Homicide rates across Scotland have reached a 30 year low with rates in Glasgow the lowest for 35 years and homicides using a knife also falling.

The figures show the number of homicides across Scotland at their lowest since 1979 and in Glasgow the number of homicides is the lowest since 1975/6.

SNP MSP for Glasgow Bill Kidd said:"There is clear evidence that Scotland's streets are getting safer with the lowest crime rates in 30 years, a significant fall in the use of knives and new figures showing the lowest number of homicides in 30 years.

"In my own area of Glasgow these are the lowest number of homicides since 1975 and the lowest since the 1990s across Strathclyde.  That is a step forward but we must not be complacent.

"We must continue with our efforts to make Scotland safer and to challenge the booze and blade culture that leads to so many crimes.

"The last three years have seen crime levels in Scotland turn a corner as we make our society safer by giving police the freedom and the resources to do what works to get knives off our streets and take on the criminal culture in our communities.

"With the SNP's commitment to maintain 1000 additional police on our streets, to tackle the booze and blade culture and the efforts going into addressing domestic violence we can all work together to make Scotland safer."