Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2007/08

This Scottish Government publication presents statistics on crimes and offences recorded and cleared up by the eight Scottish police forces, disaggregated by crime/offence group, police force area and council area.

“The total number of crimes recorded by the police in 2007/08 was 385,509, which was 8 per cent lower than in 2006/07. The total remains well below the 2004/05 figure of 438,121, and is the lowest number recorded since 1980.”

Lowest since 1980? Not bad at all. It is, of course, ‘recorded crime’ and not actual crimes committed, many of which go unrecorded. Still, why rain on their parade? Well done lads and lassies in blue!

Weekend News Round-up

There really is only one story in town this weekend: financial meltdown! A plan to stabilise the US economy with 700 billion bucks was rejected by Congress, and the global knock-on was considerable: banks in the US, UK, Belgium and Iceland needed bailed-out. As Sir Alex Ferguson once said, it’s squeaky-bum time.

When I say there is only one story in town, there is always, of course, room for the campus-town fitba news: everyone got beat except Queen of the South. Hamilton, St Mirren and Ayr should all hang their heids in shame.