Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Scotland’s law courts speeding up

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By Professor John Robertson OBA From Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Monthly Data Report : October 2024 A summary of justice and safer communities statistics, released today: Median journey times decreased for all court types in 2023-24 when compared to 2022-23 with the exception of sheriff solemn. There were falls of 4% for high court (from 1,076 to 1,032 days), 18% for sheriff summary (from 306 to 252 days) and 6% for justice of the peace (JP) (from 303 to 286 days). Sheriff solemn journey times increased by 7% (from 529 to 564 days). Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/safer-communities-justice-statistics-monthly-data-report-october-2024-summary-justice-safer-communities-statistics/pages/7/ Support Scots Independent, Scotland’s oldest pro-independence newspaper … Continue reading Scotland’s law courts speeding up

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Latest research suggests Scots feel safer as assaults leading to hospital admission and fire-raising, plummet in last 17 years

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By Professor John Robertson OBA Many of us, understandably are skeptical about the picture of falling crime painted by statistics based on police recording. Correctly, we point to the fact that much crime is known to be unreported and unrecorded. However, the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS), carried out by independent University-based researchers interviews around 5 000 Scots asking them to speak of ‘their experiences of, and attitudes to, a range of issues related to crime, policing and the justice system, including crime not reported to the police.‘ This is gold standard research and can be trusted to reveal the world as … Continue reading Latest research suggests Scots feel safer as assaults leading to hospital admission and fire-raising, plummet in last 17 years

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Latest survey update of how Scots actually experience crime levels confirms huge falls including in violent crime and improved clear-up rates in last 17 years to lowest levels in the UK

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By Professor John Robertson OBA Many of us, understandably are skeptical about the picture of falling crime painted by statistics based on police recording. Correctly, we point to the fact that much crime is known to be unreported and unrecorded. However, the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS), carried out by independent University-based researchers interviews around 5 000 Scots asking them to speak of ‘their experiences of, and attitudes to, a range of issues related to crime, policing and the justice system, including crime not reported to the police.‘ This is gold standard research and can be trusted to reveal the world as … Continue reading Latest survey update of how Scots actually experience crime levels confirms huge falls including in violent crime and improved clear-up rates in last 17 years to lowest levels in the UK

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Level of TB in England TWICE as high as that in Scotland

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Announced minutes ago (10am), Public Health Scotland data indicated that there were 283 cases of Tuberculosis in Scotland in 2023.1 All things being equal, we might expect the figure for England would be 2 830 but it was 4 8502 approaching twice as many. This reminds of the far higher measles outbreak rates in England and the far higher violent crime rates. Yes, I know, ferries and drug deaths. Sources: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/national-quarterly-report-of-tuberculosis-in-scotland/national-quarterly-report-of-tuberculosis-in-scotland-quarter-3-2024/ https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tuberculosis-in-england-national-quarterly-reports/national-quarterly-report-of-tuberculosis-in-england-quarter-4-2023-provisional-data#:~:text=2023%2Dprovisional%2Ddata-,Main%20points,after%20remaining%20stable%20since%202017 Continue reading Level of TB in England TWICE as high as that in Scotland

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Herald mentions ‘County Lines’ drug gangs for first time in nearly 6 years, avoids saying ‘from England’ and leaves direction of flow unclear

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The Herald yesterday, to everyone here’s surprise, has the above image and Pair jailed in ‘County Lines’ drug operation in Aberdeen – Two men have been jailed after being caught with £10,000 worth of drugs in Aberdeen. Jahvid Frith, 28, and Tyrone Sealey were arrested in February 2023 when police recovered cocaine, heroin and cannabis from a flat in Marischal Court, as well as £2,000 in cash, multiple mobile phones and other items used to co-ordinate drug supply. This is their first time since, in January 2019: Whatever happened to Tony Diver? You’d have thought this narrative with 11 year-old drug … Continue reading Herald mentions ‘County Lines’ drug gangs for first time in nearly 6 years, avoids saying ‘from England’ and leaves direction of flow unclear

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Scotland’s police officers ‘undervalued’ yet paid on average 15%, £6 000 pa more than in rest of UK for less crime with far more staff

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BBC Scotland is today reporting: Police officers in Scotland will withdraw goodwill in protest at a pay offer they said shows “contempt” for their work. Police officers feel totally undervalued by the service, and that has been apparent from the surveys that have taken place in the last six months from both Police Scotland and the SPF The BBC Scotland report does not, of course, compare average or starting salaries across the UK. From indeed, the Scottish average is £40 926 and the English average is £34 807 making the average Scottish police officer £6 000, 15%, better off.1, 2 … Continue reading Scotland’s police officers ‘undervalued’ yet paid on average 15%, £6 000 pa more than in rest of UK for less crime with far more staff

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Privatised Greek ferries described as ‘like being on a cross between the back of a floating lorry and a building site’ as another runs aground only three years after another sank with 530 onboard and one year after late arrival was pushed off to his death

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From Tornos News yesterday: The passenger ferry “Aghia Theodora,” which ran aground earlier on Tuesday in waters about four nautical miles northwest of the port of Igoumenitsa was pulled free with the assistance of tugboats and has arrived safely at Igoumenitsa port, ANA reports.1 Only three years before, the MV Express Samina inter-island ferry sank with 530 on board In September 2023, highlighting ‘fears about the safety of some of the ageing vessels that ply Aegean waters.‘2 One year ago: A video that went viral showed 36-year-old Antonis Kargiotis running on to the loading ramp of the ferry in Athens … Continue reading Privatised Greek ferries described as ‘like being on a cross between the back of a floating lorry and a building site’ as another runs aground only three years after another sank with 530 onboard and one year after late arrival was pushed off to his death

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Another ‘Union Jack’ chosen by Labour to serve you on the Scottish Affairs committee

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By stewartb Speaking of Tories …. With the membership of the Scottish Affairs Committee in the House of Commons now announced (albeit one vacant place still to be formally allocated), it’s worth a moment getting to know better one member, namely Jack Rankin MP. For contest, recall the remit of this Committee: ‘The Scottish Affairs Committee scrutinises the expenditure, administration and policies of the Scotland Office, and its associated bodies. ‘The Committee also examines the wider UK Government, to assess policies and legislation that lead to direct impacts on Scotland.’ Given this, it’s relevant firstly to note that Mr Rankin is … Continue reading Another ‘Union Jack’ chosen by Labour to serve you on the Scottish Affairs committee

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Since SNP came to power, homicide down by more than half, plummeting among young men by more than three quarters and among young women by nearly four fifths

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By Professor John Robertson OBA From the Scottish Government’s Homicide in Scotland 2023-24 Statistical bulletin on crimes of homicide recorded by the police in Scotland in 2023-24, released yesterday, the above graph and: The number of homicide victims has shown a downward trend since 2004-05. In 2023-24, there were 57 victims of homicide, five more than in 2022-23. Despite this increase, the number of homicide victims in 2023-24 was the third lowest since comparable records began in 1976 (and lower than all years from that point to 2020-21 inclusive). In 2023-24, there were 44 male victims, representing 77% of all homicide victims. … Continue reading Since SNP came to power, homicide down by more than half, plummeting among young men by more than three quarters and among young women by nearly four fifths

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Labour deceit – England may be but Scotland is not, ‘one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world’

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By Professor John Robertson OBA In the Guardian today: Budget cuts mean farmers in England ‘must do more with less’ UK [sic] ‘among most nature-depleted countries in the world’ warns environment secretary’. Farmers and conservationists will have to “learn to do more with less” ahead of expected deep budget cuts to the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the environment secretary has said. Steve Reed said that Labour would continue to prioritise the restoration of the nature in England, but acknowledged that the chancellor’s budget would be “difficult”. Typically conflating the UK and England, the claim, for Scotland, is wrong. … Continue reading Labour deceit – England may be but Scotland is not, ‘one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world’