Is Scotland a violent country??

[Earlybird]

From the Times Online:

A UNITED Nations report has labelled Scotland the most violent country in the developed world, with people three times more likely to be assaulted than in America.
England and Wales recorded the second highest number of violent assaults while Northern Ireland recorded the fewest.

The study, based on telephone interviews with victims of crime in 21 countries, found that more than 2,000 Scots were attacked every week, almost ten times the official police figures. They include non-sexual crimes of violence and serious assaults.

Violent crime has doubled in Scotland over the past 20 years and levels, per head of population, are now comparable with cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Johannesburg and Tbilisi.

The attacks have been fuelled by a ?booze and blades? culture in the west of Scotland which has claimed more than 160 lives over the past five years. Since January there have been 13 murders, 145 attempted murders and 1,100 serious assaults involving knives in the west of Scotland. The problem is made worse by sectarian violence, with hospitals reporting higher admissions following Old Firm matches.

Read the rest here:

www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1786945,00.html

Can this be right? Do those of you who live in Scotland feel anxious about violent crime?

He co-wrote a book called 'The Town under the Ground' that's a really nice synopsis of some of the history of Edinburgh. A good one for expats like me, and even for natives like DH, who learned a new thing or two about his own city.

I went to see Ian Rankin at the festival and he seemed fairly nice. There is a scene involving him in 44 Scotland St where he is relaxing in his hot tub... very funny

I feel sorry for Alan Wilsons kids though. That would be all kinds of sh*t.

Ian Rankin does a lot of stuff for Capability Scotland, weesadie. He did a murder mystery around town centre a couple of years ago that was a big success.

OMG! Alan Wilson had kids?! That's so awful for them! What a sad thing to happen.

Yep, he did, at least one but I think maybe two. Just terrible.

Aw, that's really saddening to hear.

Still, I think Scotland got a bad rap in this 'study'.

I mean, why not include rapes, murders, and the like?

Yeah, exactly. That is what I meant when I said statistics can be so skewed... you really have to read between the lines to get the full picture.

Message withdrawn

Absolutely, I won't have nightmares

I wouldn't go to Rio for all the tea in China. My dad took an assignment in Sao Paolo back in the 80s, and even he, travelling on a Mexican passport was so freaked he left after 8 months - he was supposed to stay a year. He wouldn't dare let us even visit.

My DH used to travel regularly to Sao Paolo, and had a bodyguard the whole time he was there

I can only imagine, soapbox. He said the place scared the beegeezus outta him and he lived in fear of his life.

I heard this on the news today. I totally agree wtih Nailpolish about the drinking. Scottish people do drink alot and nights out (having lived in the centre of a medium sized Scottish town, just opposite pubs/nightclubs) can quickly escalate into a brawl requiring Police/Ambulance etc, glad to have moved out a little bit.

Would imagine the worst places are Glasgow and Edinburgh, I would certainly be cautious in either place late at night, especially if on my own.

Glasgow is my all time favourite place ever, fantastic friendly people, gorgeous city, who cares if you've just increased your chances of being murdered when you visit?

Agree that the stats were squewed but the report said "in the developed world". Is Brazil in "the developed world"? I have a Mexican friend who always refers to Mexico as a third world country, which surprised me and wonder where this places Brazil?