Recorded Crime in Scotland, year ending December 2023

Scotland’s Chief Statistician today released Recorded Crime in Scotland, year ending December 2023.

The police in Scotland recorded 302,076 crimes in the year ending December 2023. This was 5% higher than the 287,678 crimes recorded in the year ending December 2022, but 2% lower than the 308,434 crimes recorded in the year ending December 2019.

It should be noted that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and associated measures to limit social contact, has had an impact on both the type and volume of crime recorded since March 2020. The largest impact was seen during years ending December 2020 and 2021, and to a lesser extent the year ending December 2022. The final legal restrictions were lifted in April 2022, meaning the most recent year (year ending December 2023) was not impacted by these restrictions.

The recording of crime for the year ending December 2023 remains at one of the lowest levels seen for a 12-month period since 1974.

In the year ending December 2023:

Non-sexual crimes of violence were 4% higher compared to the year ending December 2022 (increasing from 69,117 to 71,900 crimes), and 4% higher compared to the year ending December 2019 (increasing from 68,987 to 71,900 crimes).

Sexual crimes were 2% higher compared to the year ending December 2022 (increasing from 14,640 to 14,894 crimes), and 8% higher compared to the year ending December 2019 (increasing from 13,765 to 14,894 crimes).

Crimes of dishonesty were 11% higher compared to the year ending December 2022 (increasing from 100,754 to 111,682 crimes), and <1% higher compared to the year ending December 2019 (increasing from 111,392 to 111,682 crimes).

Damage and reckless behaviour was 4% lower compared to the year ending December 2022 (decreasing from 43,711 to 42,124 crimes), and 13% lower compared to the year ending December 2019 (decreasing from 48,469 to 42,124 crimes).

Crimes against society were 3% higher compared to the year ending December 2022 (increasing from 59,442 to 61,476 crimes), but 7% lower compared to the year ending December 2019 (decreasing from 65,821 to 61,476 crimes).

The number of offences recorded by the police in Scotland in the year ending December 2023 was 179,616. This is 4% higher than the 173,269 offences recorded in the year ending December 2022, but 6% lower than the 192,028 offences recorded in the year ending December 2019.

Background

1. The full statistical publication is available online.

2. For additional and more detailed commentary on the recording of crimes and offences, we recommend users refer to the 2022-23 (or year ending March 2023) Accredited Official Statistics bulletin. This includes time series analysis over the longer term (back to 1971), statistics on cyber-crimes and clear-up rates.

3. 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 statistical reporting purposes and the ‘seriousness’ of the offence is generally related to the maximum sentence that can be imposed.

4. Further information on Crime and Justice statistics within Scotland can be accessed at: Crime and justice statistics - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

5. Accredited Official and Official Statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical staff – more information on the standards of Official Statistics in Scotland can be accessed at: Statistics and research - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)