LAYING We will keep fighting online scammers
WITH DIVISIONAL COMMANDER CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT DAVID DUNCAN
I hope you have been making the most of the recent lovely weather.
As we continue to move towards summer, I wanted to update you on some of our plans to help keep the communities of Renfrewshire safe.
We are currently planning for the policing of those events that we associate with summer, such as gala days, and those issues that tend to occur more frequently in the lighter nights and better weather.
Over the coming months, we will be joined by specialist policing colleagues from elsewhere in the country.
These will include mounted officers and road policing colleagues, as well as people from specialist plain clothes units.
Working together with these policing teams, and other local partners, will help your officers ensure that Renfrewshire enjoys a safe summer.
Unfortunately, I cannot guarantee good weather!
We want everyone to enjoy the summer, and will respond appropriately to issues reported to us, such as we did on the evening of Friday, April 22, when we attended at Church Street, in Kilbarchan, after receiving reports of over 100 young people hanging about, causing a disturbance.
Community policing officers quickly arrived at the location. They seized a large quantity of alcohol and dispersed the group.
A police vehicle was parked in a nearby street and out of the line of sight of the officers and, unfortunately, during this time, the windows of the vehicle were smashed.
We have since repaired the vehicle, but I wanted to take this opportunity to remind those who were responsible for this, or similar actions, of the impact of their behaviour.
This took a vehicle off the road until it was repaired, which hinders officers who are attending incidents and reports from members of the public, who are requiring assistance.
I am sure you understand this can be frustrating for us, if not dangerous, and could have serious consequences.
In light of this incident, we arranged for extra patrols to be carried out in the area and, while speaking to someone about his behaviour, officers discovered he was in possession of a weapon. This was removed from him and he was taken home.
Moving to a more individual setting, I am sure you are aware of the increase in cybercrime, both in frequency and the improved sophistication of the methods used to commit crimes such as fraud.
I wanted to take this opportunity to remind people to be extra vigilant when receiving calls regarding financial transactions.
All reputable banks and building societies have taken additional steps over the last couple of years to improve safety and security.
They will not cold call customers requesting them to divulge personal information.
If you receive a call asking you to do so, please contact your bank to confirm the request and, under no circumstances, transfer any money unless 100 per cent satisfied that the call is authentic.
Reputable organisations will not put you under undue pressure to do so until you are satisfied with their identity.
I hope you continue to enjoy the good weather, for however long it may last.