Recorded Crime in Scotland 2015-16
A National Statistics Publication for Scotland.
Scotland’s Chief Statistician today released Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2015-16.
The main findings include:
The number of crimes recorded by the police in Scotland decreased by 4 per cent, from 256,350 in 2014-15 to 246,243 in 2015-16. Recorded crime is at its lowest level since 1974.
The number of Non-sexual crimes of violence recorded by the police increased by 7 per cent from 6,357 in 2014-15 to 6,775 in 2015-16. The recording of these crimes is at the second lowest level seen since 1974.
Sexual crimes have increased by 7 per cent from 9,557 in 2014-15 to 10,273 in 2015-16. The recording of these crimes has been on an upward trend since 2008-09.
Crimes of dishonesty (for example theft, shoplifting and housebreaking) decreased by 9 per cent from 126,857 in 2014-15 to 115,789 in 2015-16. The number of Crimes of dishonesty peaked in 1991 and has been on a downward trend ever since.
Recorded crimes of Fire-raising, vandalism etc. increased by 4 per cent from 52,091 in 2014-15 to 54,226 in 2015-16. These crimes are at their second lowest level since they peaked in 2006-07.
Other recorded crimes, including Drugs crimes and Crimes against public justice, decreased by 4 per cent between 2014-15 and 2015-16, from 61,488 to 59,180.
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 2015-16.
The clear up rate for all recorded crimes increased by 1.2 percentage points, to 51.6%. The clear up rate has followed a generally upward trend over the ten year period from 2006-07 to 2015-16.
The full statistical publication can be accessed here.
Contraventions of Scottish criminal law are divided for statistical purposes into crimes and offences. ‘Crime’ is generally used for the more serious criminal acts; the less serious termed ‘offences’, although the term ‘offence’ may also be used in relation to serious breaches of criminal law. The distinction is made only for working purposes and the ‘seriousness’ of the offence is generally related to the maximum sentence that can be imposed.
Further information on Crime and Justice statistics within Scotland can be accessed here.
National and Official Statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical staff – more information on the standards of Official Statistics in Scotland can be accessed here.
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