Edinburgh Has Highest Crime Rate In Scotland
Edinburgh has the highest crime rate in Scotland, according to a new report from the police watchdog.
The capital city has the highest number of recorded crimes per 10,000 of population at 738.2, well above the national average of 481.2.
The detection rate for crimes in the city has also decreased from 41.7% in 2012-13 to 35.4% last year, the lowest in Scotland.
The report from HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) said: The current data indicates that the likelihood of being a victim of crime is greater in Edinburgh division when compared to the rest of Scotland and the likelihood of the offender being brought to justice is lowest.''
Satisfaction levels with policing in the capital are also lower than average, at 78.9% in 2014-15 compared to a Scottish average of 83.6%.
Crimes of violence decreased by 3.4% compared to the previous year but reports of housebreaking increased by 20.8%.
HMICS has called for Police Scotland to review the resourcing of its Edinburgh division, noting the city faces unique pressures.
During 2014-15, the division provided policing for 1,153 events in the city, amounting to a total of 84,552 police officer hours or 55 officers every day.
The report said: Our view is that many of the issues affecting Edinburgh division have arisen because many of the specific demographics and challenges that come with being the capital city were not recognised when Police Scotland was introduced.''
HM Inspector of Constabulary Derek Penman said: The single force has provided greater access to specialist support and has provided additional officers to assist in meeting these challenges.
However I believe there is now a need for Police Scotland to review the balance between local policing and specialist resources to ensure there are sufficient officers within response and community policing roles across the division.''
The report also highlighted that police were dealing with nearly 38 calls a day relating to vulnerable people, including those threatening or attempting suicide or self-harm.
Officers are regularly dealing with vulnerable individuals whose needs would be better addressed through timely interventions by other agencies, and which would arguably result in better outcomes for those individuals,'' it concluded.
Chief Superintendent Mark Williams, Edinburgh's local policing commander, said: We've already made real advances to address issues such as housebreaking and, since our specific operation to tackle the issue launched early in 2015, we have halved the number of break-ins per month and doubled our detection rates.
We have also seen a reduction in violent crime of over 18% against the five-year average with robberies alone down over 28%.
Theft is a real focus for local policing teams and overall it has reduced by 12% against a five-year average, with motor vehicle thefts down over 26% in the last year alone.
We are not complacent and will continue to focus on reducing anti-social behaviour and violence fuelled by alcohol in the city.
"As today's report shows, the demand for resources in Edinburgh is unique but we will always seek to respond as effectively as we can, calling upon all the resources available to us at both a local and national level.''