Recorded crime in Scotland: 2016-2017

Key Points from Recorded Crime in Scotland

This bulletin presents National Statistics on crimes and offences recorded by the police in 2016-17. 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. For a definition of crimes recorded, refer to Annex 1.

Between 2015-16 and 2016-17:

Crimes recorded by the police in Scotland decreased by 3% from 246,243 to 238,651. This is the lowest level of recorded crime since 1974.

• Non-sexual crimes of violence increased by 6% from 6,737 to 7,164. The recording of these crimes remains at one of the lowest levels seen since 1974.
• Sexual crimes increased by 5% from 10,273 to 10,822. 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 2% from 115,789 to 113,205. These crimes have been on a downward trend since they peaked in 1991.
• Fire-raising, vandalism etc. decreased by 3% from 54,226 to 52,514. These crimes are at their second lowest level since they peaked in 2006-07.
• Other crimes decreased by 7% from 59,218 to 54,946. These crimes have been on a generally downward trend since they peaked in 2006-07.

Offences recorded by the police in Scotland decreased by 15% from 339,193 to 288,961.

• Miscellaneous offences decreased by 11% from 168,896 to 150,793.
• Motor vehicle offences decreased by 19% from 170,297 to 138,168.

Official Statistics on Clear up rates

In addition to the National Statistics on police recorded crimes and offences, this bulletin also presents Official Statistics on crimes and offences cleared up by the police in 2016-17.

Clear up rates measure the percentage of recorded crimes that have been cleared up. For further information on the statistical designation of this data and a definition of clear up rates, please refer to Chapter 4.

The clear up rate for all recorded crimes decreased by 1.6 percentage points from 51.6% to 50.0%.