Crime in Scotland falls to 37-year low - but sexual offences up 10%

CRIME has fallen again and is now at a 37-year low, but rape and attempted rape rose by 13 per cent in 2011/12 compared to the previous year.

• Sexual offences up 10 per cent

• Strathclyde Police only force to report rise in crime

• Lord Advocate hails zero tolerance policy on knife crime

Sexual offences were up 10 per cent overall but the Scottish Government believes this is at least partly due to changes in the law which have broadened the definition of rape.

Violence fell significantly, while homicide dropped 1 per cent to 121.

Drugs crimes rose by 2 per cent following successive falls in 2009/10 and 2010/11.

Strathclyde Police, where Chief Constable Stephen House is seen as a leading contender to head the new Police Service of Scotland, was the only force to see a rise in crime - up one per cent.

The Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland welcomed a 10 per cent fall in handling an offensive weapon.

“I hope that the prosecution service’s zero tolerance policy on knife crime is contributing to the decrease in reported crime,” he said.

“One knife offence is one too many but it is encouraging that crimes of handling an offensive weapon have decreased since 2010-2011.”

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill added: “These figures are further good news for Scotland and underline that our communities are becoming increasingly safer and stronger.

“This is the fifth year in a row where recorded crime has fallen - to a 37-year low - and with police numbers remaining well above our pledge to put 1,000 extra officers on our streets.”

• Read the crime figures report in full (PDF)