Sex crimes increase by 7%

More than 10,000 sex crimes were reported to Police Scotland in a year, despite recorded crime falling to its lowest level since 1974.

New statistics show sex crimes, including rape and sexual assault, increased 7% to 10,273 in Scotland between 201415 and 2015-16 to the highest level in 45 years.

A total of 43% of sex crimes recorded involved child victims.

Non-sexual violent crime, including attempted murder and serious assault, also rose 7% in the same period, to 6,775.

Vandalism and fireraising crimes increased 4% year on year to 54,226, while crimes of dishonesty, such as theft, housebreaking and shoplifting, fell 9% to 115,789.

The “other crimes” category, which includes drug misuse, resisting arrest and handling offensive weapons, fell 4% to 59,180.

Overall recorded crime has dropped 4% to 246,243.

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson praised Police Scotland’s “excellent” work.

He added: “I am very pleased that Scotland now has the lowest rate of recorded crime in 42 years, including reductions in drug crime, theft and handling offensive weapons over the last year.”