The future of recorded crime and police activity statistics: consultation

Introduction

1. Scottish Government statisticians currently publish two bulletins on crimes and offences recorded by the police in Scotland. This includes an annual release of National Statistics, and a much shorter monthly release of Official Statistics. The latest National Statistics, covering 2020-21, were published on the 28th September.^[1] The latest Official Statistics, covering August 2021, were published on the 23rd September.^[2]

2. This consultation asks users a series of questions on the production and dissemination of Scotland's recorded crime statistics, for which we would like to invite feedback. Questions are also asked on the possible development of new analysis on other types of policing activity. The responses we receive will then help inform our long term strategy for the delivery of crime and policing statistics.

3. Regular consultation with users is a key requirement of the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.^[3] It helps ensure Scotland's recorded crime statistics are of high value, through their relevance to those who use them, and their capacity to support understanding of the important issues relating to crime in Scotland (alongside other complementary sources of Official statistics and research).

4. The consultation is split into four sections:

• Part One presents a follow-up discussion to an earlier consultation in 2019, which asked respondents to consider an alternative way to group and present statistics on recorded crime. The Scottish Crime Recording Board (henceforth referred to as the Crime Board) have since reviewed responses and would like to invite final feedback on a proposed new set of Crime Groups, prior to any changes being implemented in 2022.
• Part Two gives users an opportunity to offer their views on the best way to disseminate recorded crime statistics (including for example questions on the frequency and content of our publications).
• Part Three invites users to consider and provide feedback on the potential production of new statistics on other types of police activity, beyond just those on recorded crime.
• Part Four gives users the opportunity to provide any additional feedback to this consultation not discussed in any of the previous sections.

5. Following the closing date, responses will be reviewed along with any other available evidence, to help develop our plans for the production of these statistics. In addition to this, the Crime Board will consider a finalised set of groups for the presentation of crime statistics (as discussed in Part One). Once changes to the crime groups have been implemented, a revised set of times series data will also be published.

6. The Scottish Government's Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS) is another signature product on crime in Scotland and provides complementary measures of crime and victimisation. Whilst this consultation focuses on crimes and activity recorded by the police, users may also have an interest in a concurrently running consultation on the future of the survey, prior to its re-procurement. This opened on the 23rd September, with more details on the Citizen Space webpage: Scottish Crime and Justice Survey - Scottish Government - Citizen Space (consult.gov.scot).