Coronavirus (COVID-19): Justice Analytical Services data report- February 2022

Recorded Crime in Scotland

The recorded crime figures presented below exclude crimes recorded under the coronavirus legislation.

Note: Each set of columns shows from left to right, February 2020, 2021 and 2022

February 2022

The number of crimes recorded in February 2022 was 8% higher than in February 2021 but 9% lower than in February 2020. The number of offences was 14% higher compared to February 2021 but 9% lower than in February 2020.

Non-sexual crimes of violence were 18% (or 119 crimes) higher compared to February 2021, increasing from 653 to 772 crimes, and 11% higher compared to February 2020 (increasing from 694 crimes). Within this, Attempted murder and serious assault increased by 34% compared to February 2021 (from 194 to 259). Other violence increased by 29% compared to February 2021 (from 198 to 255) and also increased by 101% from February 2020 (from 127 to 255). The increase in Other violence between February 2020 and February 2022 was due to a rise in Threats and extortion, with the recently published National Statistics bulletin estimating that more than three-quarters (77%) of Threats and extortion recorded in 2020-21 were cyber-crimes. Crimes under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 increased by 7% compared to February 2021 (from 128 to 137 crimes) and were 8% higher than in February 2020 (decreasing from 127 to 137 crimes).

Sexual crimes were 25% (or 260 crimes) higher compared to February 2021, increasing from 1,020 to 1,280 crimes. This was also 14% higher than in February 2020 (increasing from 1,124 crimes). Sexual assault saw the largest percentage increase since February 2021, increasing by 35% (from 315 to 424). This was 1% higher compared to February 2020 (from 418 to 424). Rape and attempted rape increased by 29% compared to February 2021, from 163 to 211 crimes, and increased by 13% compared to February 2020 (from 186 to 211 crimes).

Crimes of dishonesty were 17% (or 1,109 crimes) higher compared to February 2021, increasing from 6,405 to 7,514 crimes. This was 15% lower than in February 2020 (decreasing from 8,843 crimes). Crimes of Fraud have increased throughout the pandemic. Despite a 4% decrease compared to February 2021 (from 1,592 to 1,536 crimes), there was a 40% increase since February 2020 (from 1,099 to 1,536). The Changes in levels of recorded fraud section in the monthly crime publication provides users with further background on what may be contributing to this change. Shoplifting was the biggest contributor (by volume) to the increase since 2021 having risen by 47% compared to February 2021 (from 1,299 to 1,915 crimes), but was 24% lower when compared to February 2020.

Fire-raising, vandalism etc. was 12% (or 361 crimes) higher compared to February 2021, increasing from 3,019 to 3,380 crimes, but was 8% lower than February 2020. Vandalism etc. has risen 14% since February 2021 (increasing from 2,850 to 3,237). This is 7% lower than February 2020 levels.

Other crimes were 10% (or 502 crimes) lower than in February 2021, decreasing from 4,882 to 4,380 crimes. This is 6% lower than February 2020 (decreasing from 4,675 to 4,380 crimes). The sole contributors to the decrease since 2021 was Drugs (which fell by 27% compared to February 2021 and 20% compared to February 2020).

The following chart shows a breakdown of the crime and offence groups, comparing February 2020, 2021 and 2022

Note: each category shows rows from top to bottom for February 2020, 2021 and 2022

The biggest decreases from February 2021 to February 2022 were Drugs and Fraud.

The biggest decreases over this period were:

Drugs

Down - 27% (or 693 crimes)

Down - 20% (or 484 crimes) compared to February 2020

Fraud

Down - 4% (or 56 crimes)

Up - 40% (or 437 crimes) compared to February 2020

The biggest increases from February 2021 to February 2022 (by volume) were:

Shoplifting

Up - 47% (or 616 crimes)

Down - 24% (or 590 crimes) compared to February 2020

Other theft

Up - 21% (or 443 crimes)

Down - 14% (or 419 crimes) compared to February 2020

Further Information: The data in this section comes from the monthly Official Statistics on crimes and offences recorded by the police in Scotland during the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, please see Recorded Crime in Scotland: February 2022.

Police Recorded Domestic Abuse Incidents

The number of Domestic Abuse incidents recorded in February 2022 was higher than the levels seen in February 2021 but lower than in February 2020.

These updates (including the proportion with a crime or offence) will be reflected in future editions of the Official Statistics on Domestic Abuse in Scotland. The most recent edition covers the 2020-21 reporting year.

In February 2022:

4,675 Domestic incidents recorded

Up - 2% since February 2021 (4,580 incidents)

Down - 1% since February 2020 (4,723 incidents)

In April 2021 to February 2022:

57,788 Domestic incidents recorded

Down - 2% since the same months in Apr 2020 to Feb 2021 (59,031 incidents)

Up - 1% since the same months in Apr 2019 to Feb 2020 (57,121 incidents)

The proportion of April 2021 to February 2022 incidents that included the recording of at least one crime or offence was 42.3%, lower than for the equivalent period the previous year (April 2020 to February 2021), at 43.3%.

In addition to the above, separate figures on crimes recorded under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 are available from the Recorded Crime in Scotland monthly Official Statistics. There were 137 such crimes recorded by the police in February 2022, this is 7% higher than February 2021 (128 crimes) and 8% higher than February 2020 (127 crimes).

Police Recorded Domestic Abuse Incidents per 10,000 population

Across Scotland as a whole, the police recorded 106 domestic abuse incidents per 10,000 population^[1] during the period April 2021 to February 2022.

The local authorities with the highest rates were Dundee City (156), West Dunbartonshire (143) and City of Glasgow (132).

The following chart shows local authorities with rates above the national average.

The following map shows local authorities with above the national average (in a darker shading) of Domestic Abuse incidents per 10,000 population, in the period April 2021 to February 2022.

Further Information:

The crime data in this section comes from the monthly Official Statistics on crimes and offences recorded by the police in Scotland during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information, please see the Monthly Official Statistics on Recorded Crime in Scotland.