Police Scotland Update
Argyll and Bute Council · 7 May 2025
Back to Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group — 7 May 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 Page 1 of 7 OFFICIAL Area Planning Group Report for Oban, Lorn, Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands May 2025 Local Policing Priority What does this mean for your area? How can you help? In tackling Serious & Organised Crime benchmarks are not straight forward. The nature of the crime type is such that we often see the symptom rather than the cause, i.e. an increase in acquisitive crime if heroin were to become a problem in an area, or an increase in Serious Assaults if rival criminal factions are in dispute. The start to the year has been steady with 19 people prosecuted for possession of a controlled substance to date, but no one currently prosecuted for Supply. That said, I am aware of a number of investigations where we are working closely with other divisions in capturing and arresting criminals visiting our area, who have subsequently been prosecuted by these divisions. At the time of writing a proactive stop led to the arrest in MAKI of a person wanted for drug supply in another part of Scotland, found in possession of £2500. This money was seized. Your officers continue to undertake proactive patrols to identify and intercept those that might move and supply drugs. I am happy to report that we are yet to have any Serious Assaults recorded so far this year. This is unusual when compared against the 5-year average for our Policing area. However, with Summer demand, we are liable to see an inevitable increase as visitors to the area increase and nighttime economy incidents increase. Your local police request your help in tackling Drug related crime by reporting any suspicions you may have either in person or anonymously via 101 or via crime stoppers online: Crimestoppers in Scotland | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org) 0800 555 111 We rely on communities to provide us with the information that helps us tackle organised crime. Your intelligence is essential in securing warrants. Please, if you see, hear or suspect something, link with us directly or use the above information to voice your concerns. As you can see, your inputs help us take action.
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OFFICIAL Page 2 of 7 OFFICIAL Acquisitive Crime encompasses all Theft type crimes, including Housebreaking and Frauds. Crimes such as shoplifting sprees or a series of sheds being broken into can quickly distort figures and risk when analysing this group. Generally, the start of the year has seen a decerease in most crime types related to acquistive cirme, i.e. shop theft down by 64%. The exceptions to this involve Fraud, with an increase of 45% on the start of the year. These primarily relate to isolated incidents, normally involving buying and selling on Facebook Market Place. Where buying things online we recommend to make as many checks as you can and use methods of payment which are protected against Fraud. Other areas of risk involve people investing in Cryptocurrenty online. We have also seen two incidents of people entering buildings with intent to steal, but these have been derelict buildings, in areas that are not populated. The investigation into these incidents remains ongoing. They are believed to be unique in nature and are not recognised as part of a wider pattern. Your local police wants members of the APGs to help us by following us on our social media channels to help us spread crime prevention advice and guidance. Fraud Seminars can be provided by the Community Engagement team should you wish. Contact PS Alison who will pass your details on to the relevant team. Read tips on Argyll & Bute’s Trading Standards Website on practice to protect yourself from the activity of Rogue Traders. There are many strands to understanding road safety, from the amount of crimes, to the amount of accidents and injuries that occur upon our network. Police Scotland are one of many partner agencies that contribute to trying to improve the safety of local infrastructure. Our Response Officers and Road Policing Units continue to work hard to improve the safety of the road network by identifying and prosecuting those users committing offences. As such we have seen a general increase for the You can help your local Police by reporting anyone who is suspected of drink or drug driving within your community either in person, via 101 or via crime stoppers online: Crimestoppers in Scotland | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org) 0800 555 111 We are finding a trend where we are receiving feedback from partners and Community Councils of problematic driving standards ‘after
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OFFICIAL Page 3 of 7 OFFICIAL same period of last year of 39% for recorded offences. The offences leading the increase in recording are primarily Careless Driving, i.e. dangerous overtakes and vehicle defects, i.e. bald tyres. Again, drink and drug driving continues to be a blight on our communities with an 8.3% increase from last year. We continue to see the impact of this on communities and families of those affected. We can only ask that the community report any incidents as they occur so that we can help prevent tragedies from occurring. Only yesterday (30th April) Police responded to a person drifting over the white lines, causing danger to oncoming traffic and intercepted a person who appeared under the influence of drugs/alcohol (this case is ongoing). By people contacting us, we were able to prevent an accident and make both the driver and other road users safe. We cannot make a change in culture without the community’s support. the offending is occurring’. It is really important that Police are called at the time of the offending so we can catch the behaviour taking place. This helps us provide key evidence to take action and prosecute offending. It is also noted that people wish to remain anonymous in reports. Whilst this is a way to report, this does make the role of prosecuting offenders harder for Police. Where communities stand together to say know to certain crime types, we can make a real difference. Violent Crime covers a range of offences from Stalking, Assaults, Domestic Abuse through to the worst offence of Murder. Violent crime has remained reasonable stable, with only a 5% increase on figures for the year to date. The increase is down to a slight increase in Common Assaults (3 more than last year for the same period). Though we have seen a welcome decrease in emergency workers being attacked (this includes ambulance/hospital staff and police), dropping by 87% for this year to date. Please help us tackle Violent Crime by reporting any ASB or community concerns either in person via 101 or via crime stoppers online: Crimestoppers in Scotland | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org) 0800 555 111 As APG members, if you have identified problem areas, ASB hotspots, or licencees that are not acting in a responsible way, please link with us to advise of the problem. We can set up bespoke patrols and use our powers under Licensing Laws to ensure responsible practice.
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OFFICIAL Page 4 of 7 OFFICIAL However, threatening and abusive behaviour has seen an increase for the year to date, with incidents increasing 176%. There is no real pattern as to why this increase has occurred, but the crime type is one that normally occurs in the evenings and after the people committing the offence have ingested some form of intoxicant. Again, there is no clear demographic that is our main offender with this crime type, with varying ages and genders partaking in the offence. The sooner we are informed about an issue the less chance there is that it grows into an enduring community issue. This area of public protection spans a number of traditional crime types, including Child Protection, to crimes under Sexual Offences legislation. In the first quarter of this year a large amount of time and resource was put into the trying to locate a high-risk missing person on the Isle of Mull, Ms Clare Halliday. It is with regret that we have still been unable to locate her to date, but the investigation continues unbated, though scaled back. We’d like to thank the communities of Fionnphort and Iona for their help during this enquiry. They will have been aware of the Polcie Scotland Air Support Unit undertaking further coastline searches during the w/c 26th April. For the year to date I am pleased to advise that we have seen an 8% decrease in crimes related to this field of policing. Whilst we have had 4 rapes reported for the year to date (2 more than usual), all but one were in the context of relationships. With the one rape that was outside of the context, the parties were known to one another and the suspect quickly located by Police. There is no wider threat to the general public. Members of the APG can help us by reporting any concerns you may have regarding potential victims of Domestic Abuse or vulnerable persons, who may be being exploited or who may just need additional crime prevention support. Again, this can be reported through the channels previously discussed, but where serious safety concerns are present, better outcomes are achieved by in person reporting so we can properly understand the risks present.
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OFFICIAL Page 5 of 7 OFFICIAL Other relevant news from your local policing teams Community Council Reports: In the past couple of months there has been heighted engagement regarding the format of the monthly Community Council Reports, with some wishing for more bespoke localised reports. This continues to be a regular communication. In response to this, we will split the current report into 4: one for the OLI island framework, one for MAKI island framework, one for MAKI mainland and one for OLI mainland. Where time permits good news stories from these locations will be reviewed. It is important to realise that the officers producing these have many other responsibilities that include safeguarding members of our communities. These reports take time and whilst we want to communicate well with our communities, the reports, which are not statutory, have limited impact on positive outcomes for communities, compared to our other targeted work. That is why this work will always be prioritised and the reports will not be broken down more, as it would currently create too much burden on officers, diverting them away from essential work streams. We have previously discussed in this forum about what is done with the data provided – if nothing is done to progress community safety/policing priorities and the information requested is purely for interest, we are not fulfilling our obligations under the Data Protection act as a Data Controller by releasing it. Further, I have previously articulated the risk of identifying victims of crime in small communities, which is unacceptable, and reduces trust in Polcie and reduces reporting when it occurs. That risk remains and more finite reports open up that unacceptable outcome occurring. Again, should communities have set data work they wish reviewed, we will undertake it, as long as there is a legitimate Policing related purpose behind it, i.e. to support Neighbourhood/Farm Watch research, to identify a suspected crime pattern etc. Islay Antisocial Driving: We have received a number of reports regarding anti-social driving on Islay. Initially this was only from third party reports, but we are now getting members of the public phone the Police, which is welcomed. The area management team is reviewing efforts to get dedicated Road Policing Operations on the island to help support the island officers in tackling this problem. CCTV options have been reviewed with the Council and discussions remain ongoing to tackle this issue Drug Concerns: Concerns have been raised regarding drug activity in Campbeltown and the impact that is having on part of the community down there. Please allow me to assure those present that we are fully aware and working on the issues that this ongoing complex situation is producing. Your uniformed officers that patrol the streets are working closely with the division’s CID teams to identify, frustrate and prosecute drug supply and the knock-on impacts of this crime type. Divisional Commander Visits: Chief Supt Gary I’Anson has been visiting our area, undertaking island visits and key settlements, meeting with stakeholders. This hands-on approach has led to informed divisional
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OFFICIAL Page 6 of 7 OFFICIAL management. What does that mean for you? It means staffing and logistics of the current Police infrastructure is being reviewed on how to increase effectiveness. Area Commander Lee Page is working closely with the Chief Supt to review how the future of policing in OLI and MAKI might look and take shape. Where appropriate, engagement with stakeholders will occur. We will continue to update you as this develops. Youth Engagement Officers (YEO): Following on from the success of the Oban YEO, we have now recruited YEOs for both Campbeltown and Lochgilphead. We are looking to have them in place and operational by the start of the new school year. The vision is that the 3 YEOs will work as a team to help support the develop of the young in our area, working in tandem with schools and support/youth groups across OLI and MAKI. They will also support the ongoing Planet Youth work that is being undertaken in Lochgilphead and Oban. In analysing the demand within our policing area it has been determined that a large number of calls stem from residents not knowing which agency they should contact, resulting in linking with the Police as the agency of last resort. The below links are to help channel enquiries to the correct agencies: Useful Links/Contacts: • Argyll and Bute Communtiy Directory - https://abcd.scot/ - this excellent site signposts you to all available services in your area, be it advocacy, counselling, debt advice or animal welfare; • 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 & https://www.abcab.org.uk/ - Argyll and Bute Citizens Advice Bureau is a local, independent charity which provides free, impartial and confidential advice and information to give you the tools you need to sort out any issues or problems; • 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/ • Scam Share Bulletin Trading Standards Scotland Bulletin 6 June (mailchi.mp) • Age Scotland- Demetia Information and help- https://www.agescotland.org.uk/ • Neighbourhood Watch - sign up to to receive local alerts and bulletins for your community area - https://neighbourhoodwatchscotland.co.uk/#0
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OFFICIAL Page 7 of 7 OFFICIAL • Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) - https://www.sepa.org.uk/ - for pollution, environmental safety, flooding, waste disposal/carrying enquiries Follow us on Social Media and help share local appeals and education messages: • Facebook - Police Scotland Argyll and West Dunbartonshire • X (formerly Twitter) – PSOSArgyllBute and PSOS ArgWestDunb Report Completed by Insp Matthew Shaw on behalf of Area Commander Chief Insp Lee Page Email Address Matthew.shaw@scotland.police.uk