Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2014-15

Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2014-15

This bulletin presents statistics on crimes and offences recorded and cleared up by the police in 2014-15. Statistics on crimes and offences recorded by the police provide a measure of the volume of criminal activity with which the police are faced. Crimes recorded by the police do not reveal the incidence of all crime committed since not all crimes are reported to the police. Clear up rates measure the percentage of recorded crimes that have been cleared up. For a definition of crimes recorded and clear up rates, refer to Annex 1.

Key Points from Recorded Crime in Scotland

Between 2013-14 and 2014-15:

Crimes recorded by the police in Scotland decreased by 5% from 270,397 to 256,350. This is the lowest level of recorded crime since 1974.

• Non-sexual crimes of violence decreased by 6% from 6,785 to 6,357. These crimes have been on a downwards trend since 2002-03, following a long period of increase.
• Sexual crimes increased by 11% from 8,604 to 9,557. The recording of these crimes is at the highest level seen since 1971, the first year for which comparable crime groups are available.
• Crimes of dishonesty decreased by 8% from 137,324 to 126,857. These crimes have been on a downwards trend since they peaked in 1991.
• Fire-raising, vandalism etc. decreased by 4% from 54,418 to 52,091. These crimes have been decreasing sharply since they peaked in 2006-07.
• Other crimes decreased by 3% from 63,266 to 61,488. This decrease has largely been driven by a decrease of 11% in Crimes against public justice.

The clear up rate for all recorded crimes decreased by 1.1 percentage points from 51.5% to 50.4%.

Offences recorded by the police in Scotland decreased by 24% from 501,281 to 379,498.

• Miscellaneous offences decreased by 11% from 207,190 to 183,513.
• Motor vehicle offences decreased by 33% from 294,091 to 195,985.