This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Cracking down on violent crime
28/03/2002
Tough new targets have been set for Scotland's police forces in dealing with serious violent criminals and car crime.
They are the result of a detailed consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and with the Convenors of police authorities and add to the list of jointly agreed targets set last May.
The new targets to achieve by 2003-04 are:
Serious Violent Crime:
- A reduction of 5 per cent in the number of recorded incidents of serious violent crime
- An 4.1 percentage points increase in the detection rate of serious violent crime
Vehicle Crime:
- A reduction of 17 per cent in the number of recorded incidents of vehicle crime
Justice Minister Jim Wallace made the announcement in answer to a Parliamentary question by John Home Robertson MSP this morning.
Mr Wallace said:
"The impact of violent crime on our society affects us all. The effect on the individual as well as their family and friends has implications for the whole community. Although fear of crime is falling, there is more we can do together in partnership to tackle serious violent crime.
"That is why we want to reduce the number of incidents as well as improve detection rates. To achieve this target would mean a reduction in the incidences of violent crime from an annual average of 15,411 between 1997 and 2000, to 14,640 in 2003/2004.
"Our targets on car crime also reflect the existing national target set by the UK Government in 1999 to reduce vehicle crime by 30% over five years. Scottish police forces have made excellent progress in achieving an average reduction of 15.9% over the period to March 2001 working in partnership with motor dealers, insurers, the salvage industry and car park owners. The additional target we set today is in line with this original aim.
"We have put record resources into policing and by working with ACPOS have created a series targets which will not only help make our communities safer but also make people feel safer.
"To achieve these national targets it will be up to each police force to decide how best to contribute to those aims on a local level by building on their existing local strategies."
A number of targets were announced on 2 May 2001.
These are:
Road policing/safety:
- A reduction in number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents by 18 per cent
- A reduction in the number of children killed or seriously injured by 25 per cent
- A reduction in the slight casualty rate by 4 per cent
Drugs:
- An increase in the number of drug seizures of 25 per cent
- An increase in the detection of offences for supply or intent to supply drugs by 25 per cent
Housebreaking:
- A 10 per cent reduction in domestic housebreaking
Racist incidents:
- An increase in the detection rate for racist incidents of 10 percentage points