Scotland saw eight per cent drop in crime in last year

The Criminal Proceedings in Scotland bulletin for 2016-17 shows an eight per cent reduction over the last year in both the number of people proceeded against in court (107,338), and those subsequently convicted (92,334).

Previously published National Statistics on recorded crime for 2016-17 revealed this had fallen by more than a third over the last decade to a 43-year-low.

While falling crime has been accompanied by fewer prison sentences (16,762 in 2007-08 and 12,690 in 2016-17), the proportion of all offenders jailed has remained steady – 14 per cent in 2016-17 compared to 13 per cent in 2007-08 – while the average length of prison sentences, excluding life sentences, is 26 per cent higher than a decade ago.

The proportion of people sentenced to serve a community sentence has risen over the last decade, from 13 per cent of all those convicted to 20 per cent, notably with the imposition of community payback orders that can both support individuals to reduce the likelihood of their re-offending, and also benefit local communities with unpaid work.

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said: “Scotland’s courts continue to sentence those who pose significant risks to public safety to imprisonment, with more than a third (37 per cent) of those convicted of sexual offences last year being jailed compared to just under a quarter (24 per cent) in 2007-08.

“The Scottish Prison Service works every hour of every day to support the rehabilitation of those serving long-term sentences in custody – helping to reduce their likelihood of reoffending and so contributing to keeping crime down and communities safe. We can help hard-working prison staff to do that most effectively by enabling the use of more robust community sentences for other men and women who might otherwise be given short and very often ineffective periods in custody.”

Commenting on the conviction rate for rape and attempted rape, Mr Matheson added: “While the relatively low conviction rate for rape reflects, in part, the challenging evidential requirements to prove this crime, the government will continue to seek to strengthen the law where possible, and how such cases are dealt with.

“Since last April judges are required to direct juries in certain sexual offence cases on how to consider evidence – specifically explaining why a victim may not physically resist their attacker, nor report an offence immediately. Our on-going jury research is also examining how juries reach decisions and use the ‘not proven’ verdict.

“As well as ensuring the justice system has the resources needed to pursue perpetrators and to better support victims, our preventative work includes education on the pervasive nature of gender-based violence – an issue on which people across society, in families, schools and the wider community, must continue to speak out against.”