This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Audit Scotland report on police forces
10/12/2004
An Audit Scotland report which shows police forces
continuing to clear up more crimes and making further
progress in tackling housebreakings, drugs, and road
injuries was welcomed today by Justice Minister Cathy
Jamieson.
However, the Minister expressed her disappointment that
despite official evidence of reductions in both violent
crime and homicides in 2003, violence continued to be a
problem in many communities and the figures for such crimes
were still high.
Ms Jamieson said she shared Audit Scotland's concerns
about the overall incidence of violence in Scotland and
confirmed the Executive would be announcing a new violence
strategy early next year to address this problem - targeted
at violence 'hotspots'.
She added:
"The clear-up rate for recorded crime in Scotland is now
at an all-time high. This shows that our investment in
frontline policing is helping to reduce crime.
"I also welcome the on-going efforts being made by
forces to reduce housebreakings, and their work with local
people, the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency and others to
increase drug seizures and help free communities from the
grip of drug dealers.
"However, much remains to be done to deliver the safer
communities we all want. Already this year we have seen
decreases in recorded crimes of non-sexual violence and in
the number of homicides in Scotland in 2003.
"But as I warned last month, and as highlighted by this
report, I am concerned that violent crime is still too high
and that it continues to blight too many lives in too many
communities.
"Strong, visible frontline policing and the threat of
doing serious time for serious crimes of violence are
important elements in tackling this problem. But they
cannot achieve improvements alone.
"That's why earlier this week I published our Criminal
Justice Plan - a plan to ensure that all parts of the
justice system work together to reduce the impact of crime
and offending on our communities.
"As part of that co-ordinated approach, and in addition
to stepping up action to address Scotland's drug problem
and crackdown on the excessive alcohol consumption that
fuels disorder across the country every weekend, we have
pledged to come forward in the New Year with a
wide-reaching strategy to tackle the culture of violence in
this country.
"This will be targeted at areas of the country where
violence rears its ugly head most often, and will include
the action plan to address the problem of knife crime
outlined by the First Minister last month.
"Together with our 17 per cent increase in police
funding over the coming three years and the action set out
in the Criminal Justice Plan to tackle re-offending, this
strategy will help us work with the police to ensure the
law abiding majority experience reduced crime and a reduced
fear of crime, helping us all to live and work in a nation
of opportunity, not a state of fear."
The Scottish
recorded crime
statistics for 2003, published in June, showed that
recorded crime in Scotland decreased by five per cent ast
year - the lowest level for nearly a quarter of a century -
and that the crime clear up rate rose to 47 per cent - an
all-time high.
The statistics also showed that the number of violent
crimes (non-sexual crimes of violence) recorded by the
police decreased by seven per cent in the past year, down
from 16,461 in 2002 to 15,230.
The number of sexual crimes (indecency) increased
marginally from 6,552 in 2002 to 6,557 in 2003 but numbers
were still below the levels observed in 1997 and 1998.
Within this group recorded cases of rape and attempted
rape increased by eight per cent from 913 to 988, the
highest number ever recorded, partially reflecting
pro-active efforts by police to encourage the reporting of
such crimes.
The
Homicide in
Scotland statistics for 2003 were published on November
24 and showed there were 108 victims of homicides recorded
by the police - 20 fewer victims than the previous year and
the lowest annual total since 2000.