Ministers warned over policing as killings in Scotland up by quarter
Angus Howarth - Scotsman 19-12-07
The number of killings in Scotland has increased by more than a quarter, official figures revealed yesterday.
Opposition leaders branded the rise "appalling" and warned ministers that "breaking pledges" on police recruitment would not improve matters.
The report comes eight months after a Scotsman investigation showed the number of murders in Scotland had jumped by nearly a third in a year, with an even bigger rise in fatal stabbings.
Figures obtained by The Scotsman revealed there were 120 homicides in 2006-7 – the equivalent of one every three days and up 29 per cent on the previous year's 93.
The latest figures showed there were 118 homicide cases in Scotland in the year up to 19 November, covering both murder (86) and culpable homicide (32). This figure is up 24 (26 per cent) on the previous year.
The 118 cases involved 119 victims (there was one double killing), with 27 per cent more victims than last year.
Nearly half of those accused were either drunk or on drugs at the time of the offence.
Bill Aitken, the Tory justice spokesman, said: "These figures are appalling. We need more police officers, a faster court system, tighter bail laws and an end to the ridiculous, discredited system of automatic early release."
He said the fact that 30 per cent of those accused of homicide were drunk at the time was a "damning indictment" of the previous Labour-Lib Dem regime.
He added: "I hope this sends a clear message to the new SNP government.
"Emptying our prisons, breaking police recruitment pledges and turning early release into even earlier release is not going to make things better.
"One thing is for certain; we cannot allow the present trend to continue."
Most victims (84 per cent) were male – nearly six times the rate for females.
So far 45 (27 per cent) of the 167 accused in homicide cases had a charge of murder proved as at 19 November this year. A further 28 (17 per cent) have had a charge of culpable homicide proved.
The figure of 167 accused is 19 per cent up on 2005-6, with 92 per cent of those accused male.
The most common method of killing in each of the last ten years has been with a sharp instrument.
This was used in the homicide of 54 victims (45 per cent) in 2006-7. The next most common method of killing was hitting and kicking (15 per cent), followed by use of a blunt instrument and poisoning (both 11 per cent).
The main accused was known to most victims, either as an acquaintance (51 per cent), a relative (13 per cent) or a partner (9 per cent).
Nearly half (47 per cent) of the 167 persons accused in 2006-7 were reported to have been drunk or under the influence of drugs at the time. Of these, 30 per cent were drunk, 8 per cent were on drugs and 9 per cent were both drunk and on drugs.
Kenny MacAskill, the justice secretary, said: "These depressingly familiar statistics show the long-term challenge we face.
"The overall approach to tackling violence which was initiated under the last administration was the right one – tough enforcement initiatives on knives, on alcohol-fuelled violence, and on gangs backed by a long-term approach to educate and shift attitudes among young people. We intend to build on that."
Action is also being taken to tackle Scotland's "drinking culture", while efforts are ongoing to tackle knife crime, he added.
Tackling violent crime in Scotland
Scottish Executive 18 December, 2007 - 16:07
Scottish Executive 18 December, 2007 - 16:07
There will be no let up in efforts to tackle Scotland's problems with mindless violence and the bevvy culture that fuels it', Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill pledged today as statistics show there was a 27 per cent rise in the number of homicide victims in Scotland last year.
Figures published today show that at least 30 per cent of people accused of homicide were drunk at the time of the offence, and that the most common method of killing was a sharp object.
Mr MacAskill said:
"A year ago, my predecessor in the last administration, said that despite a large fall in homicides in 2006 they had not turned the tide on violence. She was right. These figures show that in the year before this new Scottish Government came into power homicides jumped again by a quarter. That is the scale of the challenge we have inherited.
"These depressingly familiar statistics show the long-term challenge we face. But this is not an issue for fatalism or political points scoring. The overall approach to tackling violence which was initiated under the last administration was the right one - tough enforcement initiatives on knives, on alcohol-fuelled violence, and on gangs backed by a long-term approach to educate and shift attitudes among young people. We intend to build on that.
"We are taking action in Justice to tackle Scotland's drinking culture now - while strongly supporting the longer-term strategy to change personal and cultural attitudes towards alcohol. By banning irresponsible promotions in off-sales, by looking at a 'polluter pays' approach to dealing with the costs of alcohol misuse, and bringing in separate display areas in off-sales to make sure alcohol is not seen as an everyday commodity such as bread or milk.
"We also need to challenge the 'drink to get drunk' mentality of too many Scots. A shift that will require people to take personal responsibility for their conduct and its impact on themselves, their families, their communities, and the health and justice services that support them.
"Knife crime remains much more prevalent than gun crime in Scotland - and we will not let up on our work to tackle that. We will continue to support the innovative policing work of the Violence Reduction Unit to challenge the links between alcohol, gangs, and violence - with an increasing emphasis on prevention, early intervention and changing attitudes to knife carrying. Indeed the COVAID project at Glasgow Dental School is exactly the kind of joint working project - tackling drinking and violence - that we need to see more of.
"We want all of Scotland's children and young people to have the opportunity to see different ways of living, to realise their potential, to have hope and aspirations, and to understand that getting involved in gangs, crime and antisocial behaviour is not acceptable.
"We will also take a new approach to reinvesting the proceeds of crime to make a real and positive difference to young people's lives. We need to give young people positive things to do with their lives - in sport and in the arts for example. We plan to make an announcement soon on crime proceeds that will pave the way for one of the most significant expansions of youth activity we have ever seen in this country.
"And of course we have set out plans to deliver a more visible policing presence on Scotland's streets and make an additional 1,000 officers available in our communities.
"Protecting the public from harm is a top priority of any Government. Yet for decades success has been judged too narrowly on the range of sanctions available and how well they are enforced. We believe that prevention is better than cure in the long-term fight against crime. That means tackling the root causes of crime - and intervening earlier to help those at greatest risk of falling into offending because of the circumstances they are born into."
The Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) is the national centre of expertise for tackling violence. Set up three years ago, they undertake a range of work including co-ordinating the Safer Scotland campaign which includes efforts to take weapons off the streets and initiatives to educate young people about the dangers of carrying a weapon. They published a ten year strategic plan, setting out their vision for the areas they need to work in to improve the quality of life for people in Scotland by reducing violence in our society, yesterday. More information is available from www.actiononviolence.com
The Justice Secretary visited the COVAID project yesterday. COVAID - Control of Violence for Angry, Impulsive Drinkers - is an intervention programme developed by Professor Mary McMurran of the University of Nottingham. First trialled in Cardiff, the programme aims to encourage people to control their anger, stop and think in response to problems and control their drinking. It is now in Glasgow in partnership between the VRU, NHS Greater Glasgow, and Clyde's Glasgow Dental Hospital.
See also
Spending on youth crime
Scotland - most dangerous country
Scot threw lamb onto the fire - "for a laugh"
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