Overall Crime Falls in the Lothians and Scottish Borders
Overall crime has fallen within the Lothians and Scottish Borders.
Police Scotland’s Q4 Policing Performance report for 1 April 2022, to 31 March 2023, was presented to the Scottish Police Authority on Thursday 15 June 2023 and this information shows that the total number of recorded offences within the Lothians and Scottish Borders has decreased from 17,799, to 17,610.
This reduction includes seven fewer attempted murders and nine fewer robberies and assaults with intent to rob.
The total number of sexual offences occurring within the division has also reduced from 1,337 crimes, to 1,121.
Rape and attempted rape has fallen from 234, to 228, while there has also been 92 fewer incidents of indecent and sexual assault when compared to the same period last year.
Like many parts of the country, the Lothians and Scottish Borders has experienced an upward trend in reports of acquisitive crime, with 312 additional offences recorded. This includes 50 greater reports of housebreaking and attempted break-ins across West Lothian, East Lothian, Midlothian and the Scottish Borders.
In line with the national picture, the number of assaults on emergency service workers has reduced from 437, to 394 and work continues to educate the public on the risks associated with such offences and the consequences for anyone found to be responsible.
The dedicated proactive teams within the Lothians and Scottish Borders continue to work alongside colleagues from the national Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce to disrupt and detect organised criminal activity and regularly conduct enforcement activity to target drug dealing in the region. This work has resulted in the number of recorded drug supply charges rising from 206, to 245, while the detection rate for these crimes has also increased.
Road safety remains a priority and the number of casualties taking place on the Lothians and Scottish Borders road network has decreased from 736, to 612. There have been five fewer fatalities, 16 fewer serious injury collisions, and 113 fewer slight injury collisions.
Chief Superintendent Catriona Paton, Divisional Commander for the Lothians and Scottish Borders, said: “It is obviously encouraging to note an overall reduction in recorded crime within our division, but we cannot and will not become complacent in the work we do to make our communities safer.
“We recognise the rise in acquisitive crime and are working with key partners to address this as part of the Scottish Partnership Against Acquisitive Crime Strategy, which will include providing the public with a range of crime prevention information in relation to the different stands of acquisitive crime that occur.
“Nonetheless, I am very proud of the work our uniformed, CID and Road Policing officers are carrying out on a daily basis to tackle offences such as violence and sexual abuse and enhance road safety. The successes we have seen in these areas are testament to the professionalism and dedication of all of those who work within the Lothian and Scottish Borders.
“I am also encouraged by the reduction in assaults on emergency service workers, including police officers and as DCC Taylor has stated, work will continue as part of our Your Safety Matters programme, to reduce the impact violence and abuse has on our officers and staff.”
