Isles crime detection rate among highest in UK

Shetland’s crime detection rate is among the highest in the country, new figures have revealed.

Northern Constabulary’s north division, which includes the far north mainland as well as the Northern Isles, has increased detections by 5.28 per cent to 68.68 per cent since April last year.

That compares with a 5.97 per cent increase to 67.6 per cent in the force’s east division of Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey.

There was also a 0.93 per cent increase to over 64 per cent in the force’s central division, which stretches from Ross and Cromarty to the Western Isles.

The detection rate for the first 11 months of this financial year is the highest ever achieved by Northern Constabulary, and one of the highest in the UK.

The overall clear-up rate of 67.3 per cent was recently revealed to members of the Northern Joint Police Board. But there is a chance the figure could rise again by the year’s end.

Statistics running from the beginning of April 2011 to the end of February this year show there were 974 fewer reported crimes in the Northern Constabulary area. Reported crime went down from 12,596 in 2010/2011 to 12,523 in 2011/12 – equating to 73 fewer victims of crime over the past year.

Perhaps more pertinent to folk in Shetland, worried by the growing drugs trend in the isles, is the claimed 100 per cent detection rate for drug possession and supply.

COMMENTS(2)

Add Your Comment
  • Jim MacLeod

    • March 30th, 2012 12:01

    Good figures,

    out of interest: when someone is “done” for peeing round the back of the Skeld Hall after a disco, does that count as a crime detected & solved (thereby increasing the %age detection rate?

    REPLY
  • Stewart Mack

    • April 2nd, 2012 13:02

    Please correct me if i am wrong, but the publicised 100% detection rate for drug possession and supply surely means that every person in Shetland who either possesses or supplies drugs has been caught, captured and dealt with.

    My perception is that the drug problem is still very much alive in the Isles but I’m glad to see the Police think that 100% of drugs are off the streets, the reality isnt quite so rosey. Perhaps more focus on Police work and less on statistics might be useful? But then since they dont need any time or money for drug possession and supply (since at 100% they have completely cracked it) maybe the money can now be spent detecting soem other crimes

    REPLY

Add Your Comment

Please note, it is the policy of The Shetland Times to publish comments and letters from named individuals only. Both forename and surname are required.

Comments are moderated. Contributors must observe normal standards of decency and tolerance for the opinions of others.

The views expressed are those of contributors and not of The Shetland Times.

The Shetland Times reserves the right to decline or remove any contribution without notice or stating reason.

Comments are limited to 200 words but please email longer articles or letters to editorial@shetlandtimes.co.uk for consideration and include a daytime telephone number and your address. If emailing information in confidence please put "Not for publication" in both the subject line and at the top of the main message.

200 words left

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

logo

Get Latest News in Your Inbox

Join the The Shetland Times mailing list to get one daily email update at midday on what's happening in Shetland.