Year's crimes reach one million mark

Crime survey estimates that one million crimes were committed in Scotland in 2002

News, 21 December 2004

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A million crimes were committed against individuals and households in Scotland in 2002, according to the results of a new survey.

The sixth Scottish Crime Survey (SCS) interviewed more than 5,000 adults about their experiences and perceptions of crime and showed that estimated overall crime figures had risen 30% on 1999.

It also revealed a 68% rise in vandalism between 1999 and 2002, a 62% increase in bicycle theft and an 81% increase in household theft.

However more positively there was no statistically significant growth in the incidence of violent crime between 1999 and 2002.

Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said that the survey demonstrates that Ministers were right to listen to communities and take up the fight against antisocial behaviour.

She added: "Today's survey also highlights the continuing problem of opportunistic theft - in many cases we would expect these to have been committed by drug addicts desperate for their next fix.

"One person's TV or bike becomes another person's currency for drink or drugs. Again, we are sending out a clear message to communities - we don't need to live with this. If we can take people off drugs then we take away the reason for the crime.”

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