This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/6977609.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Long-term move after crime rise | Long-term move after crime rise |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has pledged a long-term strategy to tackle crime, after a slight rise in figures. | Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has pledged a long-term strategy to tackle crime, after a slight rise in figures. |
| The number of recorded crimes in Scotland rose from 417,785 in 2005-06 to 419,257 in the last 12 months. | The number of recorded crimes in Scotland rose from 417,785 in 2005-06 to 419,257 in the last 12 months. |
| Mr MacAskill said the statistics showed levels of the most serious crimes had "barely changed" in 10 years. | Mr MacAskill said the statistics showed levels of the most serious crimes had "barely changed" in 10 years. |
| Violent crime and crimes of indecency both rose by 3%, while cases of rape and attempted rape fell by the same percentage, to 1,123 last year. | Violent crime and crimes of indecency both rose by 3%, while cases of rape and attempted rape fell by the same percentage, to 1,123 last year. |
| The number of murders, attempted murders and serious assaults rose by 5% to 7,504 in 2006-07. | |
| It is hardly surprising that the public has lost faith in the Scottish justice system Bill AitkenTory justice spokesman | |
| Tory justice spokesman Bill Aitken said the figures showed that the previous Labour/Liberal Democrat administration had "failed miserably" in cutting crime. | |
| Labour, meanwhile, said more acts such as vandalism and driving offences were being included because of the way they were recorded, but admitted that the rise in violent crime was troubling. | |
| Police forces, Mr MacAskill said, were dealing with a greater volume of crimes involving serious assault, handling offensive weapons and drugs than in 1997-98. | Police forces, Mr MacAskill said, were dealing with a greater volume of crimes involving serious assault, handling offensive weapons and drugs than in 1997-98. |
| Political will | |
| "Scotland's government is determined to turn the figures around - taking action for the long-term, on many fronts and beginning with the next generation of adults," he said. | "Scotland's government is determined to turn the figures around - taking action for the long-term, on many fronts and beginning with the next generation of adults," he said. |
| "In many of our communities, families are crying out for action to rid their streets of weapons." | "In many of our communities, families are crying out for action to rid their streets of weapons." |
| The justice secretary said the Scottish Government would work to free communities from the "scourge of airguns", adding that there would be "no let-up" in the war against knife culture. | The justice secretary said the Scottish Government would work to free communities from the "scourge of airguns", adding that there would be "no let-up" in the war against knife culture. |
| The early release of prisoners and talk of six month sentences being served in the community is not sending a message to the Scottish public that the new government is on their side Margaret CurranLabour justice spokeswoman | |
| "If we're to bring about long-term solutions, action against crime and anti-social behaviour to build safe communities must be matched by work to promote positive behaviour that builds strong communities," Mr MacAskill said. | "If we're to bring about long-term solutions, action against crime and anti-social behaviour to build safe communities must be matched by work to promote positive behaviour that builds strong communities," Mr MacAskill said. |
| "In that way we can offer hope over fear to those communities who have suffered from crime and lawlessness for too many years." | "In that way we can offer hope over fear to those communities who have suffered from crime and lawlessness for too many years." |
| Mr Aitken said the minority SNP administration must find a "new political will" if it wanted Tory backing for justice policies. | |
| "This was the final report card of the Lib-Lab Pact's eight years in power and these figures show it failed miserably in cutting crime," he said. | |
| "With only one out of four crimes reported to the police, and only about 10% of crimes recorded actually resulting in a conviction, it is hardly surprising that the public has lost faith in the Scottish justice system." | |
| Labour justice spokeswoman Margaret Curran said: "The justice secretary must take forward Labour's tough stance on tackling crime. | |
| "The early release of prisoners and talk of six month sentences being served in the community is not sending a message to the Scottish public that the new government is on their side." | |
| The Scottish Government figures also revealed that the clear-up rate for all crimes reached a record high of 47% in 2006-07 and there was a 16% drop in fraud, partly put down to the introduction of the chip and pin system. |