Drop in assaults and attempted murders in Fife

Police Scotland’s Management Information figures show that between April and December 2019, there were six fewer attempted murders in the Kingdom, equating to more than a 22 per cent reduction.

In addition, the number of serious assaults decreased by over 12 per cent, meaning there were 24 less victims that during the same period of 2018. Overall, reports of serious violence increased from 380, to 443. However this rise is attributed to the number of crimes recorded under the new domestic abuse legislation, covering coercive and controlling behaviour.

When domestic incidents are removed from the rise in violent offences, the figures show that violent incidents fell by 10.5 per cent, which is 40 fewer reports, compared with the previous year.

There was also a drop in domestic housebreakings, incidents of theft and shoplifting, vehicle crime, vandalism and reports of antisocial behaviour.

One area of acquisitive crime that has risen, however, is the number of frauds being reported – there were 164 more incidents of fraud in Fife and these involved a range of tactics aimed at obtaining money illegally from communities.