DRUG CRIME in Dundee has risen by 133% in a decade—the third biggest rise in Scotland, according to figures released by the Scottish Executive.

The rise was 62% above the Scottish average and the percentage increase far outstripped Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie said the figures were disappointing, but also showed the pro-active approach the police are taking to rid communities of the scourge of drugs is working.

In 1996-97 there were 678 recorded drug crimes in Dundee, compared with 1582 in 2005-06—an increase of 904.

Drug crimes include possession, supply, manufacture or trafficking, according to the Executive.

Perth and Kinross came ninth in the table with a 110% increase after recording 505 drug crimes in 1996-97 and 1063 in 2005-06, which was a rise of 558.

Angus recorded a 50% rise to 678 drug crimes in 2005-06—up 227 in a decade. Fife was second bottom of the table with a rise of 144 cases to 1992 in 2005-06—a 7.8% increase.

Topping the table was Eilean Siar in the Western Isles with a 210% increase in a decade from 74 in 1996-97 to 230 in 2005-06.

Across Scotland there were 25,754 recorded drug crimes in 1996-97 and 44,247 in 2005-06, which was a rise of 18,493 or 71%.

Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson released the figures in a parliamentary written answer to Banff and Buchan SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson.

In the past police has said it maintains an “unrelenting focus” on those who peddle drugs and recorded a series of high-profile seizures.

The amount of heroin seized by police in Tayside increased by almost 60% in 2005/06 compared with 5.7 kilos during the preceding 12 months.

The number of seizures was also up, from 246 to 325.

During the last year there were several high-profile operations in the region.

Recent Executive figures also revealed the number of drug seizures in Tayside hit a new peak last year—more than twice the number of a decade ago, at 2062.

There were big increases in cannabis resin and cannabis plants recovered.