The North East Divisional Commander thanked local communities for their continued support as the latest crime figures for the region are released today.
The first quarter performance report for 2022-23 – which covers the period from April 1, 2022 to June 30 – highlights a slight increase in the overall level of crime compared to the same period last year, but an increase detection rates were also recorded in vital areas of law enforcement, including sex crimes (over 5%) and dishonesty crimes (nearly 4%).
Over 860 drug-related crime detections have also been recorded through continued proactive work to remove illegal substances from our streets.
Divisional Commander Chief Superintendent Kate Stephen said: “These latest quarterly figures compare to the same period last year – a time when the country was breaking free from Covid-19 restrictions and life for many between us had not yet returned to normal.
“So it’s difficult to compare the two time periods, and the statistics don’t always represent the vast amount of work going on in our communities to keep people safe.
“In saying that, the quarterly data is a useful tool for me and my command team to identify areas where increasing crime trends are being seen and respond accordingly.
“For example, there was a slight increase in Group 3 crimes that was expected following the easing of restrictions, but we also saw an almost 4% increase in detections.
“The overall detection rate across all crime groups has also increased by 4%, which I will always welcome, as it means more offenders have been identified and more victims have had the opportunity to access help.
“The public health crisis has been difficult in many ways, but it has allowed public services to find new and innovative ways to work together to provide this vital support.”
Nationally, the number of crimes committed online continues to rise.
Figures for the whole of Scotland show fraud was up 8.15% on the same period the previous year, a 59% increase on the five-year average, with between 90 and 95% having an online element to the offence.
In the North East, a dedicated cybercrime team that was launched last year continues to focus on tackling this growing area of frontline policing, developing local expertise and developing strategies preventative measures to help keep our communities safe.
Chief Superintendent Stephen added: “Police Scotland are constantly adapting to the changing nature of the needs of our communities.
“The country is entering a new challenge as the cost of living crisis takes hold and we know this can have significant implications for the whole population, which can manifest itself in an increased role for public services. , including the police.
“We closely monitor trends to ensure we are responsive and it’s important that you tell us about issues in your community so that we can scale up our presence if needed and prioritize the issues that matter most to you.”
Thousands of people responded to the “Your Police” survey, an opportunity to help inform police services in your area.
The survey can be found by clicking here and it takes less than 10 minutes to complete – https://consult.scotland.police.uk/strategy-insight-and-innovation/your-police-2022-2023/
You can also contact us if you would like to complete the survey in another way: insightengagement@scotland.police.uk
The 2022-23 First Quarter Performance Report will be presented to the Scottish Police Authority’s Police Performance Committee on Tuesday 11 October.