways to better support families affected by Drugs Deaths in the Community. We are meeting with our partners from NHS and We are With You to establish how Police Scotland can play an effective role locally in prevention and support and are scheduled to attend a number of local groups to establish greater working relationships and actively try and reduce the stigma of addiction.
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OFFICIAL OFFICIAL 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 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.
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OFFICIAL OFFICIAL 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. Road Safety 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. 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 Bench has now been installed in Kilcreggan in conjunction with the Community Council. The Friendship Benches have been
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OFFICIAL OFFICIAL provided through funding and partnership work with Cove and Kilcreggan Community Council, 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. Road Safety 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 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. The aim will be to recreate this event in the Helensburgh area next year and planning will start for this at the end of this month and if any partners would like to be involved please let us know. 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 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,
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OFFICIAL OFFICIAL 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.
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