Figures show crime is falling

Oct 9 2009

CRIME is falling across South Ayrshire.

The latest figures show that the number of reports to police fell by 380 over the last year.

The news has been welcomed by Ayr MSP John Scott, who insists that the improvement is down to the hard work and dedication of police.

He said: “The figures released this week show that the total number of crimes recorded in South Ayrshire over the last year fell to 6824, compared to 7204 for the previous year.

“Clearly any reduction in crime is to be welcomed, and I am in no doubt that this fall is in large measure down to the dedication and hard work of our local police force.”

Crimes of violence showed a marked decrease.

Mr Scott explained: “Despite a marginal rise in the number of serious assaults and crimes involving offensive weapons, the overall results for crimes of violence show a drop, and this is mirrored by a decrease in the rate of domestic housebreaking and for vandalism.”

But he warned that antisocial behaviour continues to blight communities and says that the government must do more to find a solution.

He added: “However, despite this good news, every effort must be made to continue to drive down the level of crime locally and in particular to tackle the problems of antisocial behaviour which plague too many of our communities.

“There is much more that the government could be doing to help with this.

“Those who blight our communities with antisocial behaviour must be made to face the consequences of their actions.Š

“Fines must be enforced, community service must be effective, and those sentenced to prison must serve the sentence passed down and not spend half their sentence in the community.”

Mr Scott went on: “Along with an increase in the number of police patrolling our streets, these are the kinds of measures that are necessary if we are really to get a grip on the problem of antisocial behaviour and the misery it brings to so many local people.

“I will be continuing to press for them as strongly as I can.”