Written Question · S5W-01017 · Session 5
What measures it will put in place to address the 5.3 per cent increase in violent crime between 2014-15 and 2015-16 as set out in Police S…
The question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will put in place to address the 5.3 per cent increase in violent crime between 2014-15 and 2015-16 as set out in Police Scotland's Management Information Force Report: Quarter 4 2015/16.
The answer
Any incident of violent crime is totally unacceptable and the Scottish Government’s strategy is focused on tough enforcement coupled with education and diversion activity by working with various partners who deliver a number of programmes and initiatives to support people away from offending violent behaviour.
For example, the Scottish Government has put significant investment into the national Violence Reduction Unit which aims to reduce violent crime and behaviour by working with partner agencies to achieve long-term societal and attitudinal change, and, by focusing on enforcement, to contain and manage individuals who carry weapons or who are involved in violent behaviour. The unit also aims to explore best practices and develop sustainable, innovative solutions to the problem of violence.
Whilst the Police Scotland Force report provisionally suggests a small increase in violent crime in 2015-16, the report also advises users to refer to the official statistics on recorded crime for longer term trends.
For overall context, the latest official statistics on recorded crime report a 55% decrease in levels of non-sexual violent crime between 2006-07 and 2014-15, to its lowest level since 1974. This includes a 6% reduction between the latest two years of 2013-14 and 2014-15. Statistics for 2015-16 will be published in September 2016.
For example, the Scottish Government has put significant investment into the national Violence Reduction Unit which aims to reduce violent crime and behaviour by working with partner agencies to achieve long-term societal and attitudinal change, and, by focusing on enforcement, to contain and manage individuals who carry weapons or who are involved in violent behaviour. The unit also aims to explore best practices and develop sustainable, innovative solutions to the problem of violence.
Whilst the Police Scotland Force report provisionally suggests a small increase in violent crime in 2015-16, the report also advises users to refer to the official statistics on recorded crime for longer term trends.
For overall context, the latest official statistics on recorded crime report a 55% decrease in levels of non-sexual violent crime between 2006-07 and 2014-15, to its lowest level since 1974. This includes a 6% reduction between the latest two years of 2013-14 and 2014-15. Statistics for 2015-16 will be published in September 2016.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S5W-01017 by reference.