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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Scots more likely to be crime victims than the English
Scots are more likely to be crime victims than people in England and Wales, according to an official survey that found declining confidence in the police and the SNP's justice system. The SNP government's Scottish crime and justice survey said that that 19.9 per cent of adults were estimated to have experienced at least one crime in 2023-24. This compared with 16.1 per cent of people in England and Wales. The proportion of Scots who had experienced violent crime (2.9 per cent) was more than double the rate south of the border (1.4 per cent). The survey stated that, for the first time, Scotland's 'property and violent crime victimisation' rate (12.1 per cent) was higher than that in England and Wales (10.1 per cent). The proportion of violent crime offenders aged under 16 was 31 per cent, the highest level ever recorded and nearly quadruple the eight per cent figure in 2021-22. The survey also disclosed that only 36 per cent of Scots were confident that the sentences handed out to offenders fitted the crime, down five points compared to 2021-22. More than a third of adults (38 per cent) were not confident in the ability of the police to catch criminals, with a small decline in the number who said the opposite. Angela Constance, the SNP's Justice Secretary, said that total violent and property crime levels had fallen by more than a third since 2008-09, the year after her party came to power. But Liam Kerr, the Scottish Tories' shadow justice secretary, said: 'This damning survey exposes how badly the SNP's soft-touch justice system is failing Scots. 'More people are victims of crime here than in England and Wales, while a growing majority feel that punishments don't fit the crime. 'It is little wonder that law-abiding Scots have lost trust in the system when the SNP continually panders to offenders and leaves victims as an afterthought.' Pauline McNeill, Scottish Labour's justice spokeswoman, said: 'Violent crime is on the rise and increasing levels of property crime leave far too many people feeling unsafe in their own homes. 'Our justice system is stretched to breaking point after years of SNP mismanagement and neglect so it is no surprise public trust is declining.' These findings were based on a survey of 4,973 people aged 16 or over living in private households in Scotland, with interviews conducted between July 2023 and April 2024. It estimated that nearly 1.2 million crimes were committed in Scotland in 2023-24, with fraud and computer misuse accounting for more than two-fifths (44 per cent). Almost half of this category (47 per cent) were bank and credit card fraud. The majority of violent incidents were minor assaults resulting in no or negligible injury (61 per cent), with a further 8 per cent being serious assaults and 5 per cent robberies. It emerged in March that Police Scotland have 'written off' investigating more than 12,000 crimes under a controversial new protocol to cut officer workloads. A pilot scheme was initially launched in the North East of Scotland, whereby some 'minor' crimes were not investigated if they were deemed to require excessive manpower. This protocol was rolled out across Scotland and a report disclosed that 12,017 crime reports had been 'directly filed', meaning they were not fully investigated. Ms Constance said: 'Crime continues to be down significantly over the long term, though the survey does highlight areas of concern and the need for continued action from governments and justice partners. 'While the levels of crime experienced remain similar to the pre-pandemic position in 2019-20, I am keen to understand what has contributed to the rises in crime identified since the 2021-22 survey.' Mark Sutherland, Assistant Chief Constable, said: 'Levels of crime are similar to the period before the pandemic, while estimates that around one in 10 adults experienced fraud and computer misuse underline that policing must continue to respond to changing demands.'The Chief Constable has outlined a vision for policing of safer communities, less crime, and supported victims and we're delivering on those ambitions, including through a dedicated cyber and fraud unit and plans for a strengthened community policing model.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
07-04-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
‘Arrogant' SNP introduces more rent controls
SNP ministers have been accused of 'arrogantly' ignoring the failure of their previous rent controls after unveiling plans for another cap on rises. They tabled plans at Holyrood that would see rent increases in 'control areas' capped at 1 per cent above the CPI measure of inflation, up to a maximum of 6 per cent. Under the amendments lodged to the Housing (Scotland) Bill, the cap would apply both to rent increases during the term of a tenancy and in-between tenancies. Ministers would be tasked with determining which areas in Scotland should fall under control areas, with 12 of Scotland's local authorities having declared a housing emergency. But industry data have disclosed that previous SNP controls backfired by pushing up average rent rises in Scotland, above the increases seen in England. Experts said the controls curtailed investment in the private rented housing sector and led to landlords withdrawing their properties from the market. This exacerbated a shortage of rental properties for tenants. It emerged last month that building work started last year on the lowest number of private houses since 2013, apart from during the pandemic. Meghan Gallacher, the Scottish Tories' shadow housing secretary, said: 'Disconnected SNP ministers are arrogantly still refusing to accept that previous rent caps schemes ended up in disaster. 'The previous measures drove away much-needed investment in Scotland's housing sector and crippled tenants with soaring rent increases. 'SNP ministers' plans for permanent rent controls will do nothing to tackle Scotland's housing emergency which has occurred on their watch and left thousands of families languishing in temporary accommodation.' John Blackwood, chief executive of the Scottish Association of Landlords, welcomed the amendments allowing property owners to increase rents. But he said: 'Landlords are quite rightly extremely concerned about rent controls, and many have already sold up and exited the sector. 'Now, more than ever, the Scottish Government needs to work with private landlords to secure the future of private renting in Scotland and ensure people have homes to rent when and where they need them.' The SNP introduced an emergency rent cap in October 2022. The policy was supposed to be a short-term measure to support tenants through the cost of living crisis. However, the cap was extended and, while it ended last year, a temporary framework of rent controls is still in place while the SNP finalises the Bill, which aims to make them permanent. Shirley-Anne Somerville, the Social Justice Secretary, said: 'Ensuring families can have secure and affordable homes that meet their needs is part of our approach to tackling the housing emergency. 'These measures will also help protect tenants against a backdrop of a continuing cost of living crisis and rising energy costs. 'We are doing what we can with the powers that we have as we know our policies are working to improve the lives of families in Scotland.' She said the Scottish Government had been 'working closely with tenants' organisations' in the legislation, 'including a system of long-term rent controls that is fair for tenants and encourages investment in the sector'. Aditi Jehangir, chairman of tenants' union Living Rent, said: 'The in-between tenancy protections suggested by the Government are crucial. They mean that landlords will stop evicting tenants to up the rent. 'However, the rent increase formula suggested locks in increases above inflation. The last decade has seen rents grow completely unaffordable. Any formula that increases rents above the rate of inflation will push already struggling tenants further into poverty.'
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Swinney refused to admit misleading MSPs over renewables
John Swinney rejected a call from his civil servants to admit misleading MSPs over the amount of Scotland's electricity that came from renewables, a dossier has disclosed. The First Minister told the Scottish Parliament in May last year that the proportion of Scotland's electricity consumption that came from green sources of power had risen from 20 per cent to 113 per cent under the SNP. But the Scottish Tories' Liam Kerr challenged him that the real figure was 64 per cent, with Scotland still relying on nuclear and gas to generate much of the remainder. The SNP opposes the construction of new nuclear power stations. Documents obtained under Freedom of Information (FOI) by the These Islands think tank disclose that six days after the exchange Mr Swinney was informed that 'officials have come to us as they believe that we need to submit a correction'. Although the 'equivalent' of 113 per cent of Scotland's energy consumption was generated by renewables, the message to the First Minister noted that it 'goes into the GB-wide grid and gets consumed GB-wide'. The following day Mr Swinney's principal private secretary replied that he had discussed the matter with the First Minister but 'he does not believe that the record should be corrected'. Mr Swinney eventually backed down after concerned civil servants wrote to the Scottish Government's chief statistician, who warned him the UK's statistics watchdog would intervene if he did not issue an urgent correction. But only weeks later, Mr Swinney appeared at a general election rally attacking Rishi Sunak for disregarding Civil Service advice on not misleading the public with statistics. The First Minister said that if he had been told by the Scottish Government's permanent secretary 'not to use information in a particular way because it created that misleading impression, I would not have used it'. Earlier this week, the Scottish Government published a video on social media promoting Scotland that claimed it had 'all electricity supplied only from renewable sources'. It was promoted by Angus Robertson, the SNP's external affairs secretary. Rachael Hamilton, the Scottish Tories' deputy leader, said: 'This is shameful behaviour from John Swinney and reeks of SNP secrecy and cover-up. 'It is no wonder Scots feel so disconnected from Holyrood when they see the First Minister doubling down on false stats and then attempting to try and spin his way out of being straight with them.' Sam Taylor, who heads These Islands, said: 'You might be tempted to dismiss this as yesterday's news. Corrections, however grudgingly, have been made. Lessons have been learned. 'But that simply isn't the case. Just this week, Angus Robertson was yet again pushing the false statistic on social media.' The dossier included an email dated June 3 last year in which an unnamed civil servant expressed concern at Mr Swinney's refusal to correct the record. This was 'particularly concerning' as the UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) watchdog had intervened over similar claims previously made by SNP ministers, they said. They asked whether anything more could be done to 'flag this' to Mr Swinney 'to ensure this is not misrepresented again in future' and warned that they had brought the matter to the attention of Ally McAlpine, the Scottish Government's chief statistician. Mr McAlpine wrote to the First Minister more than three weeks later stating that Mr Swinney had 'made a statement on the use of renewable energy in Scotland, which needs corrected on the official record'. He warned Mr Swinney that the matter had been referred back to the UKSA but said the watchdog was 'unlikely to take further action' if he issued a correction as soon as possible. More than a month after making the statement, on June 26 last year, Mr Swinney finally wrote to Holyrood's presiding officer with a 'clarification'. He admitted that 64.7 per cent of Scotland's electricity consumption came from renewables and argued that 'the language I originally used meant that I inadvertently described this different statistic'. Mr Swinney also acknowledged that the 20-day deadline for him to correct Holyrood's written record of its proceedings had passed. The Scottish Government was approached for comment.
