Violent crimes in Argyll and Bute rise by almost a third
The number of violent crimes in Argyll and Bute has risen at a faster rate than more than three quarters of Scotland’s local authorities. Data released by the Scottish Government reveals a 32 per cent increase in the total number of non-sexual crimes of violence recorded by police in the 12 months to March this year, compared to 2017/18. These include homicide, causing death by dangerous driving, attempted murder, serious assault and robbery.
https://www.helensburghadvertiser.co.uk/news/17950660.violent-crimes-argyll-bute-rise-almost-third/
Police warned over face recognition bias
Scotland’s new technology ethics philosopher has told police that facial recognition software does not work. Police Scotland want to give officers handheld devices that can access council CCTV and identify suspects using facial recognition by 2026. However, Shannon Vallor, a former ethical consultant at Google, has raised concerns. She will swap Silicon Valley for Silicon Glen in February to shape the regulation of data-gathering in Scotland. She is leaving her role at Santa Clara University, California, to become the first chairwoman of the ethics of data and artificial intelligence at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, based at the University of Edinburgh.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/police-warned-over-face-recognition-bias-d7j5b3cqw
SAVING THE BERTH
VIP guests at major climate change summit in Scotland could be housed in cruise ships on River Clyde
VIP guests at a major climate change summit in Scotland could be housed in cruise ships, security sources revealed. Some of the 30,000 delegates at the United Nations COP26 conference face staying in liners berthed on the River Clyde due to an accommodation shortage.
https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/4805340/climate-change-summit-scotland-guests-cruise-ship/
Police oppose naloxone overdose kits: ‘not our job to save lives’
Campaigners calling for Police Scotland officers to carry naloxone – a medication used to block the effects of opiates and save the lives of people overdosing from drugs – have reacted with anger to claims from the Scottish Police Federation that their ask goes beyond the call of duty.
https://www.thenational.scot/news/17949636.police-oppose-naloxone-overdose-kits-not-job-save-lives/
Police Scotland spent £1.4m on gangland spies in bid to beat organised crime
Police have spent almost £1.4million on informants as they step up their war on organised crime. The eye-watering sum has been paid out in the last five years to underworld sources willing to pass on intelligence. The highest total came in 2016-17 – at the peak of violent feud between the rival Lyons and Daniel crime groups. Over that 12-month period, Police Scotland handed over £319,754 to informants – known as Covert Human Intelligence Sources (CHIS). An ex-detective who managed CHIS revealed those who agreed to supply information are often paid four-figure sums in “payment plans” designed to stop them flashing cash and attracting attention.
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/crime/police-scotland-spend-14million-gangland-20469441
Cruise ships could be drafted in to solve Glasgow hotel shortage for UN climate change conference
Cruise ships should be drafted in to help tackle a hotel shortage when a massive climate change summit is held in Scotland, security chiefs have warned. Some 200 world leaders and 30,000 delegates will descend on Glasgow for next year’s United Nations conference.
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/cruise-ships-could-drafted-solve-20526994