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Crime falls to 32 year low
07/09/2010
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill today welcomed official statistics showing that recorded crime has dropped by ten per cent in the last year to a new, 32 year low - on the same day that other official figures showed the number of police officers on the streets of Scotland has risen to a new, all time high.
There were just over 39,400 fewer crimes recorded in 2009-10 than in 2008-09 - including an 11 per cent decrease in non-sexual crimes of violence.
All eight police forces showed a significant decrease in the number of crimes recorded in 2009-10 compared to 2008-09 - ranging from a fall of eight per cent in Dumfries and Galloway and in Lothian and Borders, to a 13 per cent fall in both Central and Tayside.
Also today, the latest Police Quarterly Strength figures were published, showing that, as at June 30 2010, there were 17,424 police officers in Scotland - a record high and 1,190 more than there were in March 2007.
Mr MacAskill said:
"Today's statistics represent good news for all law-abiding citizens. Recorded crime is at its lowest level in 32 years, the clear up rate remains positive, and there are more police officers across Scotland than ever before.
"In my view, the link between these statistics is clear. This Government has exceeded our pledge to recruit 1,000 additional police officers - and that extra police presence on the streets is having a direct impact in communities across Scotland, where crime has now fallen to its lowest level in more than three decades.
"I congratulate our police on their efforts to tackle all kinds of crime - particularly in tackling the bevy and blades culture that continues to blight Scotland. They deserve our thanks for their greater enforcement and educational activities that have helped reduce significantly the number of violent crimes recorded and seen crimes of handling an offensive weapon fall by 22 per cent in the past year.
"Tens of thousands fewer crimes mean thousands fewer victims. But there still remain far too many victims of crime and we remain committed to taking the action needed to drive crime down further and for the long term.
"We all have a responsibility to provide the police with the information that can help them detect crime - or to prevent crime happening in the first place. The police can only help communities become safer places to live if they have the full support of those communities.
"This Government's record in exceeding our pledge to recruit 1,000 additional officers proves our commitment to delivering a safer Scotland. And while we must all recognise the challenges that will be faced as a consequence of the UK Government spending cuts, spending on front-line policing will remain a top priority for this administration
"We will not know our overall budget until the UK Government's spending review in October. However we can give an assurance that our draft Budget Bill in November will be focussed on protecting front-line services - including our police forces - and economic recovery. "
The Scottish Government has provided record levels of police funding this financial year, £1.4 billion - a 20 per cent rise since 2006-07.