This week marks the first anniversary of the territorial police forces merger that created Police Scotland. For Edinburgh police officers, this has been a predominantly a positive year regarding crime and solvency rates, but it has also had its failures – most notably the sharp increase in break-ins, as figures announced by Chief Superintendent Mark Williams showed.
In the last 11 months, the number of housebreakings jumped by 23% (from 1,600 to 2,000). At the same time, the solvency rate for the crime stood at 29% versus the 38% achieved by the Lothian and Borders Police. This was attributed to the abolition of the dedicated unit last April, which resulted in a 20% plunge in solvency rates. The team was re-assembled in December and this has led to some improvement, but housebreakings apparently remain a serious problem for the capital and its law enforcement officers, the Scotsman reported.
Williams also revealed a sharp rise in driving offences: their number increased by a third over 11 months to reach 13,964.
On a positive note, Williams described the detection rate for robberies as “fantastic,” as it jumped from 59% to 68%. At the same time the number of hold-ups dropped from 356 to 258, or by 27%. The violent crime rate also decreased by 12% and there was a decline in serious assaults.
Edinburgh police officers can also congratulate themselves on the surge in rape solvency rates, which shot up from 38% to 65% thanks to the Divisional Rape Investigation Unit. Williams also unveiled a 28% leap in drug dealing charges, with 200 members of organised crime gangs being charged in the last 11 months.