The clear-up rates for crime reached a new high

Scottish Government statistics show the city had 82 such crimes per 10,000 population, with the average at 40.

Dundee was second at 65, with Glasgow and Edinburgh third and fourth with 62 and 60 respectively. The Orkney Islands had the lowest rate at two.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has pledged a long-term strategy to tackle crime.

The report stated that Grampian saw a "significant decrease" in the number of housebreakings, and the overall number of crimes in the force area also decreased in 2006/07 from 2005/06.

'Largest fall'

Grampian Police Ch Supt Simon Blake said: "The force is pleased to note that the report covers a year in which its performance improved in many areas.

"This is summarised by the bulletin reporting a 4% decrease in recorded crime in the Grampian area, the largest fall in Scotland.

"As regards domestic housebreakings, the headline figure of 82 per 10,000 population is noted but further analysis does indicate that the force's concentration on domestic housebreakings is having success."

Also above the national average were Clackmannanshire on 53 break-ins per 10,000 of the population, Fife with 48, Inverclyde with 47, Renfrewshire on 43 and West Dunbartonshire's 41.

They were followed by East Ayrshire with 38, East Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire and North Lanarkshire all on 36, East Dunbartonshire at 35 and Moray on 34.

'Barely changed'

North Ayrshire and Stirling had 33, Falkirk was on 31, Midlothian had 29 and South Ayrshire was on 26.

Aberdeenshire had 23 per 10,000, while Dumfries and Galloway, East Lothian, West Lothian and Argyll and Bute all had 22.

Angus had 19, Perth and Kinross 17, Highland 15, Scottish Borders 14, Shetland Islands 10, Eilean Siar 5 and Orkney Islands two.

The number of recorded crimes in Scotland rose from 417,785 in 2005-06 to 419,257 in the last 12 months.

The Scottish Government figures also revealed that the clear-up rate for all crimes reached a record high of 47% in 2006-07 and there was a 16% drop in fraud, partly put down to the introduction of the chip and pin system.

Mr MacAskill said the statistics showed levels of the most serious crimes had "barely changed" in 10 years.