Crime will be recorded in more depth

It follows reports that a new recording method will see crime figures jump by 25% when the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) is introduced next year.

A crime management report later this month is expected to warn that the amount of crime will jump significantly.

But the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (Acpos) insists the wider reporting will give people a clearer picture of how much risk they actually face from crime.

It is very important to point out that this will be a bureaucratic rise rather than something which will affect people's quality of life Sandy Forrest HMIC

The overall figure is expected to show a rise through the recording of minor incidents along with more serious crime, according to Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) for Scotland.

Sandy Forrest, assistant inspector of constabulary at HMIC, told The Herald newspaper: "The message is to watch out in future because a simple change in crime recording will make the increase difficult to explain.

"The experience in England and Wales saw some significant increases. Minor crime recording may go up by 25%.

"It is very important to point out that this will be a bureaucratic rise rather than something which will affect people's quality of life.

"The rise will be in minor crime such as people reporting children hanging around breaking bottles if the person reporting it considers it is a crime."

'Fear of crime'

Figures released by the Scottish Executive this May showed overall crime rates rose by 1% in 2002, with a 9% increase in violent crime from the year before.

But Assistant Chief Constable Graeme Pearson, of Acpos, said any increase next year would not be a step backwards.

"It has long been recognised that the public's perception of the prevalence of crime is far removed from the reality and this inhibits the ability of the police to address the fear of crime effectively," he said.

Another positive aspect of the new crime recording standard is that it will increase comparability between the forces Scottish Executive spokesman

"Consequently, Acpos has decided to act and develop a system which records crime comprehensively, with integrity and in such a manner as to make comparison across forces easier than the current system allows.

"This is a bureaucratic change, designed to provide a detailed interpretation of criminality in our society and, hopefully, reassure the public that our communities are safe and that their chances of becoming a victim of crime are slim."

A spokeswoman for the executive said: "The new standard represents a change in philosophy with a move toward a more victim orientated approach to recording crime in which the police will not insist on corroborative evidence before the incident is recorded.