RECORDED CRIME in Scotland is at its lowest level for more than 25 years, according to figures released last week by the Scottish Government.

In total, 385,509 crimes were reported over the last year, the first time that the figure has fallen below 400,000 since the early 1980s.

RECORDED CRIME in Scotland is at its lowest level for more than 25 years, according to figures released last week by the Scottish Government.

In total, 385,509 crimes were reported over the last year, the first time that the figure has fallen below 400,000 since the early 1980s.

Overall, the 2007/08 period saw an 8 per cent fall in the official count of crimes committed in Scotland.

The statistics show that non-sexual violent crime, including murder and attempted murder, has fallen by 9 per cent to 12,874, and drug offences fell 4 per cent to 40,746.

Sexual crimes have dropped 3 per cent to 6,552, and reported rapes or attempted rapes are down 6 per cent to 1,053.

Vandalism, including fire-raising and ‘malicious mischief’, are also down 9 per cent to 118,025.

However, new legislation introduced last June which made it illegal to solicit for the purposes of prostitution has resulted in these types of crimes more than doubling, from 77 to 187.

Crime figures in the Lothian and Borders area emerged as the second highest of Scotland’s eight police forces, although the total number of crimes and offences, at 160,221, pales in comparison to Strathclyde’s 423,820.

Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill commented that these findings are further evidence that the SNP continues to deliver: “I welcome this evidence that there were tens of thousands fewer crimes and so tens of thousands fewer victims during our first year in government.

“However, we’re committed to taking the action needed to drive down crime for the long term, not just for one year.”

However, some have argued that the figures are unrepresentative of the crime problem in Scotland.

The Scottish Crime Survey, which records data from victims, estimates that around 50% of crimes go unreported, a figure which has been confirmed by the Scottish Government.

It has also been noted that the statistics only give half the picture. Minor crimes, such as breach of the peace, drunkenness, and minor assaults are not included because they are officially recorded as offences not crimes.

When these offences are included with the crime statistics the figure rises to 957,390.

A controversy has recently erupted after the statistics were leaked to a Sunday newspaper prior to their official release.

Scottish Labour has claimed that this could not have taken place without Mr. MacAskill’s knowledge, but government sources have hit back, denying the charge and announcing that an investigation into the leak was currently underway.

Jonathan Raynor, a fourth-year Music student commented: “Although the data seems to show that the SNP are making progress in government, I am always inclined to be sceptical when progress itself is based solely on statistics.”

The Scottish crime figures come after the Home Office announced that recorded crimes in England and Wales have dropped by 10 per cent, with a particularly large decrease in violent crime, according to the 2007/2008 British Crime Survey.