THE number of violent crimes in Fife has increased – but we’re safer than before according to Police Scotland. 

Figures from April to September showed a rise in attempted murders, serious assaults and robberies, although there was a big drop in common assaults. 

Compared to the same six-month period last year, violent offences climbed from 184 to 209 but a police report said that Fifers are now “less likely to be the victim of violent crime”. 

It was presented to Fife Council last week and stated: “A change to Scottish Crime Recording Standards means that some injuries previously recorded as common assaults are now dealt with as serious assaults. 

“This has caused a shift in recorded crime, with serious assaults (up by 12 crimes to 127) and attempted murder (up by seven to 17) increasing compared to the previous year. 

“Conversely and positively, the number of common assaults have fallen (by 77 offences to 2,278), meaning members of our communities are less likely to be the victim of violent crime.”

There were three murders in the six-month period in Fife, down from four the previous year, while robberies were up from 21 to 23. Councillors were also told of an increase in the number of sex offences, from 434 to 453. 

The sex crime and rape detection rates both dropped by around five per cent to 75.1 per cent and 67.2 per cent respectively. 

“Historical sexual assaults” increased by 11 while the number of reported rapes went up by 29 and there were 20 more lewd, libidinous and indecent offences. 

The detection rate fell due to the “increased historical nature” of some of the offences and there was a “large number of cases ongoing due to the complex nature of these enquiries”. 

Domestic abuse incidents reported to the police increased from 2,033 to 2,238, although the number of crimes and offences that arose from those incidents was 1,681. In the same period in 2015, that figure was higher, at 1,842. 

There was “noteworthy success” with a big drop, from 3,406 to 3,027 offences, in thefts from houses, shops and of cars. Vandalism, fireraising and malicious mischief offences fell by three to 1,419.  

Overall, crimes dropped from 5,446 offences in April to September 2015 to 5,108 in the same period this year. 

Chief superintendent Colin Gall said: “This drop in crime is very welcome at the start of the busy festive period, and my officers and our partners will all be continuing their hard work to keep everyone safe this winter.