Issue - decisions

The Committee resolved:-

(i)             to note the report;

(ii)            to note many within the public and the media have great concerns that the implementation of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 will criminalise freedom of thought, freedom of speech, and freedom of belief; and requests the Chief Superintendent Graeme Mackie, North East Division, Police Scotland bring forward a thematic report to the meeting on 21 November 2024 on the implications to the media and the public from this new Act;

(iii)          to request that Police Scotland report back to the meeting on 30 May 2024, in regards to a previous action which was to look at breaking down the figures in relation to crimes committed and victim numbers to highlight the percentage of men and women who carried out the crime/were victims of the crime rather than an inclusive figure;

(iv)          to request that Police Scotland feedback to the next meeting of the Committee, with details of the engagement that was previously undertaken with 200 members of the public, to include details on issues that people may require help or assistance with, as well as the new various locations where anti social behaviour has taken place;

(v)           to request that Police Scotland provide details of the Scottish Government website, which had been set up to provide guidance in regards to the new Hate Crime Act, which could be shared with elected members; and

(vi)          to note that work was underway with Police Scotland and Community Safety Partnership in regards to the new Hate Crime Act and to request that the Executive Director – Corporate Services, liaise with elected members in regards to the new Act.     

(i)             to request that Police Scotland look at breaking down the figures in relation to crimes committed and victim numbers to highlight the percentage of men and women who carried out the crime/were victim of the crime rather than an inclusive figure;

(ii)            to note the Performance Report from Police Scotland;

(iii)          to note the update provided by Police Scotland regarding the ongoing consultation on the possible closures with impact on the buildings in communities, but that there would be no impact on officer numbers in our communities; and

(iv)          to request that Police Scotland provide an update to a future committee on how Police Scotland will provide the same level of service following the outcome of the consultation.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)            to note the contents of the report; and

(ii)           to agree that Cybercrime continues to rise in scale and complexity in Scotland and globally, noting the cyber-attack at Western Isles Council therefore instruct the Chief Officer – Digital and Technology to bring forward a report to the February 2024 Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Committee meeting on how the Council is currently combating Cybercrime.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)             to request that Police Scotland share the contact details with the clerk for forwarding onto Members, for passing on any feedback in relation to the pilot 12 week scheme that was underway regarding crime reporting;

(ii)            to encourage Members to pass any comments or feedback to Police Scotland, once the contact details were shared;

(iii)          to request that Police Scotland liaise with local Community Councils in regards to the new pilot scheme;

(iv)          to request that Police Scotland bring a report back to this Committee in January 2024, outlining the benefits and restraints of the pilot scheme;  and

(v)           to otherwise note the performance report. 

The Committee resolved:-

to note the verbal update provided by Police Scotland.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)              to note that Police Scotland would provide further written information to members on the Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland via the clerk;  and

(ii)             to otherwise thank Police Scotland for their verbal update.