Ayrshire Division Local Policing
Update
Divisional Commander's Newsletter October 2016
Commander’s Foreword
I am pleased to present the October
edition of my ‘Local Policing Update’
which provides information on
recent
policing
activity
and
initiatives in Ayrshire.
With the threat from International Terrorism remaining at
SEVERE, we provide an update on the work we are doing
to keep people safe.
North Ayrshire has been piloting a new Locality Policing
Model since April this year. Early feedback from
This edition includes an update on communities, partners and officers involved has been
the first anniversary of the positive and I am pleased to be able to provide an update
Disclosure Scheme for Domestic on the progress of this new approach.
Abuse Scotland. First piloted in
Ayrshire and Aberdeen in 2014, almost two years on, we Ayrshire Division recently held its third annual Divisional
have dealt with 133 applications to the Scheme, resulting Conference where delegates shared best practice with
in 61 disclosures to people who have been told their colleagues and partners on issues such as dealing with
partner has an abusive past. Domestic Abuse remains a people in distress in our communities and received
top priority of Police Scotland and this new tool is help us updates on local and national policing initiatives.
keep potential victims safe.
Please continue to follow us on social media for regular
Ayrshire has hosted two prestigious events over the updates on our local policing activity and help us to shape
Summer months. The 145th Open Golf Championship our local policing priorities by taking part in ‘Your View
held at Royal Troon in July and the Scottish International Counts’ our online consultation survey. More information
Airshow which made its third visit to South Ayrshire in is available on our website www.police.scotland.uk/
yourviewcounts .
September.
We worked closely with our partners to deliver a safe, Thank you for your continued support.
secure and enjoyable experience for the many hundreds
Gillian MacDonald
of thousands of people who visited Ayrshire for both
Chief Superintendent
events.
Divisional Commander
INSIDE
DISCLOSURE SCHEME FOR
DOMESTIC ABUSE SCOTLAND
UPDATE
OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
Ayrshire Hosts the 145th Open
NORTH AYRSHIRE LOCALITY POLICING MODEL UPDATE
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KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE FROM
TERRORISM IN AYRSHIRE
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Keeping People Safe
Keeping People Safe from the Threat of International Terrorism
The current threat level to the UK
from international terrorism remains
at SEVERE which means an attack is
highly likely. The UK has been
operating at this level since August
2014 and it is important following
recent events in Europe, that
communities remain alert but not
alarmed. Whilst there is no specific
known threat to Scotland, we
recognise the need to play our part in
ensuring the safety and security of
the whole of the UK.
Police Scotland is committed to
protecting the safety and security of
our communities, public institutions,
critical national infrastructure and
businesses and in consultation with
partners and key stakeholders, we
regularly review security measures to
reflect the current threat picture.
respond swiftly, effectively and
decisively to any threat. This work is
ongoing. We remain committed to
the values of an unarmed police
service in Scotland; but the capability
that this small group of additional
officers provides, is an essential
element in preventing and deterring
harm, where global threats have the
potential to impact on local
communities.
opportunity to remind local people
about the current threat and to
offer advice and guidance on the
necessary steps to stay safe.
As part of CT Awareness Week,
information, advice and guidance
documents will be published daily on
the National Counter Terrorism
Security Office (NaCTSO) website at:
www.gov.uk/nactso and we will also
be using our social media accounts to
As part of our commitment to the share content.
Contest Strategy, we continue to
work closely with partners and We ask the public to remain alert and
stakeholders to deliver training and vigilant and “If you suspect it, report
advice to businesses and other it” by contacting Police Scotland
stakeholders such as Local Authority directly on 101, or in an emergency
and NHS colleagues regarding how dial 999. The anti terrorist hotline can
best protect themselves and their also be contacted on 0800 789 321.
staff, how to avoid cyber-attacks
online and we provide advice which
can help protect and safeguard
vulnerable individuals from online
extremism and radicalisation.
Police Scotland recently announced
that one hundred and twenty four
extra armed police officers would be
recruited from across the Service to The next Counter Terrorism (CT)
help maintain the safety and security Awareness Week takes place during
of our communities and to ensure we November and this also gives us an
AYRSHIRE LOCAL LEADERS FORUM
On Thursday 6th October, around 50 local The forum then heard from Dr. David
leaders from Ayrshire Division gathered at Hamilton, a highly regarded inspirational
WG13 in Kilmarnock, for the second Ayrshire speaker who spoke about coaching for high
Local Leaders Forum where a
number of performance,
helping
support
leadership
keynote speakers spoke about local policing development.
priorities and the immediate and longer term
Deputy Chief Constable Rose Fitzpatrick talked
priorities for Police Scotland.
about
In
her
Commander
opening
remarks,
collaborative
leadership,
whilst
Divisional Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham
Chief Superintendent
Gillian provided an update on Policing 2026, the
MacDonald welcomed the senior officers, local programme which will shape and deliver a
sergeants, inspectors and police staff and long-term vision and strategy that will take
spoke about the opportunity for local leaders Scottish policing into the next decade.
to be involved in shaping our service for the
future to ensure it remains able to respond
effectively to new and emerging threats and
demands and keep people safe.
Lively table discussions followed the keynote
speakers where the delegates discussed
leadership challenges and were encouraged to
share their visions for Policing 2026.
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Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland
In November 2014, Ayrshire Division was at the forefront
of a landmark initiative to prevent domestic abuse and
intervene early to protect potential victims.
The Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse in Scotland
allows women and men to find out whether their partner
has an abusive background and it was rolled out across
Scotland following a successful pilot in Ayrshire and
Aberdeen in 2014.
The scheme features two pathways, the ‘Right to Ask’,
which happens when a person makes a direct application
to Police Scotland for information about an individual
whom they suspect may have a history of violent or
abusive behaviour towards a previous partner.
The second entry pathway is ‘Power to Tell’ which is
triggered when indirect information or intelligence is
received about a person thought to be at risk and where, themselves and their family.”
after appropriate checks are made, Police Scotland judge
that a disclosure should be made to safeguard that “We robustly investigate all reports of domestic abuse
and those responsible will face the consequences of their
person.
actions. We continue to work closely with our partners to
Superintendent Linda Jones from Ayrshire Division said: prevent domestic abuse and to intervene early to protect
“Almost two years on from its launch, we have received potential victims. This scheme plays an important role in
107 ‘Right to Ask’ and 26 ‘Power to Tell’ applications. helping us as we work together to stop domestic abuse.”
Each one of these applications is discussed at a
multi-agency ‘Decision Making Forum’ where a collective Further information about the scheme is available on our
http://www.scotland.police.uk/keep-safe/
decision is made as to whether a disclosure should be website:
made, how this will be done and by whom. So far, 61 domestic-abuse/disclosure-scheme-for-domestic-abusedisclosures have been made. The Scheme supports the scotland
individual to make informed choices to protect
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CHANGING TIMES
Ayrshire Division is delighted to
welcome
Superintendent
Jim
Coubrough to Ayrshire division. Jim has
just recently returned to Ayrshire where
he started his policing career, having
spent the last 16 years in Glasgow.
Superintendent Coubrough will take on
the role of Partnership Superintendent
and brings with him a wealth of
knowledge and experience which will be
a great asset to policing within Ayrshire
division.
Chief Inspector Gary I’Anson has also
recently taken over from Chief
Inspector Eileen Taylor as the new Area
Commander for South Ayrshire and is
looking forward to building upon all the
good
work
which
has
been
accomplished for the continued benefit
of the communities in South Ayrshire.
Chief Inspector Eileen Taylor will shortly
retire after many years of dedicated
service to the communities that she has
served, we thank her for her service and
we wish her a long and happy
retirement.
One of the last formal duties which
Chief Inspector Taylor performed was to
welcome a new group of probationers
who have just started their basic
training at the Police Scotland College,
Tulliallan. Six of these officers will be
coming to Ayrshire Division and have
just embarked upon eleven weeks of
training at Tulliallan. Chief Inspector
Taylor attended the new officers’ Oath
of Office ceremony which was
performed by the Chief Constable, Phil
Gormley.
SCOTTISH INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW 2016
All eyes were on the skies when the Scottish range of partners, to ensure the delivery of a safe and
International Airshow returned to South Ayrshire on the secure event.”
2nd and 3rd September 2016.
“A comprehensive traffic management plan also ensured
Undaunted by the changeable weather, around 100,000 that the roads and transport networks although busy,
visitors, were treated to breathtaking skill and stunning coped with the additional traffic.”
aerobatic manoeuvres over the two day event at the Low
“This is the third year that South Ayrshire has hosted the
Green in Ayr.
Scottish International Airshow and it was great to see so
many spectators enjoying what was a very safe, family
oriented event.”
Chief Superintendent Gillian MacDonald, Divisional
Commander was the Strategic Commander for the
policing operation and said: "The policing plan for the
Scottish International Airshow was developed by working
with the event organisers, South Ayrshire Council and a
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AYRSHIRE DIVISION—CONFERENCE 2016
On Thursday 29th September 2016, police officers and
members of police staff from across Ayrshire met at the
Greenwood Conference Centre in Irvine for their annual
divisional conference.
The 120 delegates included representatives from a
number of partner agencies including the three Local
Authorities, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Scottish Ambulance
Service and Ayrshire College.
The strong commitment to local policing was referenced
throughout the event where delegates discussed and
shared emerging best practice and raised awareness of
current local and national initiatives.
Speakers at the event covered topics such as the Locality
Policing Model, Policing 2026, the Ayrshire Community
Triage Pilot and the North Ayrshire Syrian Refugee
Resettlement Programme.
NORTH AYRSHIRE LOCALITY POLICING MODEL UPDATE
The North Ayrshire Locality Policing model has been
operational for just under six months and in this
short time, the newly formed Locality Policing
Teams have become firmly established within their
respective Localities and are working well with
partners and local people.
With a strong focus on prevention and reducing
inequalities, early feedback from communities,
elected members and partners has been very
positive, with reports of increased policing visibility
and improved access to local officers who
understand local issues and can work with
communities to address them.
The Locality Policing Teams have been listening to
local concerns and have been involved in a wide
variety of policing activity including crime
prevention initiatives, developing community
intelligence, criminal investigations, and supporting
community events.
This new model has reshaped the service we are
delivering to communities in North Ayrshire and
with such a positive start, consultation and
engagement is already underway with a view to
introducing a similar policing approach in East and
South Ayrshire.
In the coming months we look forward to
developing our Locality Policing approach across the
whole of Ayrshire to deliver better outcomes for
communities.
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SAFE SUMMER
During the summer months of June, July, August and
September, Ayrshire Division worked closely with partners to
provide additional patrols in and around the tourist areas and in
support of the busy night-time economies. Whilst the sun was
not always shining, hundreds of thousands of local people and
visitors flocked to Ayrshire to enjoy the beaches and tourist
attractions or to enjoy key events such as the Open Golf
Championship, Marymass and the Scottish International
Airshow.
Throughout the summer months, officers used the Police
All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) to patrol the shores. The ATV which is
fondly referred to as ‘the Buggy’, was deployed during events
such as the Open Golf at Troon and the Airshow, providing a
visible presence on busy days at the beach, whilst similarly
allowing beach goers easy access to the police officers.
Working alongside Local Authority partners, Scottish Ambulance
Service, Scotrail, British Transport Police and many others,
Ayrshire officers increased their day time patrols during peak
periods over the summer, providing a welcoming and
reassuring presence for holiday makers and the local
community.
During these events, officers encouraged local people to have
their say and influence local policing priorities by taking part in
our Your View Counts online consultation survey. This survey is
open all year round and you can tell us what you think by
visiting our website www.scotland.police.uk/yourviewcounts.
Throughout the summer months, Ayrshire officers took part in a
range of community safety events to promote summer safety
and positive lifestyle choices at key locations including beaches,
supermarkets and with community groups.
Celebrating Success
We are pleased to celebrate the success of a number of our
officers and staff at recent national awards.
Sergeant Mo Boyle received a Highly Commended award for
her service to communities at the British Association of
Women in Policing Awards in Manchester on Tuesday 28 June.
PC Scott Murray, Safer Communities Officer, was recently
awarded the David Gray Memorial Trophy whilst attending the
Community Safety and Crime Reduction diploma course at the
Police Scotland College for demonstrating a high level of
enthusiasm and commitment during the course.
PC Claire Smith, Locality officer received a Highly Commended
award for her service to communities at the Scottish Women’s
Development Forum Awards at the Police Scotland College,
Tulliallan on Wednesday 28th September 2016.
Resource Manager, Janis Richardson and Sergeant
Mo Boyle received a Highly Commended award in
the teamwork category communities at the
Scottish Women’s Development Forum Awards at
the Police Scotland College, Tulliallan on
Wednesday 28th September 2016 for their work
with partners on the Equality and Diversity
Working Group.
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