Double digit rise in sex crimes and anti-social behaviour reported by Highland cops of 19 per cent and 28 per cent after Chief Superintendent Rob Shepherd warned ‘something has to give’
Police Scotland will report a significant rise in the number of assaults, sex crimes, and drug deaths in the Highlands and Islands division after warnings from Chief Superintendent Rob Shepherd warned “something has to give”.
Ch Supt Shepherd will deliver a report to the communities and place committee at the end of the month with the latest crime figures that run from April to December 2024.
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They show a rise across a number of areas including sexual crime which showed a rise of 19.7 per cent – statistically that is 87.4 more crimes against the five year average.
The total number of sexual crimes currently stands at 530 which has a detection rate of 58.1 per cent, which means that 222 offences have been reported but remain unsolved with two more months to run before the final numbers are available.
Anti-social behaviour, disorder and violence including alcohol and drugs misuse offences in relation to what is called Culpable and Reckless Conduct have increased by 28.8 per cent against the five year average.
Culpable and reckless conduct criminalises acts that cause injury to others or put others at risk of injury. General examples of that include dropping traffic cones off a bridge, throwing a stone at a moving train or recklessly starting a fire.
Assault has increased by 2.9 per cent against the five year average but Ch Supt Shepherd said: “Assaults against officers continue to be at an unacceptable level. N Division continues to have some of the highest rate of assaults against officers per head within Police Scotland”.
The report goes on to outline how acquisitive crime has increased by 21.6 per cent against the five year average while offences in relation to housebreaking have decreased by 2.9 per cent and fraud is up by 19.4 per cent.
Detective Chief Inspector Ross Hamill stated: “Addressing and tackling abuse in all its forms is an absolute priority of Policing across Highland. Protecting vulnerable people is at the core of this.
“Throughout the course of the reporting period, recorded domestic crimes have a 62.3% detection rate, which is 2.5% lower than the national average. Recorded sexual crime for the period has shown an increase of 41 more offences than the previous year, with a detection rate of 58.1%.
“The detection rate for hate crime is 66.3%, which is 2% higher than the national average. Due to change in recording standards, we are unable to compare domestic recording figures to the previous year, three- and five-year average.
“The introduction of the Hate Crime and Public Order Act came into effect on 1st April 2024 has led to an increase in reporting of hate crime, however like domestic abuse, we are unable to make comparisons to the three- and five-year average.
“Missing person reports have shown a reduction of 150 fewer reports in 2024/25 to date than the previous year. Whilst the aforementioned figures show a trend of increased numbers in respect of reported domestic and sexual crime, police in conjunction with statutory and third sector partners continue to be completely focussed on reducing abuse and harm to vulnerable persons.
“Through the Violence against Women Partnership, work continues to educate, prevent, and reduce abuse”.
