This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Crime clear-up rate a post-war record
24/04/2002
Figures released today show that the police clear up rate in Scotland has risen to 45 per cent, a post-war record.
Justice Minister Jim Wallace welcomed news of a further fall in the recorded crime figures and said that, when taken in conjunction with other key indicators, Scotland today stood in an "historically strong position in terms of public safety."
Overall crime has fallen again and we now have the second lowest crime total in the last 20 years.
There are more police officers in Scotland today than there have ever been at any other time - 15, 251.
The most recent Scottish Crime Survey showed that the fear of crime had fallen for all types of crime.
The Minister singled out Scotland's police forces for special praise. He said that their "dedication and professionalism" were behind an increased clear-up rate which now stood at a post war record of 45 per cent.
He expressed concern about the rise in some forms of violent crime and highlighted the initiatives being taken to combat the problem.
Jim Wallace also highlighted the increasing use being made of the legislation that introduced two new offences of racially aggravated harassment and racially aggravated conduct. The combined total increased from 917 to 1588 during 2001 and Jim Wallace said it was a further sign that the police were taking racism very seriously.
Mr Wallace said :
"Today's figures offer further encouragement that public safety in Scotland is being improved. Overall crime has only been lower once in the past 20 years.
"Compared to the figures for 2000, last year saw 2455 less thefts from motor vehicles, 3030 less thefts of a motor vehicle and 3844 less housebreakings. Over the last ten years housebreakings and car theft have more than halved. Public safety is improving in this respect and people should also feel safer.
"While it is useful to place the crime figures in an historical context it is also worthwhile to look at some of the other key public safety indicators. When you consider that we now have record numbers of police officers in Scotland, a post-war record clear-up rate and a significant fall in the fear of crime I think Scotland today stands in an historically strong position in terms of public safety.
"Taken together, these facts offer much for us to take satisfaction. More importantly, they offer much for the public to draw comfort from. I would particularly like to praise the dedication and professionalism of Scotland's police forces for increasing their clear up rate to a post-war high.
"We are sending a strong message to those committing crimes that they are less likely now, than at any time since the war, to escape justice. There have never been more police officers on Scotland's streets than there are today. Coupled with record police funding this allows the police to carry out a co-ordinated attack on crime allowing more front line policing and intelligence-led operations to clamp-down on 'crime-spots'.
"Violent crime in our society affects us all and the rise in violent crime is a cause for concern. It is worth acknowledging that the rise in the "handling of an offensive weapon" more than accounts for the overall rise in violent crime. This rise is a direct result of increased police activity in tackling the culture of violence. If the police had not put such a sustained effort into tackling the carrying of weapons then the violent crime statistics may have fallen but the consequences could have been much greater.
"Having said that, it is certainly the case that we must do more on violent crime. I want to see us making the same inroads into violent crime that we have made into other types of crime.
"Intelligence led campaigns such as 'Safer Scotland' targets violent crime and leads to higher detection rates showing Police campaigns targeted on specific crimes do work. Through more frontline policing, better use of technology, and by tackling the causes of violent crime to ensure the public can live in a society where they are and feel safer from violence.
"I am also particularly pleased to see a drop in theft, fraud and burglary - crimes that really affect the quality of life of people and families. This demonstrates the success of specific force led operations to heighten public awareness and improved communications with financial institutions.
"While it is essential to recognise the efforts of our police forces in achieving record crime clear-up rates we cannot become complacent and that is why I recently agreed tough new targets for violent crime to ensure the fight against crime continues its momentum.
"Creating a safer Scotland will always be given high priority and through prevention, detection and bringing criminals to Justice we can work towards creating a safer Scotland."
The definition of crime "cleared up" is as follows:
A crime or offence is regarded as cleared up where there exists a sufficiency of evidence under Scots law, to justify consideration of criminal proceedings notwithstanding that a report is submitted to the procurator fiscal.
Contraventions of Scottish Criminal law are divided for statistical purposes into crimes and offences. The term 'crime' is generally used for the more serious criminal acts; the less serious are termed 'offences'.