RDATA LABEL: PUBLIC
LOCAL AREA COMMITTEE
WARD 8, BATHGATE,
REPORT BY POLICE CONSTABLE IAIN LAW
A. PURPOSE OF REPORT
Police Update for Bathgate.
B. RECOMMENDATION
For discussion by the Chair.
C. SUMMARY OF IMPLICATIONS Focusing on our customers' needs I Council Values Being honest, open and accountable Providing equality of opportunities Developing employees Making best use of our resources Working in partnership
II Policy and Legal (including Strategic Environmental Assessment, Equality Issues, Health or Risk Assessment)
III Implications for Scheme of Delegations to Officers
IV Impact on performance and performance Indicators
V Relevance to Single Outcome Agreement
VI Resources - (Financial, Staffing and Property)
VII Consideration at PDSP
VIII Other consultations
D. TERMS OF REPORT
To update the Local Area Committee on performance, activities and issues across the Ward for the fourth quarter period up to 31th March 2018.
Our Purpose To improve the safety and wellbeing of people, places and communities in Scotland Our Focus Keeping People Safe Our Values Integrity, Fairness and Respect
NATIONAL PRIORITIES – DELIVERED LOCALLY
Police Scotland Priorities
1. Violence, disorder and antisocial behaviour 2. Protecting people at risk of harm 3. Road safety and road crime 4. Serious Organised Crime 5. Counter Terrorism
WEST LOTHIAN PRIORITIES
Your West Lothian Priorities
1. Protecting People 2. Reducing Anti Social Behaviour 3. Reducing Violence 4. Tackling Substance Misuse 5. Making our Roads Safer 6. Tackling Serious and Organised Crime
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PRIORITIES
Your Local priorities
1. Reducing Anti Social Behaviour 2. Tackling Substance Misuse 3. Making our Roads Safer 4. Preventing Violence (in the night time economy) 5. Tackling Acquisitive Crime
Locality officers from 16th May 2018
Bathgate, Boghall, Armadale and Blackridge
PC Iain Law PC Richard Rafeek PC David Arnott PC Nadia Munro
CHANGES TO WEST LOTHIAN COMMUNITY POLICE TEAM BRIEFING
The purpose of this Briefing is to provide information following the restructure of the West Lothian Area Command Community Team as a result of the removal of funding for 21 officers by West Lothian Council. On 13 February 2018, West Lothian Council informed Police Scotland of the removal of police funding by West Lothian Council at a meeting that day, with 3 months’ notice; terminating funding on 15 May 2018. Since that date plans have progressed regarding the restructure of the Community Team reduced from 45 constables to 24 constables. It is not possible to continue the same current service provided with such reduced Community Police resources from 16 May 2018. Following reviewing the tasks carried out by the current Community Team the following will be implemented from 16 May 2018: -
1. There will be no School Link (Youth Community Officers) as full time police roles. It is recognised that the work carried out by these officers has greatly supported Education and our Communities but with such reduced resources, it is not possible to continue at this time.
Future police contact with schools has been discussed with Education to continue good working relationships. Advice has been given to Education to be provided to schools who previously had a Youth Community Officer. Named single point of contact officers have been provided for each Secondary School and it is hoped, where demands allow, that there will be weekly contact with schools by the identified officer. It is to be appreciated that these named single point of contact officers have a wide remit within their roles in the community locality area they serve; contact with schools being one of many of their tasks. May 2018
2. The Community Action Team will cease on 16 May 2018. The Community Action Team will be replaced by a smaller Community Enquiry Team who will be tasked and prioritised based on threat, risk and harm at any time within our Community.
3. There has been a need to redeploy officers from Community roles from 16 May 2018 and it is pleasing to report that all such officers will be redeployed locally into posts within West Lothian Area Command, which has been a positive outcome for their welfare.
4. West Lothian currently has 9 Wards with 2 Community Beat Officers per Ward. From 16 May 2018 these 9 Wards will be incorporated into 4 Locality Areas aligned to Response Policing Hubs as follows:-
1 Linlithgow, Broxburn, Uphall, Winchburgh, East Livingston and East Calder (excluding Craigshill) 2 Livingston North and Livingston South and Craigshill 3 Armadale, Blackridge and Bathgate 4 Whitburn, Blackburn, Fauldhouse and the Breich Valley
PERFORMANCE
Statistics will be posted on the Police Scotland Website that can be accessed via the link below.
Ward plans and Community information can also be obtained be using the link to access the website and then tab into ‘your community’ and enter your postcode to find the Bathgate Ward. http://www.scotland.police.uk/about-us/our-performance/
ASB performance for period up to and including 31/03/2018.
Bathgate Ward Month Jan-18 Jan-17 % Change TYTD LYTD % Change Youth Calls 22 18 22% 367 348 5% All ASB Calls 141 103 37% 1579 1345 17% Hate Crime 1 0 #DIV/0! 34 22 55% Vandalism & Reckless Conduct 27 12 125% 205 191 7% Fire-raising 0 0 #DIV/0! 9 16 -44% Public Space Assaults 9 7 29% 121 126 -4%
Bathgate Ward Month Feb-18 Feb-17 % Change TYTD LYTD % Change Youth Calls 19 22 -14% 386 370 4% All ASB Calls 109 97 12% 1688 1442 17% Hate Crime 4 0 #DIV/0! 38 22 73% Vandalism & Reckless Conduct 8 12 -33% 213 203 5% Fire-raising 3 1 200% 12 17 -29% Public Space Assaults 14 8 75% 135 135 0%
Bathgate Ward Month Mar-18 Mar-17 % Change TYTD LYTD % Change Youth Calls 21 61 -66% 407 431 -6% All ASB Calls 110 148 -26% 1798 1590 13% Hate Crime 3 4 -25% 41 26 58% Vandalism & Reckless Conduct 19 14 36% 232 217 7% Fire-raising 0 0 12 17 -29% Public Space Assaults 13 5 160% 148 141 5%
ISSUES OF NOTE
Exceptional Reporting on the above
March 2018
Youth Calls – Decreased by 6% in the year to date figures, the monthly figures in Quarter 4 January - March have seen a decrease in month on month calls. This could be attributed to the adverse weather over that period. This will continue to be monitored as there are still problems being experienced at a few locations in the town centre area that can also be attributed to the school holiday period.
ASB Calls – A decrease in March to date, which can be linked to the youth calls decreasing.
Hate Crime – Continues to decrease on a month to month basis and considering the size of the Ward and its night time economy the figures remain very low in comparison with other locations in West Lothian.
Vandalism / Reckless Conduct – Remains low. On reviewing the reports there are no specific patterns or locations.
Fire Raising – There were 3 reported incident in this quarter. With none being reported in March.
Public Space Assaults – Although the spike in assaults over this quarter is obvious, and there is no specific reason for this, the year to date figures are in consistency. The higher than normal ‘old firm ‘matches may have had some relevance.
PREVENTION
Activities
Reducing antisocial behaviour within our communities
The Ward Officers review all calls of ASB in an effort to identify offenders and will progress criminal complaints and ASB complaints to conclusion to ensure a positive outcome.
Partnership working between West Lothian Council Safer Neighbourhood Officers and Community Police officers continues, and a number of intervention visits, tenancy anti-social behaviour warnings have been carried out to problematic/repeat houses and locations in the area. This is a key partnership that assists greatly in the reduction of Anti-Social Behaviour in communities.
Reducing community and social harm caused by drug and alcohol misuse The Ward Officers and CAT continue to carry out stop and searches to deter, disrupt, divert and detect offenders.
There were a number of proactive stop and searches in public places over the reporting period with some excellent recoveries. Over the period January to March there were 25 possession and supply offences recorded in the Bathgate Ward.
Several properties within the Ward were also searched under Misuse of Drugs legislation in pre planned operations over the reporting period.
Members of the public are always encouraged to report suspicious activity, so that police can continue to gather intelligence and disrupt those who deal and misuse controlled drugs.
All licensed premises in the town centre area now get routinely visited at peak demand periods and inspections carried out and recorded on Police systems.
Making our Roads Safer The Community team will continue to carry out road checks to provide reassurance and carry out enforcement and education of young drivers to work towards reducing the communities fear in regards anti social driving.
In the reporting period there were 45 people reported for various offences including dangerous driving, drink driving, no insurance and disqualified driving.
Local Ward officers continue to be tasked to patrol the Town Centre and resolve parking issues either by enforcement or educating drivers. Over the reporting period 18 parking tickets have been issued to drivers within the Bathgate town centre area for various parking offences.
The Parksmart Scheme is being adopted by many schools across the county, however there are some schools who could be making better use of the resources, and indeed still some schools to adopt the scheme. Ward Officers will continue to liaise with school management and encourage the uptake of this highly relevant resource, which focuses on the long standing issue of school road safety.
The schools will have access to the relevant materials however should there be any issues, the contact within West Lothian Council is Karen McCubbin.
Prevent Violence (in the night time economy)
The number of serious assaults continue to reduce in Ward especially within the town centre area around licensed premises. In the reporting period, 3 months, there has been only 2 recorded, both solved and reported to procurator fiscal. This is in line with the increase in licensed premises visits and routine inspections and is considered best practice across West Lothian.
Initiatives
Reducing Anti Social Behaviour The Community Policing Team work closely with the WLC SNT officers for the area and continue to challenge ASB in the home, issue tenancy warnings, and this can lead to Anti Social Behaviour Orders being issued.
Tackling Substance Misuse
The Community Policing Team will continue to carry out licensed premises visits and inspections to ensure licensees are supported and patrons can enjoy their night out safely.
Ward officers will continue to carry out proactive high visibility patrols in areas identified by locals as being frequented by Drug users and dealers.
Tactics used Stop and Search (evidence based) Door to door delivery of Crime Stopper literature to engage local community to report dealing. This is done in the streets occupied by people where Intel would suggest they are dealing.
Making our Roads Safer There has been an increase in tasked patrols in locations where intelligence provides that individuals are driving while under the influence of alcohol or are disqualified from driving.
Where hotspots are identified the local Ward Officers will liaise with Roads Policing to include on their patrol matrix to maximise opportunity of a police presence to address issue.
Prevent Violence (in the night time economy)
The night time economy detail is now embedded in local Policing in West Lothian and will have a particular focus in the summer months with the busiest period of the year so far behind us.
The CCTV system in the town centre is fully operational and is monitored 24/7 assisting in keeping Bathgate a safe place to visit and socialise.
The email for the Bathgate Community policing Team has not changed and although not a method for reporting crimes this can be used to make contact with the local officers. [email protected]
We also request that people sign up and follow your local policing team on Twitter @WestLothPolice and Facebook – West Lothian Police
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
The Community Policing Team continue to focus on acquisitive crime and carry out follow up work after an incident to provide crime prevention in the area.
Your local community officers are contributors and partners in a number of local events and strive to maintain local community contact whilst addressing issues of Anti Social Behaviour and criminality in Bathgate.
CONTACTS
Local Area Command Support
Sector Sergeant Sergeant Vincent Hughes - [email protected]
Community Policing Team Bathgate Mail to: [email protected]