37
Statistics One category that continues to rise is that of racially aggravated harassment/conduct. Increased reporting of such offences is a positive step and may reflect an increased confidence in reporting and investigation procedures by victims of these hideous crimes. Of the 289 offences reported there was an 84.8% detection rate and this is an area in which Tayside Police strive to achieve continual improvement.
Table 7 Classification of Crimes and Offences Group 7– Offences Relating to Motor Vehicles
CENTRAL
CENTRAL
EASTERN
EASTERN
WESTERN
WESTERN
FORCE
FORCE
Cases Made Known
Cases with Persons Traced
Cases Made Known
Cases with Persons Traced
Cases Made Known
Cases with Persons Traced
Cases Made Known
Cases with Persons Traced
Apr 02- Apr 03- Apr 02- Apr 03- Apr 02- Apr 03- Apr 02- Apr 03- Apr 02- Apr 03- Apr 02- Apr 03- Apr 02- Apr 03- Apr 02- Apr 03Mar 03 Mar 04 Mar 03 Mar 04 Mar 03 Mar 04 Mar 03 Mar 04 Mar 03 Mar 04 Mar 03 Mar 04 Mar 03 Mar 04 Mar 03 Mar 04
Dangerous and Careless Driving
350
332
349
330
340
366
340
366
314
395
314
395
1,004
1,093
1,003
Road Traffic Act 1988, Section 4
71
57
71
57
16
23
16
23
23
16
23
16
110
96
110
1,091 96
Road Traffic Act 1988, Section 5
293
334
293
334
177
210
177
210
250
247
250
247
720
791
720
791
*Vehicle Excise Act Offences
1,139
1135
1,139
1,135
271
359
271
359
487
489
485
488
1,897
1,983
1,895
1,982
*Speeding in Built-up Areas
1,437
3439
1,437
3,439
1,471
857
1,471
857
1,368
1,031
1,368
1,031
4,276
5,327
4,276
5,327
*Speeding outwith Built-up Areas
144
266
144
266
3,046
4,808
3,046
4,808
5,525
12,395
5,525
12,395
8,715
17,469
8,715
17,469
Other Motor Vehicle Offences
6,584
7812
6,582
7,808
3,293
3,849
3,293
3,849
4,974
5,765
4,974
5,765
14,851 17,426 14,849 17,422
Table 7
10,018 13,375 10,015 13,369
8,614
10,472
8,614
10,472 12,941 20,338 12,939 20,337 31,573 44,185 31,568 44,178
*Including Conditional Offers
There was a significant increase in the number of reported offences over the previous year of some 40%. However, it must be noted that this arose primarily as a result of the major increase in the number of persons detected speeding both in and outwith built up areas. The increase of 9,805 offences to 22,796 from the previous year’s total of 12,991 was an increase of 75.5%. A major factor in the increase was due to the work undertaken by the Tayside Safety Camera Parnership. This road safety initiative was launched on 17 July 2004 and invoved Angus, Dundee City and Perth and Kinross Councils, the Scottish Executive and Tayside Police working together. The Partnership was set up to inform drivers and riders of the dangers of excessive speeds with the aim of reducing casualties on our roads. The Partnership operates with a combination of fixed site and mobile safety cameras deployed to locations/routes where there is an history of personal injury collisions and where speed surveys indicate that vehicles are being driven or ridden at excessive speeds. The Partnership publicises the locations where auto detection work is being in carried out, in advance. Regrettably, it is apparent that a considerable number of motorist are choosing to ignore the road safety message and are continuing to drive in excess of the relevant speed limits. Tayside Safety Camera Partnership supported by Tayside Fire Brigade, The Scottish Ambulance Service and National Health Service Tayside will continue to promote the aims of the Scheme in the forthcoming year by encouraging drivers and riders to observe speed limits and alter driving behaviour with a view to influencing the number of persons injured on our roads. It is encouraging to note that there has been a slight reduction in the number of persons reported for driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs (Section 4 offences). However, it is disappointing that there has been an overall increase of approximately 9.9% in the number of persons detected driving over the prescribed limit (Section 5 offences). National and local campaigns continue to warn motorists of the dangers of drink/drugs driving. However, it remains apparent that there continues to be a minority of people who make the conscious decision to drive in such circumstances placing themselves and all other innocent road users in considerable danger. These persons have no place on our roads and Tayside Police will continue to use all forms of intelligence to target those involved in this totally unacceptable behaviour.
ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT 2004
The results in this table continue to reflect the proactive and intelligence led approach adopted by Tayside Police in targeting the main contributory factors involved in injury collisions.