Agenda item

2.1       There had been circulated copies of a report by the new Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent Catriona Paton was introduced to the meeting, having taken up her role in November, and provided an overview of her extensive policing career and experience.

2.2       Chief Inspector Vincent Fisher explained that COP26, coupled with the severe weather events experienced in November had put significant additional pressures on policing operations. The impact of Covid absences had also increased in the run up to the festive period, adding additional strain on operations. 

2.3       Chief Inspector Vincent Fisher presented the Quarter 3 Police Scotland Report, outlining that recorded crime had risen by slightly under 10% relative to the same period last year – an increase broadly in line with rises seen across Scotland. Significant efforts had been undertaken over the years to encourage victims of domestic abuse, sexual crimes and hate crimes to report incidents to the police. Those areas had seen increases in reported incidents, which Chief Inspector Fisher advised could reflect the willingness and confidence of victims to report crimes rather than an increase in offending behaviour. Domestic abuse cases were up by 16% compared to the five year average, with a conversion rate of 45.6%. There had been 51.4% more hate crimes recorded between April and December 2021 than the five year average, with a detection rate of 64%. Police officers were a victim of around one fifth of all hate crime in the Scottish Borders. Reports of rape and other sexual assaults had risen, and non-contact offending accounted for the largest increase in sexual offences. Chief Inspector Fisher advised that as Covid restrictions eased he was hopeful that preventative measures utilised by the force would resume. Group 1 crimes of violence had increased by 65% compared to the five year average, from 76 to 125. 20.8% of those crimes related to ‘Sextortion’. Of the 875 common assaults reported, emergency services workers were the victims in 95. Robberies were down on the five year average, with detections sitting at 100%. Vandalism and breaches of the peace were up slightly, but overall antisocial behaviour was down. The CAT had been instrumental in detecting a series of fire-raising incidents in Hawick. Acquisitive crime had increased marginally compared to the five year average. Vehicle crime and shoplifting had fallen but fraud had increased significantly, 60% of which were committed online. Given the potential geographic distribution of online offenders, detection and disruption remained challenging due to the need for cross border co-operation with foreign authorities. Work with colleagues in neighbouring regions had continued, with the goal to disrupt criminality where offenders travelled in order to commit crime. Road traffic collisions and casualty numbers were returning broadly in line to pre-pandemic levels. Chief Inspector Fisher explained that the he intended to support the return of the Drivewise campaign in the Region, with the hope that the young and elderly driver components would resume. Chief Inspector Fisher highlighted that in the field of road safety Police Scotland were initiating a dash cam project that would allow the public to submit reports of dangerous and careless driving and upload the accompanying footage. It was hoped that this initiative would deter motorists from engaging in careless or poor driving. Complaints had fallen by 11.6% compared to the same period in the previous year. The Chief Inspector concluded by highlighting the encouraging work undertaken by the CAT referred to in the report, and drew attention to staff movements by thanking Sergeant Davie Rourke for his excellent work with that team, and added his thanks to Sergeant Paul Begley, who had been replaced by Sergeant Ali Granger.

2.4       In response to a question regarding communication with victims of rural crime, Chief Inspector Fisher advised that lots of the investigative work involved was not visible in nature and that where there was scope for a follow up visit with victims one would be undertaken.  Regarding the locations in which sexual assaults occurred, the Chief Inspector explained that investigations did not indicate any particular hotspots for that sort of crime. Incidents were constantly analysed to detect patterns or trends to proactively police areas where offences occurred. With specific reference to the “black path” in Galashiels, a walk through was planned with the Community Council in response to a recent incident in order to assess what could be done to improve the environment and make the public feel safer. In response to a question regarding the effectiveness of CCTV in the Scottish Borders given the prevalence of the use of face masks in response to Covid, Chief Inspector Fisher explained that discussions were ongoing at Governmental level to ascertain whether CCTV represented good value for money. The popularity of private devices using CCTV, dash cams, doorbells etc., represented a useful resource when beginning an investigation and would normally be harvested by the CCTV co-ordinator.

DECISION

AGREED to note the Report.