Scottish homicide rate shows decline

The homicide rate in Scotland dipped in 2003, with 20 fewer victims recorded than in the previous 12 months, it has emerged today.

Overall, there were 108 victims of homicide in Scotland, the lowest annual total since 2000. The annual statistical Homicide in Scotland bulletin also found that men were over six times more likely than females to be the victims of homicide.

Almost four-fifths of homicide victims knew the main accused - either as an acquaintance (59%), or as a partner or relative (20%). The use of a "sharp instrument" was also found to be the most common method of killing, accounting for 55 victims or 51% of the total. However, there was a decrease of almost 20% in knife-related deaths, which accounted for 55 victims in 2003, compared to 68 in 2002.

Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said that Scotland's homicide figures "are still too high", adding that too many Scots were falling victim to "knife-wielding young men".

"Many of these attacks occur because too many young men carry a knife whenever they leave their home - perhaps because they think it makes them look hard or in the mistaken belief that this will give them some form of protection," she said.

"These figures show that coupled with the influence of drink or drugs, this is a recipe for disaster. Situations get out of control and too often end with an innocent stranger in A&E or worse still, the hospital morgue, and the offender facing years behind bars."

By November 10, 140 people had been accused of the homicides recorded in 2003 – 93% of the accused were male.

Fifty-nine of the 108 homicides recorded in 2003 have so far resulted in a conviction for murder (29 cases) or culpable homicide (30 cases). Thirty-one people have been convicted of murder and 34 of culpable homicide.

Earlier this week, the Scottish Executive introduced a licensing scheme for knives, increased sentences for carrying a knife in public, banning the sale of swords, and giving the police the unconditional power of arrest if they suspect someone of carrying a knife, to help tackle this problem.

"These new measures - to be announced in further detail early next year as part of a wider strategy to tackle violence - will mark a major step forward in ending the needless bloodshed that is cutting short too many young lives in Scotland," Ms Jamieson said.

(gmcg/mb)