We are sending a strong message to those committing crimes that they are less likely now, than at any time since the war, to escape justice

Jim Wallace Justice Minister

The clear-up rate for crimes of indecency increased from 77% to 80%, while the figures for non-sexual crimes of violence rose from 73% to 74%.

However, the figures also showed a rise of 5%, to 7,300, in the number of serious assaults.

Justice Minister Jim Wallace said he was concerned at that rise and stressed more must be done to reduce violent crime.

The Scottish Executive figures showed that 421,100 crimes had been recorded by Scottish forces in 2001, down 0.5% on the previous year.

Mr Wallace said that the second fall in two years gave Scotland its second lowest crime rate in two decades.

The crime figures for 2001 included:

• A 2% rise in non-sexual crimes of violence to 23,800

• A 15% rise in drug crimes to 36,200

• A 6% increase in the handling of offensive weapons to 8,700

• A 4% fall in robberies to 4,200

• A 4% rise in indecency to 6,000

• An 8% fall in crimes of dishonesty to 239,900

• A 14% increase in recorded cases of vandalism to 94,900.

The statistics divide criminal acts into crime and offences, with the less serious actions falling into the latter category.

The number of recorded offences rose by 5% to 524,600 in 2001.

That figure is 25% higher than the number of crimes, while in 2000 the difference was 18%.

The report said that this rise reflected the impact of the campaigns and initiatives against offences such as speeding.

Motoring offences are on the increase

There is also a high detection rate for offences, most of which are cleared up immediately because the culprit is caught in the act.

The figures included a 5% rise in motor offences and a 28% increase in minor statutory offences.

The latter statistic was mainly due to an increase of 38% - equivalent to 4,000 cases - in the number of people reported for drinking alcohol in a public place.

The report also says there has been a "considerable increase" in the use of new legislation which came into force in 1998, introducing the offences of racially aggravated harassment and racially aggravated conduct.

Cases of harassment rose from 199 to 328, while instances of racially aggravated conduct leapt from 917 to 1,588.

Increased detection

Mr Wallace singled out police forces for praise and highlighted the increasing use of the new legislation.

He blamed the rise in violent crime on increased police detection of people carrying offensive weapons.

And he said: "When you consider that we now have record numbers of police officers in Scotland, a post-war record clear-up rate and a significant fall in the fear of crime I think Scotland today stands in an historically strong position in terms of public safety.

"We are sending a strong message to those committing crimes that they are less likely now, than at any time since the war, to escape justice."