Police are on course to meet other performance targets

The country's police forces have been set the task of reducing serious and violent crime by 5% by next April.

But in the 12-month period to April this year, serious and violent crime increased by 8%, making the task of meeting the target more challenging.

However, the Accounts Commission for Scotland said the forces were on course to beat other performance targets.

The number of people killed or injured in accidents is falling, housebreakings are down and the number of drug seizures has increased.

Drug seizures

The clear-up rate for all recorded crime is 46.6%, the highest since 1996.

Accounts Commission chairman Alastair MacNish said: "These latest figures are encouraging and reflect real efforts on the part of Scotland's police forces to bring crime levels down.

"Their achievements in areas such as increasing the number of drug seizures and reducing the number of housebreakings are important, and need to be recognised.

We need to learn the lessons from others and put more police officers on our streets Annabel Goldie Deputy Tory leader

"However, the figures imply scope for improvement in reducing the number of serious violent crimes."

Serious and violent crime includes murder, rape, robbery and serious injury assaults.

A total of 15,551 offences were recorded last year, up 8% on the previous year.

Police have been set the target of reducing the four-year average figure of 14,272 by 5% by next April.

The report said Tayside was the sole Scottish force to see a fall last year, achieving a 22% reduction.

There was a 28% fall in the number of housebreakings last year, compared to a target reduction of 10% by next April, and a 46% rise in the number of drug seizures, compared to a target increase of 25% by next April.

The number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents fell by 29%, compared to a target reduction of 18%, and the number of children killed or injured saw an even bigger fall.

Recorded crimes

Deputy Tory leader Annabel Goldie said the statistics highlighted growing concerns over violent crime.

She urged the Scottish Executive to look to New York for solutions.

"There is one police officer for every seven recorded crimes in New York, and one police officer for every 27 recorded crimes in Scotland," she said.

We are committed to working with the police to prevent and punish violent behaviour and the impact it has on our communities Cathy Jamieson Justice Minister

"We need to learn the lessons from others and put more police officers on our streets."

Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said: "This is an issue that the executive and the police take very seriously.

"We are committed to working with the police to prevent and punish violent behaviour and the impact it has on our communities."

The minister said she was encouraged by the reduction in Tayside and said she would work with police chiefs to see if lessons could be learned for the rest of the country.