Recorded crime down by 5%

But number of rapes and drug crimes on the way up, according to latest stats

News, 5 September 2006

Recorded crime in Scotland decreased by 5% last year, although the numbers of rapes and drug crimes are up, according to the latest annual statistics published today by the Scottish Executive.

The figures show that the total number of crimes recorded by the police in 2005-06 was 417,785, a decrease of 20,336 on 2004-05. Apart from an increase in 2004-05, an anticipated effect of the introduction of the Scottish Crime Recording Standard, levels of recorded crimes have generally been decreasing, and 2003-04 was the only year with a lower level of recorded crime for nearly a quarter of a century.

The clear-up rates in 2005-06 for all crime groups show little change to those for 2004-05, with the exception of that for vandalism, which has increased by 1 1/2% to 23%.

Other main findings in the recorded crime statistics include:

the number of non-sexual crimes of violence recorded by the police decreased by 7% between 2004-05 and 2005-06, to a total of 13,726;
the number of sexual crimes decreased by 10%, from 7,324 in 2004-05 to 6,588, the lowest total in four years;
recorded cases of rape and attempted rape increased by 5% to reach 1,161, the highest number ever recorded;
drugs crimes increased from 41,823 in 2004/05 to 44,247 in 2005-06.

In addition, the number of crimes of dishonesty decreased for the seventh consecutive year - a total of 187,798 cases in 2005-06, an 11% decrease.

Recorded cases of vandalism (including fire-raising and malicious mischief) decreased by 1% to total 127,889 in 2005-06.

Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson expressed concern at the increase in the number of rapes recorded by the police - even though some are historic investigations going back many years.

Ms Jamieson said: "Clearly part of this rise will be down to proactive efforts by the police to encourage victims to come forward and report such crimes - even though they may have been committed decades before. The new reporting standards for crime are also helping here, with corroboration no longer needed by victims for their experiences to be recorded and investigated as crimes."

Commenting on a 6% rise in the number of drugs crimes, Ms Jamieson said: "We have also been taking concerted action to tackle the drugs menace in our communities. More recorded drugs crimes means more arrests."