SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, has today
welcomed new figures that show crime in the islands has dropped by a staggering
60% since 2007. The statistics also showed that recorded crime in Scotland has
reached a 41 year low.
The statistics show that 444
crimes were recorded by police Scotland for 2014-15 in the Western Isles. This
is down from 478 the previous year, and represents a massive 60% reduction to
the 1125 crimes recorded in 2006-07. The Western Isles currently has the second
lowest rate of crime nationwide.
Commenting, Alasdair Allan said:
“This is fantastic news for everyone in the Western Isles.
Recorded crime has been steadily dropping over the past 8 years and we are now
seeing the lowest levels of crime for a generation. With the islands having the
2nd lowest rate of recorded crime in Scotland, this cements our
reputation as one of the safest places in the country and one of the best to
bring up children in.
“These figures are a testament to the incredible work our
dedicated police officers do to keep our communities safe. The SNP Government’s
approach to crime is paying off and we are seeing the benefits of the 1,000
extra police officers that have been recruited since 2007.
“This is in stark contrast to the rest of the UK where, in the
same period of time, they have seen the loss of 15,000 police officers. Having
more officers on the beat is a crucial factor in preventing crime and making
people feel safer in their communities.
“It is worth noting that we would not have had a single one of
these 1,000 extra officers had the Labour party been returned to office. I have
no qualms in supporting the additional officers, whose contribution to reducing
crime in our communities cannot now be disputed. “
