As the Scottish Justice Secretary announces ”historically low’ levels of crime“, in the Express, and being widely shared by the Scottish Conservatives, this:
The number of rape and attempted rape crimes recorded in 2022-23was 2,529, higher than any other year since records are publicly available going back to at least 2002-03 And there were 1,781 crimes recorded under the Domestic Abuse Act, the highest number since the legislation was introduced in 2019.
https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/angela-constance-boasts-crime-figures-30276638
These figures are, of course, utterly unacceptable and the increases from 2013/2014, are shameful.
However, even in the most sensitive of topics, context is required to put a problem into perspective.
From the ONS in 2023:
In England & Wales, in the year ending December 2022 there were 67 169 ‘rape offences.’ All things being equal, you might expect England & Wales to have 11 times 2 529 or 27 819 ‘rape offences’ but had 2.5 times as many.
In England & Wales, in the year ending December 2022 police ‘flagged’ 887 112 offences as domestic abuse. Once more, all things being equal, you might expect England & Wales to have 11 times 1 781 or 19 591 but had 45 times as many!
Now, even two closely related countries may have differing policing tendencies and differing levels of reporting by victims but these statistical differences are, I’d suggest, too great to be dismissed by such considerations.
Conservative-run England and Labour-run Wales are more dangerous places for women to live by some way.
Footnote: If anyone calls this ‘tasteless whataboutery’, ask them ‘If it was the other way round, like the drug deaths, how would it be reported?’
Sources:
https://www.gov.scot/publications/recorded-crime-scotland-2022-23/
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
It is long past time that the ”Scottish ” element of these English newspapers like the Scottish daily Express and Scottish daily Mail was challenged .
These are NOT Scottish papers – they are English with a phoney Scottish accent , and not even a very good one !
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Could the increased figures not indicate more confidence in the Scottish police and justice system?
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Possibly
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The Domestic Abuse Act cannot be dropped or appealed. The Police arrest women and people with additional needs. Malicious complaint. People are charged and then investigated. People and any complaint should be investigated then charged.
Police are wasting £Billions on malicious complaint. The Rangers fiasco. The Salmond ‘trial’. Chris Murray put in jail. The camper van carry on. Sell it. People tarred without any evidence or proof.
£Billions that could be better spent on essential services.
Women who cohabit (the majority) do not have equal rights. They have to put in a claim within a year. It can cost £thousands and take years. There is little legal aid, which has to be paid back in any case. Abused women have to stay in unsafe abusive places to keep a roof over their head. Letting agencies illegally charge 6 months up front rent and deposit. Even to women who have excellent credit rating.
In England the Law has been changed so women can get legal aid without losing the roof over their head. Losing their house and home. Victim blaming. It would save £Billions in police, healthcare, social care etc. Spend £millions to save £Billions and lives.
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