The Evening Times Crime on Your Street series is currently reporting the most detailed breakdown and analysis of crime in Glasgow and Mr MacAskill told the SNP conference in Perth of headlines demonstrating lower crime and less fear of crime in the city.
He said in the last six years the number of under-16s carrying a knife in Strathclyde had fallen by 75%, and in the city, assaults involving a knife had fallen by one third since 2006 and a reduction of 41% in the number of people of all ages found with a knife.
He said: "There are many more such statistics and they tell a similar tale. Progress is being made. Good things are happening on the ground. There is still a considerable journey to go, but we can take comfort in the distance travelled to date."
Mr MacAskill also reassured police officers they will not have their terms and conditions attacked by the Scottish Government.
The Justice Secretary said the new Police Service of Scotland, under former Strathclyde Police Chief Constable, Stephen House, would be free of fears of political interference and privatisations as feared in England and Wales.
He said: "For those who serve, there will be no attack upon the terms and conditions under which they serve as is being proposed down there."
