Capital's criminal hot spots uncovered

The breakdown identifies the city centre as Edinburgh's biggest crime hot spot, with 22 offences committed daily, while Balerno posted the lowest rate at three per day.

The figures also show a tiny drop in the overall number of crimes across the force area compared with the year before, with 70,500 reported between last April and March.

Police chiefs today said they remained "committed to reducing crime" and pointed to a three per cent rise in cases solved.

Click here to see the best and worst areas

The crime map shows, perhaps unsurprisingly, that the city centre had the highest levels of serious assaults, robbery and assaults, and indecent assaults.

Meanwhile, Leith Walk recorded the most housebreakings while also making appearances in the "top five worst" for serious assaults, rape, indecent exposure, vandalism, and robbery and assault.

The Wester Hailes/Sighthill and Gorgie area had the second highest crime rate overall, while placing first for levels of vandalism, rape, and lewd and libidinous behaviour.

Lib Dem councillor Charles Dundas, who represents the city centre, said: "It comes as no great surprise that the city centre has the highest number of crimes in some areas. As in all cities, the city centre is a magnet for people, and with those numbers come problems.

"The way the police are handling those problems has my confidence. On Friday and Saturday nights, officers from across Edinburgh look after the city centre. They know where the hot spots and times of trouble are, and resources are directed accordingly."

Cllr Dundas praised the policing of licensed premises and nighttime disorder, as well as operations to crack down on acquisitive crimes, such as shoplifting and housebreakings.

He added: "I've been particularly impressed by the community policing in the city centre. We have beat officers who are well-known faces, not faceless uniforms, and that definitely helps."

The city centre was again the worst area for break-ins to business premises during the year, as well as drug possession cases and arrests for carrying an offensive weapon.

Newington was the area hardest hit by bike thefts, with 199 for the year, while Leith Walk suffered the most vehicle thefts, with 209.

Labour councillor Angela Blacklock, who represents the Leith Walk ward, said: "The police have recognised there is a particular problem with housebreakings and serious assaults. That's why the community safety officer organised a 'Week of Action' for the area, which has just passed.

"That included going round residents to give crime prevention advice for homes, cleaning away graffiti, engaging with young people and using a CCTV van in the area for the week.

"It's obvious that they're aware Leith Walk is a crime hot spot and these figures are not surprising.

"Most of the assaults take place at the top of Leith Walk, which is obviously connected to that problem in the city centre."

More than a quarter of the 4,398 crimes reported in the Wester Hailes/Sighthill/Gorgie ward were cases of vandalism last year.

Labour councillor Donald Wilson, who represents the ward, cited studies which have linked high levels of vandalism with increased rates of other criminality.

He said: "We've had a growing problem with graffiti, which raises the number of crimes recorded in the area. It also has a knock-on effect by lowering the tone of the place and giving an impression of lawlessness and a lack of respect for the community. I would like to see that tackled because it gives the wrong perception.

"We've had other problems with robberies and so on in the street underpasses, particularly earlier in the year. That's why I'm proposing to create surface crossings as a replacement."

Overall crime across Lothian and Borders for the last year fell by just 0.1 per cent, with 70,524 offences recorded by the force – a drop of 95 from 2007-8.

The number of recorded offences solved increased by 1.1 per cent over the same period, rising to 44.6 per cent or 31,482 crimes.

In Edinburgh, the number of crimes fell by one per cent to 44,360, with the force posting a solvency rate of 43 per cent.

A five per cent rise in crimes of dishonesty, such as housebreaking, shoplifting and fraud, were recorded in the Capital, with the credit crunch cited as one possible explanation for the jump.

Superintendent Ivor Marshall, deputy divisional commander for Edinburgh, said: "This year has brought with it a series of significant demands on the division, and we are pleased to see a small decrease in the levels of recorded crime, along with an increase in solvency rates.

"Our strategy of preventative policing will focus on addressing the root causes of crime across the Capital, and we are determined to ensure that Edinburgh continues to be a safe place to live, work and visit."