Sex crimes
Up 131 per cent in 10 years But crime figures over all are down by 36 per cent Fewer young people are going before the courts
The number of sexual crimes recorded by police in South Lanarkshire has jumped a massive 131 per cent since 2007.
Latest statistics from the Scottish Government reveal the figure increased from 169 to 391 – more than twice the national rise of 66 per cent during the same period.
Figures also show that in 2015-16, there were 127 sexual assaults. In 201617, this rose to 170 – an increase of 33 per cent.
And sexual crime as a whole rose by nearly 12 per cent, jumping from 350 to 391 in that period.
Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse MSP Christina Mckelvie this week commented on the figures.
She said: “Sexual crime and violence is an abhorrent degrading crime which can have a long-lasting impact on its victims.
“I want to pay tribute to those brave victims of sexual violence who have come forward, reported the incident and have sought justice.
“Thanks to the outstanding work of the STAMP Project, Lanarkshire Rape Crisis and others throughout my constituency, those victims are now supported and empowered to report these crimes.
“I strongly welcome the news that since the SNP were elected in 2007, overall crime in South Lanarkshire is at a 10-year low – falling by 36 per cent.
“Cases of assault have decreased, youth crime has fallen, vandalism is down, and incidents of handling offensive weapons have reduced.
“While we still have work to do, I will ensure that all my constituents throughout Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse will continue to be kept safe and secure.”
The number of rapes and attempted rapes dropped from 54 to 42 between 2015 and 2017, but between 2007 and 2017 figures reveal an increase of just over 20 per cent from 34 to 42.
The number of non-sexual crimes of violence between 2015 and 2017 also rose in South Lanarkshire.
In 2015- 16 there were four homicides (including causing death by driving), 163 attempted murder and serious assault charges, 58 robberies and 53 other violent crimes.
But in 2016-17 this jumped to eight, 203, 74 and 67 respectively.
Between 2007 and 2017, the number of non- sexual violent crimes did reduce from 731 to 352 – a drop of just over 50 per cent.
The number of cases of fire-raising and vandalism jumped from 3043 to 3067, according to the report.
The figures do show however, since 2007 the overall number of crimes recorded in South Lanarkshire fell by 36 per cent – from 19,980 to 12,715 – and in 2016-17 there were 401 crimes per 10,000 of population.
The number of cases of those handling offensive weapons has fallen sharply since 2007 – with the conviction rate of young people down over the same period.
In 2007- 08, there were 17 cases of handling offensive weapons per 10,000 of the population in South Lanarkshire.
This has fallen sharply to five per 10,000 by 2016- 17 – a drop of 71 per cent.
Statistics go on to show the number of miscellaneous offences – including common assault, drunkenness and disorderly conduct fell from 10,914 to 8544 between 2015 and 2017 in South Lanarkshire and motor offences fell from 6724 to 5157 in the same period.
Since 2007, convictions of young people have fallen by nearly 70 per cent in Scotland as cases of handling of offensive weapons are down 65 per cent, with cases of vandalism down by 59 per cent.
The Scottish Government statistics show the ‘clear up’ rate of crimes recorded by Police Scotland – where there exists a sufficiency of evidence under Scots law, to justify consideration of criminal proceedings – fell from 51.4 per cent in 2015-16 to 48.9 per cent in 2016-17, but increased from 43 per cent in 2007.
Margaret Mitchell, Scottish Conservative MSP for Central Scotland, this week said the figures were “alarming.”
She said: “The fact that these figures have not just risen but soared since 2007 is alarming.
“More worrying still is the fact that in South Lanarkshire sexual crime has more than doubled, with a sharp year on year increase from 2015/ 16 to 2016/ 17. These figures must not be dismissed by merely saying more people have the confidence to come forward and report sexual crime.
“With such startling numbers questions need to be asked.
“At the very least an analysis should be undertaken to better understand the nature of these crimes and why the increase in South Lanarkshire is so much higher than the national average.
“In the meantime continuing to raise public awareness about, for instance; the Best Bar None, Get Consent, # Askforangela, and It Stops Now campaigns; remains crucial to trying to ensure the safest environment possible to help prevent sexual crime.”
Labour Central Scotland MSP Monica Lennon was keen to stress that it is still important to encourage