DATA LABEL: PUBLIC
LIVINGSTON NORTH, LOCAL AREA COMMITTEE
WARD 3, LIVINGSTON NORTH, UPDATE
REPORT BY POLICE CONSTABLE ALAN MCMAHON
A. PURPOSE OF REPORT
The purpose of this report is to provide the Local Area Committee with an update on performance, activities and issues across the Ward for the period up to 31ST May 2018.
B. RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Local Area Committee notes the content of the report.
C. SUMMARY OF IMPLICATIONS
I Council Values Focusing on our customers' needs; being honest, open and accountable; making best use of our resources; and working in partnership
II Policy and Legal (including Strategic None. Environmental Assessment, Equality Issues, Health or Risk Assessment)
III Implications for Scheme of Delegations to None. Officers
IV Impact on performance and performance Performance relative to the same Indicators period in 2013; set out in the report.
V Relevance to Single Outcome Agreement We live our lives free from crime, disorder and danger; we take pride in a strong, fair and inclusive society
VI Resources - (Financial, Staffing and Property) None.
VII Consideration at PDSP None.
VIII Other consultations None.
D. TERMS OF REPORT
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NATIONAL PRIORITIES – DELIVERED LOCALLY
Based on our assessment of national priorities, the following have been identified for tailed action for the communities of West Lothian:
Violence, Disorder and Antisocial Behaviour
Protecting the Public
Road safety and Road Crime
Serious Organised Crime and Terrorism
Major Events and Threats
Benefits of Reform
Public Confidence
WEST LOTHIAN PRIORTIES
The community priorities identified for West Lothian through our Community Planning Partnership are:
Protecting People
Reducing Antisocial Behaviour
Reducing Violence
Tackling Substance Misuse
Making our Roads Safer
Tackling Serious Organised Crime
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PRIORTIES
Livingston North Reducing antisocial behaviour Making our roads safer Tackling substance misuse
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PERFORMANCE
For full details, please use the below link to access the Police Scotland Internet site.
http://www.scotland.police.uk/forces-welcome
Livingston North Ward Figures
Livingston North Ward Month Mar-18 Mar-17 % Change TYTD LYTD % Change Youth Calls 7 32 -78% 260 356 -27% All ASB Calls 78 103 -24% 1045 1095 -5% Hate Crime 0 2 -100% 34 16 113% Vandalism & Reckless Conduct 7 11 -36% 143 180 -21% Fire-raising 0 0 #DIV/0! 7 10 -30% Public Space Assaults 6 8 -25% 65 83 -22%
Livingston North Ward Month Apr-18 Apr-17 % Change TYTD LYTD % Change Youth Calls 20 51 -61% 20 51 -61% All ASB Calls 85 134 -37% 85 134 -37% Hate Crime 1 3 -67% 1 3 -67% Vandalism & Reckless Conduct 13 14 -7% 13 14 -7% Fire-raising 3 0 #DIV/0! 3 0 #DIV/0! Public Space Assaults 7 5 40% 7 5 40%
Livingston North Ward Month May-18 May-17 % Change TYTD LYTD % Change Youth Calls 19 38 -50% 39 89 -56% All ASB Calls 85 112 -24% 170 246 -31% Hate Crime 0 2 -100% 1 5 -80% Vandalism & Reckless Conduct 12 19 -37% 25 33 -24% Fire-raising 1 1 0% 4 1 300% Public Space Assaults 5 6 -17% 12 16 -25%
Livingston Locality Community Policing Team
Iain Wells- Community Sergeant
PC John McLean/PC Alan McMahon- Community Officers – North
PC Paul Corner/ PC Ryan McCartney - Community Officer – South
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CHANGES TO WEST LOTHIAN COMMUNITY POLICE TEAM BRIEFING
On 13 February 2018, West Lothian Council informed Police Scotland that they were removing the current police funding and following discussion the date agreed was the 15th May 2018.
Plans have since progressed regarding the restructure of the Community Team being reduced from forty five constables to twenty four constables and following a review of 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
Antisocial Behaviour
Over recent months statistics show a continuing downward trend in anti-social behaviour across the ward area, in particular in relation to calls to Eagles View, Maukshill Court and Eliburn Reservoir.
In recent weeks and months the following strategy on anti-social behaviour has been implemented by the police and our partners in relation to large groups of youths
4 congregating at various locations consuming alcohol, setting fires, general ASB and littering issues.
Police social media post to highlight the issue and positively encourage parental responsibility as a key part of reducing the demand and risk Schools emailed message to be put on school digital notice boards Schools emailed message to place on either group call, twitter or their websites to get the message to all parents Schools encouraged to get message out at registration classes to all pupils SFRS approaching schools to get input to assemblies highlighting the dangers of secondary fires Follow up intervention visits to those identified as being involved in previous incidents and referrals submitted WLYAP have given commitment to provide "Streetwork" on Friday afternoons as well as their normal Friday and Saturday evenings. List of problematic areas shared with them Direct tasking for Community officers/ CAT and Response Policing for hotspot patrols SFRS - group of problematic youths linked to ASB and fire-raising identified and attending "Cool Down Crew" run by SFRS WLC SNT / Police doing joint patrols over weekend Police led "You're asking for it" agent purchase/ underage sales initiative being developed with partners for off-sales premises in West Lothian SFRS committing resources to attend in problematic areas and engage with the young persons to get a preventative message across Elected members in affected wards mailed to make them aware of the partnership approach in dealing with these issues so that they can provide feedback to constituents
The solution to this issue being a combination of the above and more importantly parental responsibility to ensure that parents are aware of where their children are, what they are doing and checking up on them.
Below is a copy of the Facebook message put out on the West Lothian Police facebook site:
CALLING ALL PARENTS!
Youth Disorder- Over the past few weekends there have been numerous complaints from residents in various areas of West Lothian about large groups of youths congregating. Unfortunately some of these groups have been involved in the consumption of alcohol, setting fires, shouting, swearing and littering the areas. The police and other partners are aware of these issues and will be conducting patrols in the areas. This behaviour is having a negative impact on the local communities and there are also concerns regarding the personal safety of those involved in this conduct. The police would encourage parents throughout the area to have an open discussion with their children as to where they are going and what they are doing when out with friends in the evenings and check the contents of their rucksacks
Police Sergeant Iain Wells stated “Last weekend we received numerous complaints about groups of teenagers gathering in large groups, setting fires, drinking alcohol and smashing bottles having a negative impact on local communities and raising concerns for the safety of the young people involved. Also of great concern is there have been incidents with young person being injured by fires.
The following areas were affected
Wooded area near to Maulkshill Court, Livingston Village
River Almond near to Livingston Rugby Club 5
Eiliburn Reservoir
Dechmont Hill / Knightsridge area
Almondell Country Park
Stewartfield / Holmes Park/ Goshen, Broxburn
Bellsquarry woods
We are working with various partners to address these issues, however what is clear that this trend will require some active parenting and intervention skills to challenge and check on their childrens whereabouts and welfare" https://www.facebook.com/westlothianpolice/posts/2014403908776852
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.
On Thursday 10th May 2018, community ward officers and staff from West Lothian Council carried out an Environmental Visual Audit (EVA) in the Knightsridge area of Livingston. A number of issues were identified i.e dog fouling, sufficient bins, street lighting and the demolition of the Harvester Public House/ cleanup of the shops in Cameron Way.
Making Our Roads Safer
Parking issues continue in various areas, particularly in and around Livingston North Railway Station. Numerous parking tickets have been issued to vehicles and this has been supplemented by information on the issue being highlighted via social media. We will continue to monitor this over the coming months and undertake further enforcement if required.
The Parksmart Scheme which is education led and was rolled out to school in recent months is being adopted by many schools across the county. Ward Officers will continue to liaise with their schools.
The Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for the Parksmart Scheme Karen McCubbin and she can be contacted by e-mail
Tackling substance misuse
Officers continue to be vigilant in this area and members of the public are always encouraged to report suspicious activity, either to the police or the Crimestoppers Trust, which is an independent charity allowing people to either call or report anonymously on line about crime. Their telephone number is 0800 555 111
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