Crime figures show Highlands and Islands to be 'one of the safest places to live in Scotland'

The Highlands and Islands has been described by Police Scotland as "one of the safest places to live in Scotland", with crime levels among the lowest in the country during 2019/20.

Year-end figures showed a reduction of more than five per cent in overall crime compared with the previous year, while the overall detection rate increased by more than three percentage points.

Further reductions were recorded in the most frequently encountered violent crimes including serious and common assaults and robberies. Detection rates for these crime have also risen.

Divisional Commander Chief Superintendent George Macdonald said: “This has been another very positive 12 months in terms of overall performance based on reported crime within the Highland and Islands area, where we continue to see a downward trend in many crime types. Our focus and efforts in detecting and ultimately charging those responsible for committing crime also remain very high.

"This is the third successive year that a reduction has also been recorded in significant elements of violent crime, which puts the region in a very strong position nationally in terms of this crime type. I have no doubt this is testament to the well-embedded 'prevent' agenda we have in place across the Highlands and Islands, to which strong partnership working and close relationships with our communities are absolutely key.

"I would like to thank the public and the various regional and local partnerships that we work closely with for their support. Behind many crimes are truly difficult and complex issues that can have a lasting impact on families, victims and our communities. These are not matters for police to deal with in isolation and I can assure you that we remain fully committed to keeping our communities safe and will continue in our collaborative efforts to achieve that."

It comes as Police Scotland published its Performance Report, introduced by Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Taylor, and Quarter 4 Management Information figures for 2019/20. In the Highlands and Islands, an overall reduction was recorded in Group 3 crimes (crimes of dishonesty) and Group 4 crimes, which include vandalism.

Sixty-nine incidents were also recorded in the region under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 which came into effect in April 2019. Police officers are now trained to recognise coercive and controlling behaviour. Nationally, almost 1700 offences were recorded.

Chief Superintendent Macdonald added: “These are unprecedented times for us all. However, as DCC Taylor has said, Police Scotland is here to help and our priorities are focused on keeping people safe, preventing and detecting crime, and supporting vulnerable people by working with our partners and local communities. The year-end figures for 2019/20 serve as another benchmark for the year ahead.”