Police welcome progress as crime rates continue to fall

Published on Friday 22 April 2011 16:14

THE number of crimes recorded in Lothian and Borders has fallen by more than seven per cent during the last year, with around 5000 fewer offences being reported.

New figures showed that sex crimes and crimes of dishonesty both fell between last April and March, but violent crime rose.

Police chiefs today welcomed the overall reduction in offending after revealing the 7.2 per cent drop, which followed on from an 8.3 per cent decrease for the year before.

The force also recognised the rise in violent crime, which included a soaring number of murders, and pledged to ensure those responsible were brought to justice.

For the 11-month period between last April and February, violent crime climbed by 15 per cent across the force area, including a nine per cent rise in serious assaults.

In Edinburgh during the same period, crimes of violence increased by 11 per cent, but there was an overall five per cent decline in reported offences. Across the city, sex crimes were down by 13 per cent while crimes of dishonesty were reduced by three per cent.

Assistant Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said: "We are pleased to report a 7.2 per cent drop in overall recorded crime over the last year.

"The launch of our Community Commitment, which puts community policing firmly at the heart of what we do, has given added impetus to the progress in reducing crime."

Earlier this month, the Evening News reported that the murder rate in Edinburgh had nearly doubled during the last year. Police launched 11 murder investigations in the Capital between last April and March, compared with six for the previous year.

ACC Livingstone added: "While our figures reflect a rise in the most serious types of violent crime, it is relevant to point out that incidents of minor assaults - by far the most common type of assault - have dropped significantly over the past year"

Councillor Paul Edie, the city's community safety leader, said: "We still have to crack the alcohol problem which has always been at the root of violent crime. But I'm very pleased with the overall drop in crime in Edinburgh."