New Figures Show Nearly 5% Drop in Crime

Recorded crime fell across Scotland in the last year but the number of rapes and domestic abuse incidents increased, according to police figures.

Police Scotland said the increase in recorded sexual crimes and domestic abuse was in part down to "new ways of tackling these types of crimes'' and a growing confidence among victims to come forward, with a large number of historic incidents reported to officers.

Between April 2014 and the end of March this year there was an overall 4.7% decrease in recorded crime, the figures show.

There were 55 murders recorded, two fewer than the year before, while the number of attempted murders and serious assaults also fell.

The detection rate for murder last year stood at 109%, as officers investigated cases from previous years, solving five previous murders.

Overall, violent crimes fell by 6%, with an overall detection rate of 84%. But sexual crime recorded by Police Scotland increased by 9.3% over the year. There were 1,797 rapes recorded, an increase of 91 on the previous year. Police said nearly 40% of the reports were historic, meaning they took place more than a year before being reported.

In total, there were 9,557 sexual crimes recorded by Police Scotland over the year, an increase of 810.

Reported domestic abuse incidents also increased by 1.8% to a total of 59,471.

The figures showed that one or more crimes were recorded in 57% of all domestic incidents.

Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said: Over the past two years, we have significantly enhanced our whole approach to investigating the most serious of crimes including murder, rape and domestic abuse.

"Through the introduction of major investigation teams, rape and domestic abuse taskforces and divisional investigation units, we have seen national specialist support being provided to local policing teams to ensure our response is as effective and responsive as possible.

"Our focus is on keeping people safe. From the most violent crime which happens less frequently to higher volume crime such as housebreaking and incidents of disorder and anti-social behaviour which impact on community well-being, Police Scotland is committed to both the prevention and detection of crime.

"Public confidence and user satisfaction in the service remains high, which is welcome given the way policing has evolved over the past two years since the introduction of a single service.

"We are making significant in-roads in the disruption of serious organised crime in Scotland, through a different style of approach built upon collaboration and smarter working.''