Chief hails new crime figures as ‘good sign’ for isles economy

Shetland police have achieved their highest ever crime detection rate, according to latest figures. And the force also saw a significant reduction in the overall number of crimes.

According to chief inspector Angus McInnes, crime detection in the 2012/13 period stood at 77 per cent, not including motoring offences. This is around two per cent higher than the previous year. The total number of crimes had reduced by 21.4 per cent.

There was a particularly noticeable drop in serious violent crime, from 32 to 20, and in ‘dishonesties’, from 240 down to 137.

“I always think that’s a good sign for the economy” said Mr McInnes. “People don’t feel the need to go and steal somebody else’s stuff if they can work and get their own, which is a good thing.”

A moderate rise in crimes of indecency from 30 to 39 was largely caused by an increase in the reporting of historical offences, Mr McInnes explained.

“It’s good that people now have the confidence to come and tell the police that these things have happened” he said.

Crimes of vandalism and fire-raising, have seen a drop from 183 last year to 158 this year, and drug related offences had a very small drop from 189 to 176.

The overall reduction meant that there had been 144 fewer victims of crime in Shetland from April 1st 2012 to March 31st 2013, said Mr McInnes, which was positive for the community and for the police.