A police chief has defended figures for crime detection rates in Aberdeenshire – saying lawbreaking is at an “all time low” across the region.
Opposition councillors within Aberdeenshire Council took aim at the force at a policy and resources committee meeting yesterday after figures revealed a drop in the number of housebreakings being detected.
Liberal Democrat group leader, Karen Clark, said the statistics were proof communities in the north-east are paying “a heavy price” for the SNP’s centralising of the police and pointed the finger at “resource pressures”.
However, chief superintendent Campbell Thomson, Police Scotland’s Aberdeenshire and Moray divisional commander, said it was important to look at the figures in context.
Several local councillors also jumped to his defence at the meeting at Woodhill House.
The latest statistics compare incidents during April to September this year to the same period last year.
Motor vehicle crime cases increased from 191 to 215, while detection rates dropped from 27.3% to 25.6%.
Figures for housebreaking detections decreased by 4.2% from 22.4% to 18.2%.
The number of common assaults rose from 960 to 977, while the number of incidents detected also increased from 71.1% to 76.8%.
The stats also showed serious assaults are down from 48 to 40 instances, but rates of detection went up 7.1% to 92.5%.
Domestic abuse cases being detected by police rose by 4.6% whilst the instances have dipped from 666 to 622.
In addition, detection in rape cases is also up 44.5% on last year.
Mr Thomson said: “I think sometimes the context can be confusing or there is none shown. Recent stats show Aberdeenshire is one of the safest places to stay and crime is at an all time low.
“It has been pleasing to see the decrease in serious assaults and increase in detections, given our focus on the prevention and detection of violent crime alongside our local partners.
“It is a concern to see a rise in the number of housebreakings. Our local policing teams will continue to work closely within their communities to take steps in deterring further criminal activity going forward.
“Road safety is a top priority and despite the figures showing a drop in casualties, we have still seen too many people killed on our roads in recent months.”
Fraserburgh councillor Brian Topping said he has nothing but respect for the work police do.
“For myself I have got nothing but 100% praise for the police. I have noticed a massive improvement in Fraserburgh this year,” he said.
“In my experience over the last year I have seen a massive improvement working in partnership with Police Scotland.”