Violent crime increasing across Fife and Tayside

Statistics show more assaults and rapes since SNP came to power

Violent crime is on the rise in Fife and most of Tayside, new figures have revealed.

The number of attempted murders and serious assaults have increased year-on-year in Dundee, Perthshire and Fife, according to official statistics.

The numbers have also gone up in each area compared to when the SNP came to power.

In Angus, however, the figures have fallen both year-on-year and by almost 31% since 2007.

Nationwide, violent crime has risen for the second consecutive year but is considerably down over the last decade.

Scottish Labour said the figures were evidence of Scottish Government cuts to local policing.

The party’s justice spokesman, Daniel Johnson, said: “With crime sky rocketing by double digits in some areas, and more than half of crimes going unsolved, it is clear something is going seriously wrong.

“It is essential the SNP starts giving brave police officers the resources they need to keep people safe.”

The number of reported rape and sexual assault cases have also increased in every area of Tayside and Fife, including by 42% year-on-year in Dundee and 30% over the same period in Perth and Kinross.

The research showed an increase in the number of crimes recorded by the police of 1%, although it remains the second lowest level since 1974.

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “Scotland’s streets are now safer and less violent than they were a decade ago.”

Police Scotland Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Taylor said: “Tackling violent crime is a national priority for Police Scotland and we engage with health, education, government and the licensed trade to address this.

“Total recorded crime is now lower than when Police Scotland came into being five years ago.”

Tackling violent crime is a national priority for Police Scotland ... FIONA TAYLOR

Picture: Andrew Cowan. Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf claims Scotland’s streets are now safer than they were a decade ago.