Violent crime in Scotland has risen by 10% in the year to last March, official figures revealed yesterday. It’s the highest level for seven years, with a 16% rise in robberies.
The figures show there was also an 8% increase in sexual crimes, including rape, to to the highest level ever recorded.
Despite these statistics the Scottish Government says violent crime is much lower than a decade ago.
The government took the opportunity to announce yesterday that Scots who experience repeat incidents of violence will be the focus of an extensive 16-month research project.
Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf confirmed the study will engage directly with victims of violent crime, particularly in Scotland’s most disadvantaged communities, and those facing challenges from homelessness, substance misuse or previous convictions.
Official figures showed a 10% rise in reports of non-sexual violent crime in 2018-19, while the number remains at a lower level than any time between 1980 and 2011-12.
Recorded crime increased overall by 1%, from 244,504 in 2017-18 to 246,480, with the biggest contributor being a 10% rise in drug possession crimes – up by 2,672.
The police clear up rate rose to 51%, one of the highest levels since comparable records began in 1976.
Mr Yousaf said: “While there is less crime and fewer victims than a decade ago, the impact on victims, particularly of sexual or violent crimes, is often devastating. That is why we are strengthening how Scotland’s justice system and other public services support victims, while investing in both law enforcement and crime prevention projects.
“We want victims to have the confidence to report crimes to the police, We know that many of the sexual crimes recorded in this year’s figures occurred many years in the past. We are investing record levels of funding to support victims through a range of front line specialist services.
“Our £20 million investment in violence prevention since 2007 has helped reduce violent crime to levels now 43% lower than in 2006-07, but any rise requires us to re-double-efforts to secure the gains made over the last decade.
“As well as continued investment in policing, in the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit and projects such as No Knives, Better Lives, Mentors in Violence Prevention and Navigators, I have commissioned a major study into repeat violent victimisation.
“While fewer than 1 in every 100 adults are victims of repeated incidents of violence, these accounted for around three-fifths of violent crime.
“This research will help police, together with local and national government to better understand the nature of repeat violence – including the role of substance misuse – and ensure we focus our efforts on those most affected by violence wherever it persists.”
The National Statistics bulletin, Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2018-19, also revealed that:
- sexual crimes recorded by police rose 8% to 13,547, continuing long-term increases in the reporting of offences, both historical and recent, and including those committed online
- crimes of dishonesty were at the third lowest-level since 1971, with house-breaking at a record low, while shoplifting was up 7% on the previous year
- analysis of fraud cases found 30% involved bank cards, while victims of ‘phishing’ scams – where perpetrators obtain sensitive information by falsely claiming to be from a reputable organisation, and which accounted for 10% of all fraud last year – tended to be older, on average 60 years old
- vandalism has almost halved in ten years, with fewer reported cases than any year since 1976 – alongside a 42% fall in fire-raising over the last decade
Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham, Police Scotland, said: “Police Scotland cleared up an additional 89 crimes per week on average compared to the year before and increased detection rates are to be welcomed.
“We have seen a large increase in reports of rape and sexual offences since the formation of Police Scotland. It is crucial those affected by these crimes feel confident about coming forward and reform of policing has transformed how we approach these cases.
“While violence and carrying weapons remains at historically low levels, it is entirely unacceptable and tackling it is a key priority. Initiatives include local and national campaigns presented at schools such as No Knives Better Lives and the One Punch campaign.”
A separate report released to coincide with the new recorded crime figures, ‘Non-sexual violence in Scotland’, outlines that the overall fall in violence over the past decade has been driven by a reduction in younger men’s involvement.
It also highlights that violent crime remains commonly associated with alcohol, drug use, more deprived areas and repeat victimisation.
Scotland’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) said robbery was a crime of desperation and the rise could reflect deprivation in some communities.
Niven Rennie, Director of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit, said: “As a country Scotland has worked together to tackle not just the symptoms but the causes of violence.
“This long-term approach has delivered real and sustained improvements with, as this report shows, a large fall in the number of young people involved in serious violence.
“However while we have seen things getting better across the country not everywhere and every person has benefited equally. Scotland has shown that violence is preventable so we know that change is possible. We must focus relentlessly on the causes of violence.
“This report highlights yet again the role that alcohol plays in violence. Scotland has a drink problem and we need to get to the root of that toxic relationship if we want to make our country a safer and healthier place to live for all.”
A Statistical news release about the publication Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2018-19 is available online.
The Scottish Government’s major 16-month study to better understand the problem of repeat violent victimisation (RVV) in Scotland will begin ‘shortly.’
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