Issue - meetings

Update by Police Scotland

The Group considered an update from Police Scotland, providing information around fraud prevention; online child exploitation; the Keep Safe initiative providing safe places for vulnerable people to seek support; partnership working between Police Scotland and HSCP staff; additional resources put in place to assist with visitor management in the area; the launch of the Herbert Protocol to assist in tracing vulnerable people with Dementia; and a wheelie bin sticker campaign to assist with awareness of speed limits.   

Discussions took place around concerns of increased drug use in the area among young people, highlighted earlier in the meeting by Sandra MacIntyre. Inspector Collins advised that the inability of Police Scotland to undertake physical searches due to Covid-19 guidance had reduced the amount of action that Officers could take in relation to drug searches, however this guidance had now been relaxed and Officers would resume previous activities. Inspector Collins noted that Police activity to tackle drugs was largely dependent on Police intelligence and encouraged anyone with any information in relation to this to contact 101 as soon as possible. He also confirmed that tackling drugs was a high priority for him as an Inspector and that action plans would be put in place to intercept those bringing drugs into the area.

Decision

The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group considered and noted the information provided.

(Reference: Report by Inspector Paul Collins, Police Scotland, submitted)