Forth Valley reports rise in violent crime
- Published
Violent crime in Forth Valley has increased in the last year despite an overall drop in the number of offences committed.
The region recorded a 10.3% rise in the number of serious assaults during 2015/16, with the number of minor assaults increasing by 2.4%.
Reported crime reduced by 9.1% with detection rates rising by 4.5% to 56.6%.
Crimes of indecency and the number of reported housebreakings also fell.
Forth Valley Division said it had reported 451 drugs supply offences for prosecution in 2015/16, an increase of 27% from last year.
Temporary Ch Supt Stephen McAllister, divisional commander for Forth Valley, said: "We have sought to further strengthen our collaborative, community-centred approach during this period through the implementation of a new deployment model.
"This has seen the introduction of named ward officers for all wards within the Forth Valley area, the appointment of additional schools-based officers who are embedded in our local high schools and the establishment of Community Alcohol and Violence Reduction Units (Cavru).
"I am pleased to report that these measures are already having a positive impact on the level of reported crime and the overall safety and wellbeing of our communities."