Sharp rise in violent and sexual crimes But statistics show drop in overall offending in area

A Perthshire politician has said a “soft touch approach” is to blame for a spike in the number of violent and sexual crimes in the region.

Statistics from the Recorded Crime in Scotland bulletin for 2018/2019 published last month, showed that despite an overall four per cent fall in crime in Perth and Kinross, violent and sexual crimes have increased at rates far exceeding the national average.

Non-sexual violent crimes, which include crimes such as homicide and serious assault, have increased 26 per cent in a year, while sexual crimes have increased by 14 per cent over the same period.

Incidences of sexual assault have increased by 24 per cent, compared to a national increase of six per cent, and incidences of rape and attempted rape have increased by 20 per cent, compared to national increase of eight per cent.

The overall decline in crime can be accounted for through a reduction in cases of crimes of dishonesty, such as shoplifting, and cases of vandalism.

The increase in violent and sexual crime in Perth and Kinross has occurred as the number of police that serve the area has fallen, despite the number of police officers throughout Scotland increasing to the highest level since 2017.

Police Scotland divide policemen and women into national, regional and local officers, and the combined number of officers available to the Tayside Division – which serves Perth and Kinross – fell from 3136 to 3116 in the year to June 2019.

Ochil and South Perthshire MP, Luke Graham, said: “The increase in crime across Scotland shows that the SNP administration’s soft touch approach to justice is failing our communities.

“Whilst the fall in overall crime in Perth and Kinross is welcome, the increases in violent and sexual crimes is particularly worrying.

“Rural crime continues to blight our constituency. UK Government funding provided for 2000 more officers as part of a national commitment.

“They should use this money to stop neglecting Perth and Kinross and invest more in our police so that our streets can be safer for all of us.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Our firm focus on prevention, responsive policing and local partnerships to help individuals and communities keep themselves safe, has had a positive impact on long-term crime trends and people’s feeling of safety.

“Recorded crime across Perth and Kinross is almost a third (32 per cent) lower than a decade ago, and down 27 per cent nationally over the same period – resulting in fewer victims and safer communities.

“Police officer numbers across Scotland are significantly higher than in 2007, since when they have fallen by around 19,000 in England and Wales.

“Despite the constraints on Scotland’s public services as a result of a decade of UK austerity, we are protecting the police revenue budget in real terms – delivering an additional £100 million throughout this parliament, with annual funding now more than £1.2 billion.

“Our £20m investment in violence prevention since 2007 has helped reduce violent crime across Scotland to levels now 43 per cent lower than in 2006/07, but any rise requires us to re-doubleefforts to secure the gains made over the last decade.

“As well as continued investment in policing, in the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit and projects such as No Knives, Better Lives and Mentors in Violence Prevention, we have commissioned a major study into repeat violent victimisation.”