New figures produced by Police Scotland reveal that last year recorded crime in the Scottish Borders rose by 13%, the third biggest jump out of any council area in Scotland.
From 2016/17 to 2017/18, total crimes rose from 3047 to 3448, only Falkirk and East Renfrewshire saw bigger rises. Across Scotland as a whole, recorded crime went up by 3%.
While the total number of crimes and the crime rate in the Borders remains below the Scottish average, the sharp increase means that in just one year, the Scottish Borders overtook Angus and Stirling in terms of total crimes recorded.
Some of the figures for specific crimes are extremely concerning. Violent crimes are up by 13%, sexual offences saw a 20% rise and housebreaking is up by 17%. Other crimes, including offences involving weapons and drugs offences increased by a massive 29%, while antisocial behaviour incidents increased by 9%.
The information is included in Police Scotland’s annual management information, which “is intended to provide answers to questions about current crime levels” and which is used to inform operational decision making.
The figures apply to the period leading up to the introduction of community policing team, paid for by Scottish Borders Council to tackle local issues including anti-social behaviour.
Local politicians say the rise in crimes is a bad reflection of the SNP’s approach to crime and reinforces the need for community police officers provided for by Scottish Borders Council.
John Lamont MP said: “Some of these figures are truly shocking. A 20% rise in sexual offences and a 17% rise in housebreaking in just one year needs to be taken very seriously.
“It is no coincidence that crime is on the rise just as the SNP have slashed local police numbers and officers are increasingly filling in paperwork as police staff have been cut.
“The shambles surrounding the creation of Police Scotland has not been good for the Scottish Borders. SBC have stepped in to create their own local policing team, but these figures just go to show that the Scottish Government’s approach to justice is failing our communities.”
Rachael Hamilton MSP added: “I constantly hear boasting from the Scottish Government that crimes are falling, but these figures are nothing to be proud of.
“People living in the Scottish Borders are not daft, they will see a link between the SNP cutting police numbers and an increase in incidences of crime. Borderers need to feel safe but the SNP are letting us down.
“Scottish Borders Council had the foresight to respond to this by creating a seven-strong community policing team to look at local issues and be out and about in our communities. However, there is only so much the council can do when faced with budget cuts.”