Third of Scots fear that crime is on the rise in their neighbourhoods

MORE than a third of Scots believe the crime rate has increased in their community, with widespread public fears that police officers do not have sufficient resources.

- By Ben Borland

In an opinion poll conducted by Survation, 13% of people in Scotland said crime has risen a lot in the past two years and a further 21% said it has gone up a little. Only 11% said they feel the rate has fallen.

At the same time, most Scots feel that police officers in their area do not have the necessary resources to prevent crime happening in the first place.

There was, however, more confidence in the force being able to solve crimes that have occurred.

Opposition parties warned of an “epidemic of serious violence” and called for measures to “restore confidence in our policing and justice system”.