5.1 The number of offences recorded by the police in 1999 totalled 504,000, a decrease of 11,000 cases, equivalent to a decrease of 2 per cent (Table 2).
5.2 The number of miscellaneous offences fell by 2 per cent from 154,000 in 1998 to 151,000 in 1999. Within this total, recorded cases of petty assault rose by 3,000 to 54,000 in 1999, an increase of 6 per cent. Offences of breach of the peace fell by 1 per cent from 71,700 in 1998 to 71,000 in 1999. Recorded cases of drunkenness fell by 9 per cent to total 7,800 in 1999, the lowest number recorded in the past ten years. The number of offences in the "other" sub-group (minor statutory offences) decreased by 4,300 (19 per cent) to reach 18,200, well below the peak year in 1997 (23,100).
Offences of racially aggravated harassment and racially aggravated conduct
5.3 Sections 50A(1)(a) and 50A(1)(b) of the Criminal Law (Consolidation)(Scotland) Act 1995 introduced two new offences of racially aggravated harassment and racially aggravated conduct. These sections of the Act came into force on 30 September 1998. Table G below presents the numbers of these offences recorded by the police from 1 January 1999.
|
Racially aggravated offences 1 (including harassment and conduct) by police force area, 1999 |
Table G |
|
Number |
|
|
Police force area |
Racially aggravated harassment |
Racially aggravated conduct |
Total |
|
Central |
- |
- |
- |
|
Dumfries & Galloway |
- |
- |
- |
|
Fife |
8 |
30 |
38 |
|
Grampian |
5 |
20 |
25 |
|
Lothian & Borders |
- |
- |
- |
|
Northern |
- |
- |
- |
|
Strathclyde |
30 |
172 |
202 |
|
Tayside |
63 |
58 |
121 |
|
Scotland |
106 |
280 |
386 |
1. Data collected with effect from 1 January 1999.
Motor vehicle offences
5.4 The number of motor vehicle offences recorded in 1999 fell from 362,000 in 1998 to 353,000 in 1999, a decrease of 2 per cent which was largely attributable to the decreases in the number of vehicle defect offences (down 17 per cent) and other motor vehicle offences, such as neglect of traffic directions and seat belt offences, (down 11 per cent). There was a decrease in the number of cases of dangerous and careless driving which fell by 11 per cent to fewer than 14,000 for the first time since such figures have been separately distinguished. In contrast, speeding offences increased by 9 per cent in 1999 to total 125,300, following an increase of 26 per cent between 1997 and 1998. Many forces confirmed that speeding was actively targeted during 1998 and 1999, e.g. national campaigns such as Speedwatch. Drunk driving offences rose by 2 per cent (260 cases) to total 10,800 in 1999.
5.5 The number of cases of unlawful use of a vehicle totalled 77,800 in 1999, an increase of 3 per cent. Neglect of traffic directions offences decreased by 16 per cent (2,800 cases). This decrease was the major contributing factor to the overall decrease in the number of other motor vehicle offences recorded by the police.