SAFEST PLACE TO LIVE IN SCOTLAND

The Highlands and Islands remains one of the safest places to live in Scotland – with crime levels among the lowest in the country.

Year-end figures taken immediately prior to pandemic restrictions highlighted a reduction of more than five per cent in overall crime, when compared to the previous year, while the overall detection rate also increased by more than three percentage points.

In particular, further reductions were recorded in the most frequently encountered violent crimes including serious and common assaults and robberies – detection rates for these crimes have also increased.

Divisional commander Chief Superintendent George Macdonald said: “This has been another very positive 12 months in terms of overall performance based on reported crime within the Highland and Islands area, where we continue to see a downward trend in many crime types. Our focus and efforts in detecting and ultimately charging those responsible for committing crime also remains very high.

"This is the third successive year that a reduction has also been recorded in significant elements of violent crime, which puts the region in a very strong position nationally in terms of this crime type.

"I have no doubt this is testament to the well-embedded prevent agenda we have in place across the Highlands & Islands, of which strong partnership working and close relationships with our communities is absolutely key.

"I would like to thank the public and the various regional and local partnerships that we work closely with for their support. Behind many crimes are truly difficult and complex issues, which can have a lasting impact on families, victims and our communities.

"These are not matters for police to deal with in isolation and I can assure you that we remain fully committed to keeping our communities safe and will continue in our collaborative efforts to achieve that."

It comes as Police Scotland published its performance report, introduced by Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Taylor, and quarter four management information figures for 2019/20.

In the Highlands and Islands, an overall reduction was recorded in crimes of dishonesty and crimes which include vandalism.

A total of 69 incidents were also recorded under the new Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 which came into effect on April 1 last year.

This new law is making a significant difference – police officers are now trained to recognise the range of abusive behaviours, including coercive and controlling. Abusers now face the consequences of their abuse whether it is psychological, physical, sexual or financial. Nationally, almost 1,700 offences were recorded.

Chief Supt Macdonald added: “These are currently unprecedented times for us all however as DCC Taylor said today, Police Scotland is here to help and our priorities are focused on keeping people safe, preventing and detecting crime, supporting vulnerable people by working with our partners and local communities.

The year-end figures for 2019/20 would have served as another benchmark for the year ahead and Police Scotland would have been keen to keep the country's highlands and islands communities among the safest places to live, had coronavirus not launched its own offensive assault on both law abiding citizens and crooks to boot.

We live in a new age it seems where safety is measured in many different ways.