SCOTLAND is the most violent country in the developed world, according to a United Nations report.

Excluding murder, Scots are almost three times more likely to be victims of assault than Americans. England and Wales have proportionately the second highest number of assaults.

Many experts believe Britain’s heavy-drinking culture is to blame for the frequency with which fights break out.

The study, based on phone interviews with victims of crime in 21 countries, found that more than 2,000 Scots are attacked every week — almost 10 times police figures. The crimes covered by the study include assaults, but exclude street muggings, sexual violence and murder.

Violent crime has doubled in Scotland over the past 20 years to a level comparable with crime-ridden cities such as Rio de Janeiro.

The attacks have been fuelled by a “booze and blades” culture in the west of Scotland, with the worst offenders being males aged between 15 and 25. The region is home to the “Glasgow kiss”, in which someone appears to be about to kiss someone but instead headbutts them.

Since January there have been 145 attempted murders and 1,100 serious assaults with knives. But although there have been more than 160 murders involving knives over the past five years, Scotland is still far from the worst for killings.

David Ritchie, an accident and emergency consultant at Glasgow’s Victoria Infirmary, said the UN figures were a “national disgrace”. He said: “There is a culture of violence in this country — you can buy a crossbow in the city centre, a knife with a 12in blade, a machete. What message does that send out?” A recent audit of Glasgow hospitals’ accident and emergency departments showed that only half of stabbings were reported to police.

Senior police have little doubt that alcohol-related thuggery is the main factor in violence on British streets.

Chris Allison, lead officer on licensing at the Association of Chief Police Officers and a commander in the Metropolitan police, has said that drunkenness is “all we are ever dealing with.”

Allison added this weekend: “The link between alcohol and crime and disorder is well documented. Figures from the 2000 British crime survey suggest 40% of violent crime was committed by someone under the influence of alcohol. It is therefore vital for the government to take action to change the current culture of excessive drinking.”

According to the UN study, 3% of Scots had been victims of assault. The second highest figure was recorded in England and Wales at 2.8%, compared with 2% in America and 0.1% in Japan.

“Our survey is more accurate than the official figures because there is a huge proportion of crimes that go unreported,” said Jan Van Dijk, head of analysis at the UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute.

“We have seen a trend in Scotland and the proportion has almost doubled since 1989 and risen from 1.9% in 1996. This is very significant and is a clear upward trend.”

Recent victims include a 14-year-old schoolboy from Glasgow who lost an eye after he was hit in the face with a bottle during an unprovoked attack, and a 17-year-old girl from Edinburgh who was left unconscious after being punched, kicked and stamped on by a gang of girls.

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