Short video – Violent crime in Scotland has fallen by 27% since 2008-09 with 30 000 fewer Scots experiencing it every year after two decades with no service-cutting right-wing government and the SNP maintaining 24% more police officers
Sources at: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/04/30/violent-crime-in-scotland-has-fallen-by-42-since-2008-09-with-30-000-fewer-scots-experiencing-it-every-year-after-two-decades-with-no-service-cutting-right-wing-government-and-the-snp-maintaining-24-m/ Continue reading Short video – Violent crime in Scotland has fallen by 27% since 2008-09 with 30 000 fewer Scots experiencing it every year after two decades with no service-cutting right-wing government and the SNP maintaining 24% more police officers
‘Hard-pressed Scots’ will be ‘sick of it’ if we distort the truth before they hear of it
The Herald today rehashing a story they got from the Scottish Cons in March. If you can’t be bothered reading all this below, here’s a short video covering the key points: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/03/13/short-video-on-are-hard-pressed-scots-sick-of-homeworking-hybrids/ Here’s the March 2026, response which still stands today The Herald today has: The Scottish Government faces a new transparency row over civil servants working from home as statistics are set to be withheld until after the Holyrood election. Pressure is mounting on SNP ministers to crack down on officials who refuse to work from the office as part of the Scottish Government’s hybrid working policy. Where is this ‘mounting pressure’ coming from? Anyone else? Nope, that’s it. Pathetic. Is … Continue reading ‘Hard-pressed Scots’ will be ‘sick of it’ if we distort the truth before they hear of it
Scotland’s model for pharmacy offers lessons for predicted ‘Iran war’ shortages
hours searching for stock of common medicines like antidepressants and HRT and government (UK) payments no longer cover the cost of some drugs. BBC Breakfast this morning has the above in a fuller report on the problem. Neither they nor the subsequent Reporting Scotland news, report what is happening in Scotland Here’s why. In the Guardian 29 March 2026: Britain [sic] is “a few weeks away” from medicine shortages ranging from painkillers to cancer treatment if the Iran war continues, according to experts, while drug prices could also rise. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/mar/28/uk-weeks-away-medicine-shortages-iran-war-impacts-experts-warn The above makes no mention of Scotland. Searching for reports … Continue reading Scotland’s model for pharmacy offers lessons for predicted ‘Iran war’ shortages
The Great Scottish Ferry Inconvenience Media War
My latest column in Scots Independent: Lesley Riddoch in her early April 2026 podcast said on the ferries crisis (literally) I’ve got to say personally, I’m sick of hearing people on the mainland ‘attack islanders’ for simply expecting that they can be connected. Just to remind you we all live on an island, and it would be a bit like saying Scotland’s a bit too expensive to include in UK national systems so let’s just charge them more. We wouldnae, would we?’ Who are those ‘people’ attacking islanders then? Turns out it’s me! ‘I’m probably gonna lose some friends on … Continue reading The Great Scottish Ferry Inconvenience Media War
Rise in the value of agricultural output in Scotland by 8% to record high of £5.1 billion is not apprently news
From Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Monthly Data Report: March 2026 published today: Total income from farming is the official measure of the profit (output minus costs) of the agricultural industry in Scotland. Initial estimates for 2025 predict record high total income from farming around £1.5 billion. Higher output and stable costs compared to 2024 drove a higher profit margin in 2025. Continued high commodity prices, including increases cattle, milk and potato prices drove a rise in the value of agricultural output by 8% to £5.1 billion. Total costs are estimated at around £4.1 billion. While many costs continued to fall from … Continue reading Rise in the value of agricultural output in Scotland by 8% to record high of £5.1 billion is not apprently news
Level of domestic abuse incidents in Scotland unchanged since 2008 but now 114 0000, 16% more common in England & Wales
From Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Monthly Data Report: March 2026 published today: There were 63,867 incidents of domestic abuse recorded by the police in 2023-24, an increase of 3% on 2022-23. In 2023-24, 38% of all incidents recorded by the police included the recording of at least one crime or offence. Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/safer-communities-and-justice-statistics-monthly-data-report-march-2026/pages/statistics-on-crime-in-general/ Note: Multiple factors lie behind the long term increase in recorded domestic abuse-related crime including for example – historical reporting, more online offending and the impact of new legislation. The latest available data from the SCJS, for 2018-20 (2018-19 & 2019-20 combined) estimated that 3.6% of … Continue reading Level of domestic abuse incidents in Scotland unchanged since 2008 but now 114 0000, 16% more common in England & Wales
Increase in crime clear up rate to 56% in Scotland far higher than in England & Wales
From Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Monthly Data Report: March 2026 published today: The clear up rate for all recorded crimes was 56.0% in 2024-25, up from 54.1% in 2023-24. Crimes against society (93.8%), non-sexual crimes of violence (68.4%) and sexual crimes (56.9%) continued to have higher clear up rates in 2024-25 than crimes of dishonesty (35.1%) and damage and reckless behaviour (31.0%). Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/safer-communities-and-justice-statistics-monthly-data-report-march-2026/pages/statistics-on-crime-in-general/ In England & Wales? According to the Home Office’s Crime outcomes in England and Wales 2024 to 2025 bulletin the Charge/summons rate was only 6.3% for victim-based offences and 12.45 for non-victim-based offenses, overall, 7% … Continue reading Increase in crime clear up rate to 56% in Scotland far higher than in England & Wales
Violent crime in Scotland has fallen by 27% since 2008-09 with 30 000 fewer Scots experiencing it every year after two decades with no service-cutting right-wing government and the SNP maintaining 24% more police officers
From Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Monthly Data Report: March 2026 published today: Non-sexual crimes of violence recorded by the police increased by 5%, from 70,635 in the year ending December 2024 to 74,384 in the year ending December 2025. Common assault (up 5%) made up the clear majority (83%) of all non-sexual crimes of violence recorded in the year ending September 2025. The SCJS showed that in 2023-24 the volume of violent crime increased by 73% since 2021-22. However, this is still 27% lower than 2008-09 and does not show a statistically significant change from 2019-20. It also showed that … Continue reading Violent crime in Scotland has fallen by 27% since 2008-09 with 30 000 fewer Scots experiencing it every year after two decades with no service-cutting right-wing government and the SNP maintaining 24% more police officers
Talking-up Scotland 