Violent and sexual offences, theft, fire raising and vandalism were down 13% overall at the end of December when compared with the same period the previous year.

That equates to 2008 fewer crimes in those categories which cover the most serious offences — including murder, robbery, rape, housebreaking and fraud.

Acting Chief Constable Justine Curran, in a report to be presented to the joint police board on Monday, says violent crimes fell by 19%, representing 100 fewer victims, and had a detection rate of 86%, 4% higher than the previous year.

Referring to the reduction in violent crimes, she said, “This is particularly notable as in previous years December had shown a significant rise in violent crime.”

Success in that area was attributed to “proactive policing initiatives” under the Operation Cougar banner.

Robberies were down 37%, or 56 fewer victims, and had a 68% detection rate, which was described as “considerably higher than the force best ever performance”.

Racially-motivated crimes were down 12%, or 32 fewer victims, and detection rates remain high at 78%.

The force has also made inroads where anti-social behaviour and its associated crimes are concerned. “Very significant reductions” in vandalism have been recorded over the last few years, and the report noted a further 10% reduction, representing 488 fewer victims of vandalism. The detection rate of 33% is above the previous best ever performance.

Motor vehicle crimes were also down, and traffic-related deaths in the region fell from 31 to 21.

The overall detection rate for the serious crime categories is currently running at 47%.

One blip in the overall downward trend, however, was in homophobic crimes.

Those increased from nine to 15, but ACC Curran said this may be due to greater confidence in reporting as opposed to a significant increase in their number.

The detection rate in this category has risen from 56% to 73%.

STRING OF ASSAULTS ON ELDERLY

Tayside Police has stressed in the past that violent attacks are “exceptional” and there is no need for the public to feel unsafe when going about their business.

Attacks by strangers have been described as “very rare”.

However, a string of assaults on elderly people in the latter half of last year caused concern across the city, particularly one committed on an 81-year-old woman.

Nan Davidson was the victim of a brutal mugging as she walked along Craigie Street on November 25.

The attack left her with a broken hip and a broken left arm, which required days of painful hospital treatment.

The willingness of some attackers to target the most vulnerable in society had been shown just a few days prior to Nan’s incident, when an 80-year-old man was assaulted on the doorstep of his Downfield home after he had answered the door.

The unprovoked attack by a balaclava-wearing thug left him needing treatment for a cut hand and shock.

In October, a 77-year-old woman was viciously shoved to the ground and robbed in St Mary Place.

She was so traumatised by the event that she no longer goes out on her own.

However, violent attacks have not been confined to the elderly.

A 51-year-old man suffered severe head injuries in an attack in Whitfield in July and, just weeks before, a 25-year-old man suffered serious leg and chest injuries following a brutal assault in Perth town centre.