This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Homicide in Scotland 2004-05
14/12/2005
Figures released today show there were 137 victims of homicides recorded by the police in 2004/05, 29 more victims than in 2003/04 and the highest annual total since 1995/96.
Other main findings include:
- The overall homicide rate in 2004/05 was 25 victims per million population. The rate for males (44 victims per million population) was over five time the rate for females (10 per million population).
- For almost three-quarters of the 137 homicide victims in 2004/05, the main accused was known to them; either as an acquaintance (55 per cent) or partner or relative (19 per cent). For 18 per cent of victims the main accused was a stranger.
- As for previous years, the use of a sharp instrument was the most common method of killing in 2004/05, accounting for 72 victims (53 per cent of the total). This was the highest figure recorded in the last ten years and accounted for over half the increase in the overall total between 2003/04 and 2004/05.
- Of the 127 accused for homicides recorded in 2004/05 whose drink/drug status was known, 45 per cent were drunk, 10 per cent on drugs and 15 per cent were drunk and on drugs.
- At 28 November 2005, 189 persons had been accused of the homicides recorded in 2004/05, the highest number since 1995/96. Eighty-nine per cent of the accused were male.
- Fifty-five per cent of the 134 homicide cases recorded in 2004/05 have so far resulted in a conviction for murder (44 cases) or culpable homicide (30 cases). Fifty individual accused persons were convicted of murder and 42 of culpable homicide in these cases.
- In the ten-year period 1995/96 to 2004/05, the local authority area with the highest average annual homicide rate was Glasgow City (55 victims per million population). This compared with an overall rate for Scotland of 22 victims per million. Nearly two-thirds (65 per cent) of homicide cases recorded in 2002 took place in the Strathclyde police force area.
- Between 1995/96 and 2004/05, approaching half (43 per cent) of homicides where the victim and main accused were both male aged 16-49, and where the main motive was a fight/rage/quarrel, took place at the weekend.