Assaults top of police caseload
Nine police officers tested positive for Covid-19
New information has revealed the top five offences people were charged with in West Lothian.
The Courier sent a Freedom of Information request to Police Scotland and discovered the top five offences detected within West Lothian over the past three years.
It showed minor assault and threatening behaviour to be the most prevalent crimes in the county.
Last year between February 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021 there were 1232 people charged with a minor assault, 1070 were charged with threatening or abusive behaviour, 734 for failure to insure against third party risks, 547 for the possession of drugs and 421 for shoplifting.
Between February 1, 2019 to January 31, 2020 there were 1053 people charged with a minor assault, 942 were charged with threatening or abusive behaviour, 630 for drug possession, 555 for failure to insure against third party risks and 446 for shoplifting.
And the data for February 1, 2018 to January 31, 2019 shows that there were 1014 charged with threatening or abusive behaviour, 1014 people charged with a minor assault, 616 for drug possession, 526 for failure to insure against third party risks and 456 for shoplifting.
Police Scotland were unable to provide the exact number of arrests made in West Lothian because it would have cost too much money to collate.
However, they were able to give out the number of people arrested and brought to the county’s biggest station in Livingston.
In total 14,825 were arrested and bought to Livingston police station within the last three years.
The data revealed that from February 1, 2020 to February 1, 2021 there were 4651 arrested and brought to Livingston.
From February 1, 2019 to February 1, 2020 another 4976 arrests were made and brought to the station.
And in the period between February 1, 2018 to February 1, 2019 there were 5198 people arrested and brought to Livingston.
A Police Scotland spokesperson explained: “In West Lothian there is only one police custody suite which is open 24 hours, seven days a week.
“It is in Livingston, however for various reasons a persons arrested within the West Lothian area can be taken to any custody suite.
“The same is true for anyone arrested out with West Lothian. The figures in the table are for persons arrested and taken to Livingston, regardless of where they were arrested.”
The FOI also revealed that nine police officers have tested Covid-19 positive in West Lothian.
Again Police Scotland could not reveal the exact amount of police officers of all ranking in West Lothian on grounds of law enforcement and health, safety and the environment.