A NATIONAL rise in spiking has been linked to the reason why there has been an increase in some types of crimes of violence by 89% in Scotland.
Drugging increased from just two to 119 recorded crimes in October compared to the same period last year.
Official Statistics on crimes and offences recorded by the police in Scotland for October 2021, has indicated that violence, excluding attempted murder and serious assault, have increased by 89% compared to October 2020 and 108% compared to October 2019.
"The increase in Other violence between October 2020 and October 2021 was due to rises in Drugging (from 2 to 119 crimes) and Threats and extortion (from 82 to 147 crimes)," the report states.
"The rise in Drugging is likely due to cases of "spiking", whereas the recently published National Statistics bulletin estimated that more than three-quarters (77%) of Threats and extortion recorded in 2020-21 were cyber-crimes."
READ MORE: Stuart Waiton: Are we really in the midst of a nightclub drug-spiking epidemic?
Overall, non-sexual crimes of violence were 21% higher compared to October 2020 and 11% higher compared to October 2019. Within this, Attempted murder and serious assault decreased by 1% compared to the previous year and decreased by 18% from 2019.
Police said they were investigating a "number of reports" across the country of spiking by injection several weeks ago.
There was an increase in emphasis comes just a week after they announced investigations into a "small number" of alleged incidents in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen.
READ MORE: Find out if crime rates have increased or decreased in your local area
Speaking at the time, Assistant Chief Constable Judi Heaton, Police Scotland, said: "We continue to investigate a number of reports across the country from people who report having been 'spiked' either with a needle or in their drink.
"We are also aware of posts referring to spiking incidents circulating on social media.
"Our enquiries are ongoing and at this time we do not believe that these reports are linked."
Across Scotland last month the police recorded a total of 19,708 crimes -1% lower than in the same month of 2020 8% lower than 2019. With the exception of non-sexual crimes of violence and sexual crimes, all other crimes were lower than pre-pandemic levels.
There has been a higher rate of sexual crimes this year with figures 12% higher for the month compared to 2020, increasing from 1,093 to 1,221 crimes, and it's still 8% higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
Communicating indecently, coercing a person into being present/looking at sexual activity, disclosure of intimate images and voyeurism, have all been linked to why there has been a rise, and are they are likely to be cyber-crimes, according to the recent 2020-21 Recorded Crime National Statistics
Sexual assault has jumped by 29% in the last year from 336 to 434 crimes, but remained almost unchanged compared to October 2019, decreasing from 435 to 434 crimes. While rape and attempted rape decreased by 4% in a year.
Crimes of Fraud have also seen a huge jump throughout the pandemic. While there was only a 5% increase since October 2020, it's a whopping 71% increase since October 2019.
However, a procedural change was made in April 2020 to how some crimes of fraud are recorded. This has had an impact when comparing figures.
Cases involving domestic abuse slightly decreased by 1% in October compared to the previous year and were 13% lower than 2019.
There have been minimal rises in crimes of dishonesty (3%) higher, fire-raising and vandalism (2%).
Other crimes were 13% lower than in October 2020, decreasing from 5,784 to 5,059 crimes. The Scottish Government states the main contributors to these decreases were drugs and crimes against public justice.
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