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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Scottish crime 'lowest since 80s' | Scottish crime 'lowest since 80s' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Recorded crime in Scotland has reached its lowest level for more than 25 years, according to official figures. | Recorded crime in Scotland has reached its lowest level for more than 25 years, according to official figures. |
| In total, 385,509 crimes were reported, representing an 8% fall in 2007-08, the first time the figure has dropped below 400,000 since the early 1980s. | In total, 385,509 crimes were reported, representing an 8% fall in 2007-08, the first time the figure has dropped below 400,000 since the early 1980s. |
| Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said the Scottish Government had delivered results in its first year in power. | |
| But the figures do not include minor offences and a senior police officer said many crimes still went unreported. | But the figures do not include minor offences and a senior police officer said many crimes still went unreported. |
| "We also have to remember that these statistics only show crimes which are reported to the police," said Det Ch Sup John Carnochan, the head of Scotland's violence reduction unit. | "We also have to remember that these statistics only show crimes which are reported to the police," said Det Ch Sup John Carnochan, the head of Scotland's violence reduction unit. |
| The Scottish Crime Survey, which records data from victims, claims that on average about 50% of crimes are not reported to police, a figure confirmed by the Scottish Government. | The Scottish Crime Survey, which records data from victims, claims that on average about 50% of crimes are not reported to police, a figure confirmed by the Scottish Government. |
| Det Ch Sup Carnochan said much work was also needed to rid Scotland of the decades-old problem of violent crime. | Det Ch Sup Carnochan said much work was also needed to rid Scotland of the decades-old problem of violent crime. |
| We're also tackling the underlying causes of crime - drink, drugs and deprivation Kenny MacAskillJustice Secretary The statistics showed violent crime, including murder and attempted murder, was down along with drugs offences. | |
| Non-sexual violent crimes were down 9% over the period, to 12,874, with sexual crimes dropping by 3% to 6,552, and reported rapes or attempted rapes down by 6% to 1,053. | Non-sexual violent crimes were down 9% over the period, to 12,874, with sexual crimes dropping by 3% to 6,552, and reported rapes or attempted rapes down by 6% to 1,053. |
| Drug offences fell by 4% to 40,746, while crimes involving handling offensive weapons dropped by 11% to 8,989. | Drug offences fell by 4% to 40,746, while crimes involving handling offensive weapons dropped by 11% to 8,989. |
| Vandalism, including fire-raising and malicious mischief, was also down 9% to 118,025. | Vandalism, including fire-raising and malicious mischief, was also down 9% to 118,025. |
| The introduction of legislation last year making it illegal to solicit for the purposes of prostitution has seen crimes in this area more than double from 77 to 187. | The introduction of legislation last year making it illegal to solicit for the purposes of prostitution has seen crimes in this area more than double from 77 to 187. |
| Mr MacAskill said: "I welcome this evidence that there were tens of thousands fewer crimes and so tens of thousands fewer victims during our first year in government. | |
| "However, we're committed to taking the action needed to drive down crime for the long-term, not just for one year." | "However, we're committed to taking the action needed to drive down crime for the long-term, not just for one year." |
| He said there were now more police officers in Scotland than ever before. | He said there were now more police officers in Scotland than ever before. |
| 'Many problems' | |
| "We're also tackling the underlying causes of crime - drink, drugs and deprivation - and I recently outlined bold plans to tackle alcohol misuse, while parliament endorsed our new drugs strategy," he said. | "We're also tackling the underlying causes of crime - drink, drugs and deprivation - and I recently outlined bold plans to tackle alcohol misuse, while parliament endorsed our new drugs strategy," he said. |
| "We are supporting police in tackling illegal drug supplies and smashing criminal gangs through the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce that I set up to ensure co-ordinated action is taken against those who prey on our communities." | "We are supporting police in tackling illegal drug supplies and smashing criminal gangs through the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce that I set up to ensure co-ordinated action is taken against those who prey on our communities." |
| However, minor crimes such as breach of the peace, drunkenness, minor assaults are not included in the figures because they are officially recorded as offences, not crimes. | However, minor crimes such as breach of the peace, drunkenness, minor assaults are not included in the figures because they are officially recorded as offences, not crimes. |
| When the two are combined the figure rises to 957,390. | When the two are combined the figure rises to 957,390. |
| The Conservative justice spokesman, Bill Aitken, said: "The SNP Government may well trumpet today's figures for all they are worth, but its determination to empty our jails rather than address the prison population problem in a sensible manner will hit decent, law-abiding Scots the hardest. | |
| "I am encouraged by today's progress but there are many, many problems still to tackle." | |
| Labour welcomed the figures, but justice spokesman Richard Baker said that progress is being threatened by proposals to end sentences of six months or less. | |
| "Scottish prisons are in crisis and the SNP answer is to stop six-month or less prison sentences and give cons a get-out-of-jail free card," he said. |