Police officers among those assaulted as crime rises in East Lothian by 20%

Almost 60 violent assaults on police officers have taken place in East Lothian over the last year, as violent crime rose by nearly 20%.

Police Scotland said there were 907 acts of violence in the county between April 2021 and March this year, including two murders.

In a report to East Lothian Licensing Board, it was revealed that out of 852 common assaults reported during the year 59 victims were police officers.

Nearly half of all violent incidents in East Lothian happened in people’s homes with only 21 incidents reported in licensed premises.

Haddington saw the biggest rise in violent crimes in East Lothian’s towns with a 53.6% increase from 84 incidents to 129.

The county’s biggest town Musselburgh recorded 308 incidents – up 38% from 223 the previous year.

Violent incidents fell in North Berwick by nearly 30% to 36 incidents while Prestonpans saw a short fall of 2.6% with 149 incidents.

In Dunbar violence rose by 10% to 88 incidents and Tranent saw a rise of 12.6% to 197. More than 200 recorded incidents across the county were marked as alcohol-related

In his report, which was presented to the board for noting, Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said: “Preventing alcohol fuelled violence, disorder and antisocial behaviour remains a priority for Police Scotland and I believe that working together we can reduce this through early intervention and enforcement.”