Scotland tops list of world’s most violent developed countries

The United Nations reports that Scotland is the most violent country in the developed world. Furthermore, England and Wales recorded the second highest number of violent assaults, while Northern Ireland had the fewest.

The study was based on a telephone survey of crime victims, which revealed:

More than 2,000 Scots were attacked every week, almost 10 times what police figures show.

Violent crime has doubled over the past 20 years, and per capita levels now rival cities like Rio de Janeiro, Johannesburg and Tbilisi.

Crimes involving knives have killed over 160 people in the past five years; since January alone, knives have been involved in 13 murders, 145 attempted murders and 1,100 serious assaults.

In general, 3 per cent of Scots reported being victims of violent crime, compared to 2.8 per cent in England and Whales, 1.2 per cent in America and .1 per cent in Japan.

Detective Chief Superintendent John Carnochan of the Strathclyde Police recommends restricting access to knives and alcohol to reduce the problem.

Source: Katrina Tweedie, Scotland Tops List of World's Most Violent Countries, TimesOnline, September 19, 2005.

For text: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1786945,00.html

For more on International: http://www.ncpa.org/pi/internat/intdex1.html

FMF Policy Bulletin/ 11 October 2005