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1. This bulletin presents statistics on crimes of homicide - that is murder and common law culpable homicide - recorded by the police. It does not include figures for statutory homicide, that is of causing death by dangerous or reckless driving. In 1998 there were 42 such crimes recorded by the police (including 3 of death by careless driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol).
2. The year in which a homicide is counted is the year in which the homicide was recorded by the police. This is not necessarily either the year in which the offence took place or, where a person was brought to trial for the crime, the year in which the case was disposed of by the court.
3. A single case of homicide is counted for each incident involving murder or culpable homicide irrespective of the number of perpetrators or victims. Where more than one person is accused of killing one or more victims, the main accused for the purposes of these analyses is the one who received the severest penalty. If more than one possible main accused is identified, then the first recorded on the statistical return is selected. Similarly if a person is accused of killing more than one victim, the main victim is the one for which the accused received the severest penalty, or where more than one possible main victim can be identified the first one recorded on the statistical return is selected.
4. Many tables and charts in this bulletin include data from 1996, the year in which the shootings at Dunblane occurred. It should be assumed throughout that the 17 homicides in this incident are included, unless otherwise stated. Sixteen of the victims were in the 5-15 year old age group and 12 were female.
5. A case is regarded as being solved (or cleared up) if the police believe that there exists a sufficiency of evidence under Scots law to justify consideration of criminal proceedings, that is, in general if the police submit a report to the procurator fiscal. In some circumstances, for example death of a suspect, there may be no report submitted to the procurator fiscal but the case is still considered as cleared up. In some cases, there may be sufficient evidence but a prosecution cannot be brought, for example, because the accused has left the country. In such cases the crime is also regarded as being solved. A case is regarded as unsolved, or not cleared up, if no accused person has been identified.
6. The initial classification of the case as murder or culpable homicide is made by the police and it will generally be that of murder. This classification may be altered as a result of decisions taken in the course of criminal proceedings. Many of the cases initially classified as murder may later be classified as culpable homicides. Some cases initially classified as murder or culpable homicide will, on the basis of criminal proceedings, no longer be classified as such at a later date. This happens in cases where the court finds that a homicide had not in fact taken place at all, for example, the main accused person may be found guilty of a lesser offence, e.g. serious assault. The decision might be made not to proceed with the case if it is concluded for example that the victim committed suicide. Unless it is certain that the court's finding was that a homicide had not occurred, the case remains currently recorded as a homicide. Where a crime is unsolved, the initial classification is unaltered and the case is included in the currently recorded homicide cases.
7 For those cases with multiple accused which are currently recorded as homicide, the co-accused are included in the statistics in this bulletin regardless of whether or not they were ultimately charged with homicide. For example if the main accused person is found guilty of homicide by the court but the co-accused are found guilty of serious assault then the co-accused continue to be counted as persons accused of cases currently recorded as homicide.
8 The motive is as determined by the police. For simplicity of presentation, only one motive for killing has been selected for each accused person. Where more than one motive was recorded, the first one given has been selected as the main motive unless it was a rage or quarrel, in which case the second one given has been selected. Similarly only one method of killing has been selected for each victim. The main method is taken to be the most serious of those methods recorded, in the following order of priority: shooting, sharp instrument, blunt instrument, hitting and kicking, strangulation, other.
9 In considering the relationship of the main accused person to a victim, partner includes the following: spouse, separated or divorced spouse, cohabitee, lover, boy/girlfriend. Note that it does not necessarily include, for example, ex-boyfriend, as these may have been recorded as simply acquaintances.
10 Cases where the procurator fiscal decided not to take proceedings in court are classed as "no proceedings" whereas those cases where court proceedings were started but subsequently discontinued are classed as "proceedings dropped".
11 The following symbols are used throughout the tables in the bulletin
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- = nil, |
* = less than 0.5. |
12. Further information on homicide statistics can
be supplied on request. In certain cases a fee is charged. For details please
contact Fred Thorne
Tel: 0131 244 2227, email: fred.thorne@scotland.gov.uk
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