Crime in Scotland falls as clear-up rate improves for third year in a row Crime on the decline north of the border

Crime in Scotland has fallen for the third successive year, according to Scottish Office figures released yesterday, writes John Arlidge.

The number of offences fell by 3 per cent last year, while the police clear-up rate increased by 3 per cent.

A total of 527,000 crimes were recorded, 3 per cent below the figure for 1993 when recorded crime fell by 8 per cent. In 1992, crime fell by 0.5 per cent. The clear-up rate last year rose from 34 per cent to 37 per cent.

A breakdown of the figures reveals housebreaking and theft fell by 7 per cent and crimes of indecency by 1 per cent. Despite the overall drop, non-sexual crimes of violence increased by 2 per cent, and recorded cases of fire-raising and vandalism rose by 5 per cent.

There was also a 5 per cent increase in "miscellaneous offences", which includes motoring offences and other minor crimes.