Reduction in thefts and violent crime as people stayed at home

Calls about anti-social behaviour may have soared but other crimes have reduced in Fife during lockdown.

Housebreakings between April 1 and June 30 fell by 30% year-on-year as people stayed at home in line with Scottish Government guidance.

Shoplifting fell by 50% when most shops were closed and thieves decided against queuing to get into supermarkets.

Violent crime is also down by 12%, and serious assaults by 25%.

Mr McEwan said detection rates had increased during the same period.

“Our officers have been inundated with calls about anti-social behaviour but people are also still reporting crimes of violence, sexual offending, break-ins etc and we are still investigating that,” he said.

“We are still locking people up and bringing them to justice, there are

“Business as usual does not end for the police. CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT DEREK MCEWAN

still children who need protected, still domestic abuse and still adults going through crises.

“At times our service has been provided with fewer resources because our officers have been off with Covid-related issues but business as usual does not end for the police.”

Mr McEwan said he understood why people had become upset by the behaviour of others during lockdown.

“It can be very frustrating for people. The restrictions placed on them were very severe and not everybody was complying,” he said.

“Some in the community felt we should be far more robust but I don’t think that would have worked.

“The position of the chief constable that we are a supportive body to communities and we’re not clamping down on law enforcement has been the right way for Police Scotland to respond to this in my view.”