The number of homicides in Scotland dropped last year, but the number of deaths caused from stabbing increased.
Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill today welcomed the slight drop but vowed to tackle "knife culture".
The figures released today by Scotland's chief statistician present the latest figures on the number of homicides, comprising murder and culpable homicide, recorded by Scottish police forces in 2007/08.
They showed that there were 114 victims of homicide recorded, compared with 119 in 2006-07.
The homicide rate for males - 36 victims per million population - was four times the rate for females at 9 victims per million population.
Almost half of the killings were carried out with a sharp instrument - 55 cases (48%), up slightly from 54 (45%) last year.
Mr MacAskill today said the most recent recorded crime figures published in September also show recorded crime at its lowest for 25 years.
"However we are not complacent and the latest homicide stats serve as a stark reminder that there are still far too many people using knives and that many are doing so while under the influence of drink or drugs," he said.
"This deadly cocktail can so often lead to tragic consequences and that is why this Government is determined to tackle the country's knife culture.
"We welcome the slight reduction in deaths. However, one death is one too many.
"That is why we need to continue to challenge and change the bevvy and blades culture."
The figures also show that 45% of the 148 accused in homicide cases were reported to have been drunk or on other drugs at the time of the incident.
And of the 111 victims where an accused has been identified, 80% were killed by someone known to them.
More than half (58%) of the homicides took place in the Strathclyde Police area, although the actual number, 66, was 10 fewer than the previous year.
The number of homicides in Glasgow was 30 compared with 11 in Edinburgh.
The Government is working with the police violence reduction unit on tougher enforcement and changing attitudes to knife carrying.
Ministers last week announced £1.6 million for the Community Initiative To Reduce Violence, which brings together police, local authority, education and health professionals to try to reduce violence among gangs in the east end of Glasgow.
Tory justice spokesman Bill Aitken said that while there had been a slight fall in the number of victims, the increase since 2005-06 was a "shocking" 21%.
"Quite simply it is a damning indictment of a complete failure to get a grip on justice issues since devolution," said Mr Aitken.
"I hope this sends a clear message to the SNP Government - emptying our prisons and turning early release into even earlier release is not going to make things better.
"We need more police officers, a faster court system, tighter bail laws and an end to the ridiculous, discredited system of automatic early release."
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