By Bruce Fegen

CRIME IN Fife plummeted by 14% in the nine months to the end of December while the detection rate rose by 3.4%.

Members of the region’s police, fire and safety committee were told that reported crimes fell from 22,696 in 2006 to 19,558 last year, a drop of 3138, and the clear-up rate rose from 50.8% to 54.2%.

The figures were given to councillors by Chief Constable Peter Wilson in the latest performance report on the Fife force and he pointed out that they are far better than the five-year average.

There was a reduction in all categories, apart from sexual offences where there was an increase of 69, but this is mainly due to increased reporting of historical crimes.

Crimes involving dishonesty showed a huge drop, down from 10,842 to 8880 (housebreaking fell from 1075 to 771) and there was also a major decrease in malicious mischief/vandalism offences from 7231 to 6105.

Violent incidents fell from 451 in 2006 to 400. The number of murders stayed the same at five, but there were significant reductions in attempted murders and serious assaults.

Mr Wilson said, “The continuing reduction in theft by housebreakings is of particular note and perhaps reflects the twin emphasis on prevention and targeting high incidence areas.

“The force continues to place considerable emphasis on anti-social behaviour and there are indications that the new procedures for dealing with youth offending may be having an impact on the frequency of offences.”

The number of people killed or injured on Fife’s roads is continuing to fall, the report notes.

Although no direct comparison with last year is given, the force is well on target to meet its objective of increasing road safety, according to the figures which cover the period from January to November (the calendar year is used to reflect Scottish Government targets.)

The main target is to reduce deaths and serious injuries to 187 for the whole year and by the end of November there had been 14 fatalities and 130 people badly hurt, a total of 144.

The force also aims to reduce slight injuries to 738 and with just a month to go the total stood at 554.

But it is when it comes to the number of children killed or seriously injured that the biggest improvement has been recorded.

The 12-month target was to reduce this to 28 but by the end of November there had not been a single fatality involving a child and only 13 were badly hurt.

Amazingly, not one serious injury was recorded during the three-month period September-November.

The chief constable added, “The continuing decrease in fatal and serious road accidents is to be welcomed, with indications that the figures for 2007, once finalised, will demonstrate the sustained improvement achieved through the combined contributions to fulfil the objective of the road safety strategy.”