Crime In Scotland At Its Lowest Level In 32 Years

Figures from the nation’s eight forces show overall recorded crime was down 4.5% in 2010/11, the latest of four successive and significant annual falls. The figures come after the SNP’s flagship policy of putting a 1000 more police officers on the beat. The unadjusted figures show there were 323,060 crimes recorded in the year to March. That compares with 338,249 the year before, with the same figure topping 500,000 in the early 1990s. Scotland’s most senior frontline officer, Chief Superintendent David O’Connor, has welcomed “hugely significant reductions in crime” but warned cuts could make last year’s results hard to repeat. Mr O’Connor also referred to schemes, such as midnight basketball in Glasgow, which have helped cut youth disorder. Many of these projects face uncertain funding.