Chamber and committees

The following table shows the number of bail offences recorded in Grampian in 2006-07.

Bail Offences Recorded in Grampian, by Local Authority, 2006-07

Local Authority	Failing to Appear for Trial having been given Court Bail	Bail Offences other than Absconding/Re-Offending	Total
Aberdeen City	-	232	232
Aberdeenshire	-	181	181
Moray	-	182	182
All Grampian	-	595	595

 

The Scottish Government is aware of the potential impact on crime of the current economic situation and that is why we are working with all the key partners including Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland (ACPOS) and the Scottish Business Crime Centre (SBCC) to ensure there is an integrated approach to crime prevention and community safety.

A key focus for this joint work is the National Community Safety Strategic Group (NCSSG), which is chaired by the Minister for Community Safety and brings together partners such as COSLA, ACPOS, Chief Fire Officers Association (Scotland), Violence Reduction Unit, Scottish Community Safety Network (SCSN). This Group discussed the response to the economic downturn in December 2008 and will do so again at its next meeting in March. In terms of wider discussions, Scottish Government officials met Home Office colleagues on 26 February 2009 to discuss a range of issues including crime prevention and this will be fed back to the NCSSG for their consideration. We will respond directly to the views expressed by the NCSSG so that if there is consensus that more needs to be done then we will act.

There is however already activity underway with recent events such as Risky Business, a conference organised by the SBCC and Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, seeking to highlight some of the emerging threats and recommend practical action. We have already agreed with ACPOS and other partners to develop a crime prevention information resource for practitioners and the public, and that again will provide clear, direct advice to householders and others on how to take practical steps to protect themselves and their property. The first stage of this was published by the SBCC in December and we expect the remainder to be available in summer 2009.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20608 on 3 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliaments website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

The British Crime Survey only covers England and Wales. Therefore, these statistics do not necessarily reflect Scottish home security. We do not hold similar information for Scotland.

The Scottish Government is aware of the potential impact on crime of the current economic situation and that is why we are working with all the key partners including Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland (ACPOS) and the Scottish Business Crime Centre (SBCC) to ensure there is an integrated approach to crime prevention and community safety.

A key focus for this joint work is the National Community Safety Strategic Group (NCSSG), which is chaired by the Minister for Community Safety and brings together partners such as COSLA, ACPOS, Chief Fire Officers Association (Scotland), Violence Reduction Unit, Scottish Community Safety Network (SCSN). This group discussed the response to the economic downturn in December 2008 and will do so again at its next meeting in March. In terms of wider discussions, Scottish Government officials met Home Office colleagues on 26 February 2009 to discuss a range of issues including crime prevention and this will be fed back to the NCSSG for their consideration. We will respond directly to the views expressed by the NCSSG so that if there is consensus that more needs to be done then we will act.

There is, however, already activity underway with recent events such as Risky Business, a conference organised by the SBCC and Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, seeking to highlight some of the emerging threats and recommend practical action. We have already agreed with ACPOS and other partners to develop a crime prevention information resource for practitioners and the public, and that again will provide clear, direct advice to householders and others on how to take practical steps to protect themselves and their property. The first stage of this was published by the SBCC in December and we expect the remainder to be available in summer 2009.

A total of 4,291 charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 were reported to Procurators Fiscal in the Grampian Police Area in 2007-08. Of these, 442 (10%) have been dealt with by means of a Direct Measure. The following table provides a breakdown by charge:

Section of Act	Charge Description	Total Number of Charges
S5(2)	Possession of controlled drug	434
S23(4)(a)	Obstruct police	4
S4(3)(b)	Concerned in the supplying of a controlled drug	2
S5(3)	Possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply	1
S4(2)(a)	Produce a controlled drug	1
Grand Total		442

Notes:

1. The three charges involving supply of or possession with intent to supply a controlled drug “ Sections 4(3)(b) and 5(3) “ were dealt with by referral to the Reporter to the Children''s Panel. The charge involving production of a controlled drug involved a middle-aged man found to be growing two cannabis plants in his house for his personal use who accepted a fiscal fine of £300.

2. The information in this table has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service''s Case Management Database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to procurators fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies. If a Procurator Fiscal amends a charge submitted by a reporting agency the database will record details only of the amended charge.

3. The database is charge-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges.

The period referred to largely pre-dates the introduction on 10 March 2008 of the enhanced range of direct measures provided for in the Criminal Proceedings etc (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007.

Of the 45,218 charges reported to Procurators Fiscal by the Police or Specialist Reporting Agencies in the Grampian Police Area in 2007-08, 5,988 (13%) have been dealt with by means of a direct measure.

For the purposes of compiling statistical data the term direct measures is normally used to refer to all disposals that do not involve either a decision by the Procurator Fiscal to take no action or a decision to initiate court proceedings. It therefore includes disposals such as referral to the Reporter to the Children''s Panel which involve referring the case to another competent authority, rather than direct action by the Procurator Fiscal.

The following table provides a breakdown of the direct measures used in the 5,988 charges referred to above:

Direct Measure	Number of Charges	% of Total Charges Reported
Road Traffic Fixed Penalty	1,758	4%
Warning	1,669	4%
Referred to Reporter to the Children''s Panel	1,192	3%
Fiscal Fine	1,130	2%
Diversion from Prosecution Schemes	167	<1%
Combined Offer (Fiscal Fine + Compensation) (only available from 10 March 2008)	72	<1%
Grand Total	5,988	13%

 

There were 295 different charges where a direct measure was offered. The top 10 such charges (which account for 53% of the charges where a direct measure was used) are as follows:

Charge Description	Number of Charges	% of Total
Breach of the Peace	795	13%
Assault	459	8%
Possession of controlled drug	434	7%
Vandalism	355	6%
Theft by shoplifting	254	4%
Driver fail to wear seatbelt	225	4%
Drive motor vehicle while using a hand held mobile telephone	178	3%
Exceed 30 mph - Local Order	174	3%
Use/Install a television receiver without a licence	168	3%
No MOT	161	3%

Notes:

1. The information in these tables has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service''s Case Management Database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to procurators fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies. If a Procurator Fiscal amends a charge submitted by a reporting agency the database will record details only of the amended charge.

2. The database is charge-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges.

The numbers of drug-related deaths in NHS Grampian and in NHS Tayside in 2007 were less than five in both cases. To protect the identities of the individuals involved, the exact numbers have not been disclosed.

Substances identified in drug-related deaths in NHS Grampian included combinations of methadone, benzodiazepine, diazepam, alcohol, opiate, morphine, diamorphine.

Substances identified in drug-related deaths in NHS Tayside included combinations of amphetamine, diamorphine, alcohol and an unspecified drug. In those cases where more than one substance was identified, it was not possible to say which substance, or which combination substances, caused the death.

Local authorities and schools are in the best position to locally monitor, analyse and respond to serious incidents and to identify what targeted action, if any, is required in response to local needs. Where a particular school may have a particular problem which is causing concern, local authorities have a key role in engaging with the school to secure improvement. In addition, HM Inspectorate of Education, through district inspectors and inspections, also engages with local authorities and schools to take forward issues such as safety, security and disciplinary climate and would continue to work together with a school and local authority to improve provision following an inspection.

There are a wide range of strategies and provision to manage behaviour in schools including preventing and dealing with serious incidents such as knife carrying. We work with local authorities to support schools implement the most effective approaches to managing behaviour. We fund the Positive Behaviour Team - £500,000 per year - to work across Scotland to promote and good practice through guidance, training and support.

The most recent deaths data currently available is for 2007. The information requested is given in the following tables:

Table a. Proportion of Deaths Attributable to Alcohol, 2007

Area	Alcohol-Related Deaths	All Deaths	Percentage
Scotland	1,399	55,986	2.5%
Ayrshire and Arran	86	4,459	1.9%
Borders	23	1,299	1.8%
Dumfries and Galloway	28	1,866	1.5%
Fife	79	3,780	2.1%
Forth Valley	63	2,986	2.1%
Grampian	105	5,322	2.0%
Greater Glasgow and Clyde	465	13,704	3.4%
Highland	99	3,551	2.8%
Lanarkshire	174	6,192	2.8%
Lothian	172	7,487	2.3%
Orkney	7	255	2.7%
Shetland	6	209	2.9%
Tayside	86	4,509	1.9%
Western Isles	6	367	1.6%

Source GRO(S).

Table b. Proportion of Deaths which Were Drug-Related, 2007

Area	Drug-Related Deaths	All Deaths	Percentage
Scotland	455	55,986	0.8%
Ayrshire and Arran	36	4,459	0.8%
Borders	*	1,299	*
Dumfries and Galloway	10	1,866	0.5%
Fife	28	3,780	0.7%
Forth Valley	26	2,986	0.9%
Grampian	45	5,322	0.8%
Greater Glasgow and Clyde	157	13,704	1.1%
Highland	16	3,551	0.5%
Lanarkshire	48	6,192	0.8%
Lothian	54	7,487	0.7%
Orkney	*	255	*
Shetland	*	209	*
Tayside	29	4,509	0.6%
Western Isles	*	367	*

Source GRO(S).

Note: *Data has not been disclosed for numbers under five.

It is not possible to identify how many people suffered an injury as a result of alcohol or other substance abuse, from centrally held information. From acute hospital discharges it is possible to supply information on people who were admitted with both an injury diagnosis and an alcohol or other substance abuse diagnosis. However, this will only show an association and cannot quantify to what extent the alcohol/substance abuse has contributed to the injury. It will also not include patients treated in other settings, such as accident and emergency or out-patients.

Tables 1 and 2 present this information for NHS Grampian and NHS Tayside. Other substance abuse has been defined as a drug related diagnosis.

Table 1: General acute in-patient discharges^1,2,3 with both an alcohol-related diagnosis and an injury diagnosis, in any position, from hospitals in NHS Grampian and NHS Tayside Health Board of treatment; 2007-08^P:

Financial Year	Grampian	Tayside
2007-08	1,l014	445

^PProvisional.

Source: ISD Scotland (SMR01).

Notes:

1. Excludes mental illness hospitals, psychiatric units and maternity hospitals. Transfer cases have been excluded.

2. Discharges where an injury diagnosis and alcohol-related diagnosis are recorded in primary or secondary reasons for admission to hospital.

3. Figures in this table relate only to those individuals who are treated as in-patients in an acute hospital. They do not include individuals managed as out-patients.

Table 2: General acute in-patient discharges^1,2,3 with both a drug-related diagnosis and an injury diagnosis, in any position, from hospitals in NHS Grampian and NHS Tayside Health Board of treatment; 2007-08^P:

Financial Year	Grampian	Tayside
2007-08	95	24

^PProvisional.

Source ISD Scotland (SMR01).

Notes:

1. Excludes mental illness hospitals, psychiatric units and maternity hospitals. Transfer cases have been excluded.

2. Discharges where an injury diagnosis and a drug-related diagnosis are recorded in primary or secondary reasons for admission to hospital.

3. Figures in this table relate only to those individuals who are treated as in-patients in an acute hospital. They do not include individuals managed as out-patients. Caution is necessary when interpreting these figures. The recording of drug-related problems may vary from hospital to hospital.