Crime: policy context

Concern about crime in Scotland, particularly currently violent and drug-related crime, as well as the related issue of anti-social behaviour has led to crime reduction being a key government priority. Since the inception of the new Scottish Parliament and a devolved Scottish government in 1999, efforts to tackle crime have been reflected in many policy documents: the Scottish Executive's (SE) drugs strategy - Tackling Drugs in Scotland: Action in Partnership (1999); the SE's strategy for tackling Anti-Social Behaviour - Putting Our Communities First (2003); and the National Strategy on Domestic Abuse (2003). In relation to addressing violent crime, new measures to tackle knife crime were introduced as part of the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006.

The current Scottish Government has five strategic objectives one of which is to create a safer and stronger Scotland 'to help local communities to flourish, becoming stronger, safer places to live, offering improved opportunities and a better quality of life.' It is intended that the Safer and Stronger Scotland agenda will be delivered through all 15 national outcomes, but in particular through the national outcome that 'We live our lives safe from crime, disorder and danger'. The government aims to achieve this through: speedy and effective enforcement to deter re-offending; a strong and well-targeted police presence to reduce the fear of crime; effective punishment; by reducing the fear of crime and antisocial behaviour and tackling the root causes of crime by addressing the challenges of drink, drugs and deprivation.

There have been a range of new policies and initiatives aimed at tackling different aspects of crime brought forward by the current Scottish Government including:

• their framework for tackling antisocial behaviour, Promoting Positive Outcomes;
• Scotland's first national drugs strategy The Road to Recovery: A New Approach to Tackling Scotland's Drug Problem, launched in May 2008;
• various initiatives to tackle knife crime including a national youth engagement initiative to tackle knife-carrying, called No Knives Better Lives;
• and, a major initiative to tackle gang violence in the East End of Glasgow - The Community Initiative to Reduce Violence

Violence Reduction Unit

In addition to these initiatives, the police-led Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) was created to help the Scottish Government deal with the problem of violence in Scotland. Their approaches focus both on enforcement and prevention. More information about the VRU's work is available on their website: Action on Violence