This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Fall in homicides and firearms offences
21/11/2006
Homicides in Scotland fell last year to their lowest level since 1990-91.
New figures released today show there was a 32 per cent fall in the number of homicide victims up to March this year, compared with 2004-05.
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said the fall as further evidence that Scotland is becoming a safer place to live and work - but warned that there was still a long way to go to achieve the kind of year-on-year reductions needed to turn around Scotland's 'booze and blades' culture.
The National Statistics publications Homicide in Scotland 2005-06 and Recorded Crimes and Offences involving firearms, Scotland 2005-06 show that:
- there were 93 victims of homicide last year, 44 fewer than 2004-05
- use of a blade as a method of killing decreased by more than half, with 34 victims last year compared to 72 in 2004-05
- the number of offences in which a firearm was allegedly used decreased by six per cent, while the number of offences in which a firearm was fired and killed or caused injury dropped by nearly 40 per cent from 342 to 197
Ms Jamieson said:
"We know that crime in Scotland is falling. Figures released in September showed that serious violent crime was at its lowest level since devolution. Now homicide statistics for the year to March are at their lowest level for 15 years. There has also been a dramatic fall in fatal stabbings, and the number of people killed or injured by firearms has fallen by nearly 40 per cent.
"These figures are encouraging and welcome news for the law abiding public who want to feel safer in their homes and on the streets. They show that putting record number of police officers on patrol, and sustained efforts by government, the police and the Violence Reduction Unit to tackle Scotland's deep seated problems of violence are starting to deliver results.
"However, just as last year's increase in homicides didn't turn Scotland into a more violent country overnight, neither do these positive figures mean that we have turned the tide on violence in Scotland.
"That needs a clear plan and it needs commitment for the long-term. That's exactly what we are doing. We have toughened the law on carrying weapons, the Crown Office has toughened prosecution of knife carrying, we have taken more than 12,500 weapons off the streets in our first national knives amnesty and we are now legislating to restrict the sale of non-domestic knives, swords and other similar weapons.
"We are also working to address the links between alcohol and violence. We are continuing to tackle both the supply and demand for illegal drugs through education, improved treatment, and uncompromising enforcement. And with the UK Government, we have seen the law on airguns toughened - strengthening UK firearms legislation across the UK, legislation that is among the toughest in the world.
"In addition we have recognised that enforcement is not the only answer to violence. Our new campaign - Knives: Let's Not Scar Another Generation - questions attitudes to weapons and challenges us all as professionals, parents, family members, girlfriends and friends to persuade knife carriers that this such behaviour is neither acceptable nor normal.
"The public want to see crime falling and people talking responsibility for their actions. We have listened and through our actions, and increasingly through results, we have shown we are on their side."