The north-east’s top police officer has hailed an “unprecedented” drop in house-breakings and vehicle crime in Aberdeen.
The city centre gained unwanted notoriety around a decade ago for one of the highest crime rates in Scotland.
However, a concerted effort has been launched by police, the city council and organisations like the Street Pastors in recent years, resulting in Aberdeen winning the coveted Purple Flag award for safety.
Now, the latest figures released by Police Scotland show a drop of 51.7% in house-breakings and a 39% reduction in vehicle crimes were recorded when compared to the 5-year-average.
Overall, acquisitive crime has decreased by 28.6% over the same period.
Violent crime has also reduced with officers putting this down to a combination of targeted high-visibility patrols, increased licensed premises visits, the monitoring of high-risk offenders and deploying “problem-solving teams”.
Serious assaults have decreased by 10.7% when compared to the previous year and common assaults by 16.9% when compared to the 5-year average.
The force’s war on organised crime has also continued, with officers targeting violent gangs from major English cities.
A 25.3% reduction in vandalism and 23.8% reduction in fire-raising when compared to the 5-year averages have also been recorded.
North-east divisional commander chief superintendent Campbell Thomson said the figures were testament to “the hard work of our police officers, police staff, special constables and youth volunteers who have continually provided a level of service that has positively impacted on our communities”.
He added: “We also work closely alongside our partners and the public to keep our communities safe.
“I have no doubt that the strong relationship we have with the public we serve and our external partners contributes significantly to the positive outcomes presented today.
“Our overriding strategy is to prevent crime in the first instance and to establish wider, more sustainable solutions and this could not be achieved without working in collaboration with others.”
He added that further crackdowns would be a “key priority” for the force.
He said: “Of note within this report is the unprecedented reductions in house-breakings and motor vehicle crime.
“Tackling acquisitive crime is a key policing priority in Aberdeen city and we will continue to utilise the same approach of using intelligence and information to focus on the correct locations and offenders to minimise the disruption, inconvenience and harm that this type of crime causes to innocent members of the public.”
“I continue to ask members of the public to let us know their concerns so that we can shape our activity based on what is important locally and so that we can all play a part in benefiting the communities in which we live.”