Issue - meetings

Chief Inspector Baillie from Police Scotland updated the Group on the current staffing situation, she advised that they have successfully filled a Sgt post in Mull and that an advert will be going out for a post in Dalmally which then leaves the force fully staffed in the Oban, Lorn and the Isles area.  She spoke about the recruitment launch which will be taking place in January next year where they will also be looking for Special Constables and advised that Inspector Julie McLeish would be leading on this.

She advised that Police Scotland will be looking at the safety of women and children over the festive safety campaign, where preparation has begun in Officers visiting victims to make sure they have the support they need.  She confirmed that there has been a decrease in domestic violence in the area and the detection rates are the highest in Scotland.

Chief Inspector Baillie spoke about the vulnerable group scheme where they are working closing with Trading Standards and aiming to tackle white van men and no cold calling incidents.

She advised that the serious crime stats have risen but common assaults have decreased by 5.9% with a detection rate on 88.9%.  She confirmed that disorder and anti-social behaviour stats have also decreased.

She spoke about the Shop a Dealer Campaign which is currently underway where they have intelligence on the town with the community working together to tackle this issue, where they can they get a warrant.  She advised that Police Scotland have been working in partnership with ACHA, WHHA and the Substance Misuse Group and they have been entering licensed premises and providing cocaine wipes to help Licence Holders with the drug problem in the area.

She advised that there has been a positive decrease in the number of fatalities and road accidents with an increase in pro active working on, speeding and dangerous driving.

Chief Inspector Baillie finished off by updating the Group on the Multi-Agency Group which was set up with the Police, Roads Department, Transport Scotland and BEAR Scotland to help the flow of traffic and for a diversionary route to be available in the case of an accident, she advised that unfortunately this task was not as simple and straight forward as they thought and that the Group is no further forward.  She confirmed that they are currently working on improving the signage and communication.

The Group noted the information provided.

The Roads Performance Manager updated the Group on the discussions Argyll and Bute Council have recently had with Police Scotland in relation to the closures of trunk road network and in particular the Oban to Connel A85. .  He advised that they are currently working on a diversion plan which will not happen overnight and their main issue is the knock on effect of traffic by the general public and people using Sat Nav diversion routes.  He advised that the main concern is partners getting to each end of the diversion route when an accident occurs.  He advised he is looking into forms of words for potential advisory signs to advise the public of unsuitability of   roads to help reduce the risk of more road blocks in the event of an accident.

The Roads Performance Manager advised his aim at the moment is to get information out to the public to advise them what they should and shouldn’t do where there is an accident.

Chief Inspector Marlene Bailie advised there has been a multi agency road safety group set up which has been positive and they have detected that the diversion route is a specific action from the feasibility study which Argyll and Bute Council and BEAR Scotland have taken on as matters need to be improved.

Archie Maguire from Police Scotland confirmed that they have currently invested in new laser surveying equipment which will help survey roads quicker at the event of an accident.  He advised this piece of equipment will find and identify evidence quicker and will hopefully result in roads being opened quicker.  He advised that the equipment is in the Police College at the moment downloading data and will be stored at the HQs in Fort William.

Chief Inspector Marlene Baillie updated the Group on the current division staffing changes in Oban, Lorn and the Isles.  She advised that Barry McEwan has now moved on and will be replaced by Helen Swan at the end of this month.  She confirmed that there will be an Officer retiring in Mull at the end of October and they have recently carried out interviews for this post and have a successful candidate.  She advised that there are 2 sergeants retiring in the Oban office at the end of the year.

She updated the Group on this years figures which related to Outcome 6 of the Single Outcome Agreement.  She advised that domestic violence incidents are down since last year with 19 in Oban North and 27 in Oban South.  She advised that domestic violence is a key priority for Police Scotland and detection rates are high at 91% for Oban.

She confirmed that there is a downward trend in sexual offending with a detection rate of 76.5% and 6 offences this year.

Chief Inspector Baillie updated the Group on house break ins around the area and advised that there have been 10 reports recorded in Oban North which is higher than last year and 6 in Oban South which has gone down.

She reported on the anti social behaviour figures and advised that there has been a real push for downward trends with 104 reported this year in Oban North and 162 in Oban South.

She gave a brief update to the Group on the violent crime figures and advised that there has been 1 serious assault in Oban North and 2 in Oban South with a detection rate of 100%. 

She reported on road traffic accidents in the area and advised that there has been a multi agency group set up and a drivers scheme ongoing to prevent people from drink driving in the area.  She advised that there has been 1 fatal road accident this year but that is one too many.

The Group noted the information provided.

Inspector Paul Robertson gave an update to the Group and advised that Police Scotland will have the mobile policing unit back up and running in a couple of weeks as it was in Glasgow being used for the Common Wealth Games.

He reported on the new dedicated Road Traffic department which will be focusing on the activity on the trunk roads.  He advised that road traffic accidents are currently down.

He advised that there is a Road Safety Group now in place which includes Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue, BEAR, Transport Scotland and NHS that meet on a quarterly basis and hope to feed information back to the Community Planning Group meetings.

Inspector Robertson updated on policing at Cowal Games.  He advised that there was 19 arrests over the whole weekend, 14 were related to the games and were alcohol induced where ASBO tickets were handed out and 4 people remained in custody.

He updated the Group on the Home Sweet Home plays and advised they are scheduled to take place on 3^rd September in the village hall in Innellan in the morning and the Community Centre in Dunoon in the afternoon.  He advised that the play focuses on fire safety and general crime prevention.  He advised that funding for this play was applied for via the Fire and Rescue Community Fund on behalf of the Cowal Community Safety Forum.

He advised the Group that there is currently one job available to fill on Bute as 2 members of staff left for career development reasons.

Julie McLeish of Police Scotland updated the Group on the recent structure changes which have been in place for a couple of months, she advised that Chief Inspector Baillie has settled into her post well.

She reported that they have been looking into razor clam fishing as there have been a few issues with this and it is a real danger to people.

Julie updated the Group on the incident that took place at Tiree Airport where the wind caught a plan and the plane had to crash land, she advised no one was injured.

She reported on the road closures which took place on Friday 30^th May and advised that Police Scotland are now looking into a number of proposals to help with traffic management when a road has to be closed for a period of time following an accident. They are carrying out a feasibility study to ensure all diversion routes are safe and that there is a clear communications strategy via media and signage to help manage the situation.

The Group noted the information provided.

Gary Stitt from Police Scotland advised the Group that the local Policing Plan was now complete and his main priorities for the area were road safety and enforcement, anti social behaviour and violence and drug dealing.

He advised that the anti-social behaviour levels have risen in Cowal as they had 28 cases in the first 2 months and in Rothesay there has been an increase in common assaults as there have been 11 this year and was only 2 last year.

Gary updated the group on the serious crime stats and advised that this has gone down by 63%.  He advised there have been 11 fatalities across Argyll and Bute in the last year so road safety will be the main focus of their activity.

He reported on the recent trouble they have had with house break ins but have targeted this issue and have identified a group of 4 people who are now in jail.

He advised that the police are in the process of conducting Operation Myriad which a will be a month of activities specifically to targeting alcohol, Anti-Social Behaviour, Drug, and  Traffic Offences etc.,  and that an action plan is currently being drawn up to take this forward.

The Group noted the information provided.