Argyll and Bute crime figures show mixed picture last year

The figures published by the Scottish Government showed various ways of recording all the breaches of law in 2023-24.

There are more than 500 types of crimes and offences recorded by police.

For statistical purposes, those are arranged into nine groupings, with "crimes" generally more serious acts such as murder or sexual offences.

Less serious "offences" include acts such as speeding or public drunkenness.

Shoplifting and vandalism are recorded as "crimes" while anti-social behaviour is grouped under "offences".

But not all crimes are reported to police. And a single incident could result in several offences being recorded - for example, a speeding driver might face charges of driving dangerously, without insurance or without a valid MOT.

The overall crime rate per 10,000 people has stayed virtually level in 10 years, at 394 last year compared to 392 in 2014-15.

And the percentage of those cleared up by police has also remained mostly level.

Chief Inspector Allan Dickson says Argyll and Bute remains a safe place to live and work. (Image: Tristan Stewart-Robertson)

Chief Inspector Allan Dickson, Police Scotland's area commander for Helensburgh and Lomond as well as Cowal and Bute, told the Advertiser: “Police Scotland is facing sustained levels of demand across the country, but the Argyll and Bute area is a safe place to live and work.

“Officers and staff are delivering for our communities every day – investigating crime, seizing illegal drugs and securing court outcomes.

“The Chief Constable has been clear that we must strengthen and modernise frontline policing to tackle threat, harm and risk, while also focusing on prevention and problem solving to get on top of demand.”

The total number of recorded crimes last year was 3,464, compared to 3,437 back in 2014-15.

The most common crime was common assaults, numbering 779 last year, the highest in 10 years.

The figures each year have always been above 640, with the exception of the first year of the pandemic.

There were 199 reports of shoplifting last year, again the highest in a decade, and up on 177 the year before.

Jackie Baillie MSP said that increase could be linked to the cost-of-living crisis, but also took a toll on retailers.

There were 201 reports of fraud, compared to just 68 in 2024-15.

Total recorded crime in Argyll and Bute has risen slightly, but crimes including common assault, fraud and theft by shoplifting have all risen significantly. (Image: Newsquest)

Reports of vandalism were at 375 last year, but that is the lowest in a decade, down nearly a third in that time.

There were 46 rapes or attempted rapes last year, nearly twice the level a decade ago. But those figures have fluctuated throughout that time.

Sexual assaults have doubled over 10 years, but are down compared to the last two years.

Figures don't reflect whether offences might be historic, poetntially dating back decades.

Crimes of causing someone to view sexual activity or images are also at their highest level in 10 years, numbering 47 last year.

As digital crimes continue to rise, there were 27 reports of communicating indecently. And threatening to or disclosing intimate images - so-called 'revenge porn' - saw nine reports last year, compared to it not even being recorded a decade ago.

Last year there were 97 housebreakings throughout Argyll and Bute, up from 68 the year before, but much lower than 152 a decade ago.

Drug posession is up slightly year on year, but down from the high of 2014-15.

Meanwhile, the number of offences recorded has been cut nearly in half.

In 2014-15, there were 6,115 offences, but last year that dropped to 3,305.

Some offences have dropped significantly. There were 30 cases of drunkenness and other disorderly conduct last year, but there were 284 a decade ago.

And while there were 209 offences of "urinating etc" in 2014-15, that dropped to just seven last year.

Driving offences are some of the most common for Argyll and Bute, at nearly two thirds of the total.

Jackie Baillie says the increase in violent and sexual crime is a cause for particular concern.

Though they are generally all down, there were still more than 2,000 driving offences last year.

Of those, there were 324 dangerous and careless driving offences and 214 driving under the influence.

Speeding is down by a quarter from more than 2,000 a decade ago to 491 - but that is still hundreds of potentially dangerous speeds on the road.

There were still 26 seat belt offences and 14 mobile phone offences last year - but that's a fraction of a decade ago.

Not all crimes and offences are "cleared up" by police - such as a named person being alleged of a crime to prosecutors.

Rape and attempted rape, for example, had a detection rate of 43.5 per cent last year - the lowest in a decade. That figure that has varied in the past decade but detection rates have struggled to get above 60 per cent.

Overall sexual crimes only have a clearance rate of 51.7 per cent. The best rate within that is 109.1 per cent for indent images of children. Only half of domestic abuse crimes were cleared up.

While nearly 78 per cent of shoplifting offences are cleared, the clearance rate for housebreakings was 27.8 per cent.

The figure for housebreaking detections has never been more than one in three in 10 years.

The cleared-up rate for all crimes and offences has stayed roughly level for the past decade at around 60 per cent.

Ms Baillie, Helensburgh and Lomond's constituency MSP, said: “Increases in shoplifting crimes, possibly linked to the cost-of-living crisis, is also taking a toll on retailers and business owners.

"I have been supportive of shopworkers’ union Usdaw’s campaign for tougher sentences for persistent shoplifters and crimes against retail staff.

"It is clear that deterrents have to be available for those who commit these crimes and Police Scotland and the courts must have the means to do this.

“It has long been the pattern that fraud and internet crimes are on the rise, however, the increase in violent crime and sexual violence is worrying.

“The justice system has struggled to reboot after Covid, the courts, prisons and Police are all under pressure and the SNP’s plans to create capacity have failed.

Crimes of causing someone to look at a sexual image are at their highest level in 10 years, according to the new statistics. (Image: Newsquest)

“They have no credible plan to strengthen the justice system.

“Instead, police stations are closing and prisoners are being released early from sentences.

“The justice system and particularly, Police Scotland need additional investment.

"It’s all very well closing police offices and moving officers further afield but it is essential that people and property in our communities are protected.”

Police Scotland have been approached for comment.