Homicides in Glasgow halved in last ten years - but it's still the most likely place in Scotland to be murdered

The number of murder and manslaughter cases in Scotland now stands at a record low

(Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

The number of homicide cases in Glasgow has halved over the last decade but the city is still the most likely place in Scotland for murder or manslaughter to be committed, official statistics have revealed.

Fourteen homicide cases were recorded in Scotland’s largest city in 2014/15, according to annual statistics published by the country’s Chief Statistician, a fall of 56 per cent when compared to the 2005/06 figure of 32.

Overall, the number of murder and manslaughter cases in Scotland now stands at a record low, with 59 killings being reported to police last year. This is the lowest annual total since current records began in 1976, the Scottish Government said.

More than two thirds of last year’s homicides took place in residential locations, the statistics showed, with men accounting for the vast majority of both victims and accused. Men were most likely to be killed by a friend or acquaintance, while for women a partner or ex-partner were most commonly responsible.

Karyn McCluskey, the director of Scotland’s Violence Reduction Unit, which was set up ten years ago to tackle violence in Glasgow, said the city was shedding its previous “addiction to violence”. She added: “A decade on, Glasgow and Scotland are changing. We are a safer country thanks to communities pulling together. But we cannot be complacent.”

Police Scotland welcomed the figures, but said “one victim is one too many”. Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham added: “Homicide rates are now at their lowest since recording began which means fewer victims, fewer families who have lost a loved one and fewer communities affected by this most serious of crimes.”