UK -- Violent crime is on the rise across Scotland, according to new figures which reveal that hundreds more attacks were carried out last year. Binge-drinking and growing inequality has been blamed for the spike in violence, which saw 13,994 crimes - including murder, serious assault and robbery - recorded in 2006-7, 2.4 per cent more than the previous year's tally of 13,664.
Six of the country's eight police forces witnessed a rise in non-sexual crimes of violence, with Northern Constabulary seeing a one-third increase in reported attacks, from 481 to 640. Four other forces - Tayside, Central, Grampian and Lothian and Borders - saw violent crime increase by between 6 and 15 per cent, while Strathclyde witnessed a smaller increase of 0.5 per cent, from 8,439 to 8,481. Only Fife and Dumfries and Galloway saw a drop in the figures.
The rise ends a three-year decline in recorded violent crimes, sparking fears that Scotland could be witnessing the beginning of a new upward trend. Northern Constabulary said the increase was "partly due to the misuse of alcohol".
"This is a big problem not just in our area but across the country. We're seeing it linked to a vast number of assaults. It's clearly a big contributory factor," said a spokesman.
Doctors are reporting a small but steady increase in the number of assault victims attending accident and emergency departments - which some believe is a more accurate reflection of violence levels - and say alcohol abuse is an increasingly prevalent factor.
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