We use cookies to collect anonymous data to help us improve your site browsing experience.

Click 'Accept all cookies' to agree to all cookies that collect anonymous data. To only allow the cookies that make the site work, click 'Use essential cookies only.' Visit 'Set cookie preferences' to control specific cookies.

Set cookie preferences

Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

Publication - Statistics

Criminal Proceedings in Scotland, 2019-20

Published
18 May 2021
Directorate
Safer Communities Directorate
Topic
Law and order
ISBN
9781800049628

A total of 85,726 people were proceeded against in Scottish criminal courts in 2019-20, a fall of 4% from 89,725 proceedings in 2018-19 The number of convictions was 75,251 in 2019-20, which is also a fall of 4% from 78,488 in 2018-19. This continues the general downward trend of the last ten years,

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Table 4(a) People proceeded against by main crime/offence, 2010-11 to 2019-20

Main crime or offence 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20[1] % change 2018-19 to 2019-20 All offences proceeded, 2019-20 [2]
All crimes and offences 131,142  124,842  116,684  121,786  123,322  116,823  107,342  95,555  89,725  85,726  -4 166,270 
All crimes 49,175  48,130  44,145  43,058  42,857  42,086  38,541  34,762  33,427  32,810  -2 70,096 
 Non-sexual crimes of violence 3,557  3,434  3,175  2,656  2,586  2,641  2,568  2,600  2,610  3,054  17 3,947 
  Homicide etc 139  134  148  113  111  111  94  113  99  99  - 105 
  Attempted murder and serious assault 2,098  2,047  2,033  1,633  1,641  1,740  1,700  1,732  1,777  1,954  10 2,365 
  Robbery  687  771  668  585  505  522  525  544  505  550  9 791 
  Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  246  - 269 
  Other non-sexual crimes of violence 633  482  326  325  329  268  249  211  229  205  -10 417 
 Sexual crimes 1,003  1,036  1,231  1,530  1,707  1,674  1,561  1,571  1,772  1,700  -4 4,144 
  Rape and attempted rape 80  93  138  219  271  216  251  246  313  300  -4 574 
  Sexual assault[3] 216  218  314  373  453  447  443  482  540  475  -12 1,368 
  Crimes associated with prostitution 270  217  167  185  176  117  98  53  43  74  72 108 
  Other sexual crimes 437  508  612  753  807  894  769  790  876  851  -3 2,094 
 Crimes of dishonesty 17,630  17,040  15,366  14,654  14,249  13,236  12,311  11,115  10,935  10,149  -7 22,759 
  Housebreaking 1,813  1,880  1,706  1,276  1,168  1,017  1,022  946  892  908  2 1,633 
  Theft by opening lockfast places 338  337  312  284  254  234  217  167  186  124  -33 324 
  Theft from a motor vehicle 318  295  238  167  131  120  105  93  121  101  -17 228 
  Theft of a motor vehicle 647  669  553  442  446  417  380  331  300  283  -6 1,275 
  Shoplifting 8,369  7,817  6,986  7,070  7,426  7,092  6,725  6,067  6,369  5,779  -9 11,742 
  Other theft 3,391  3,571  3,308  3,155  2,865  2,552  2,208  1,955  1,750  1,754  - 3,815 
  Fraud 1,231  925  761  825  693  679  654  568  497  485  -2 1,911 
  Other dishonesty 1,523  1,546  1,502  1,435  1,266  1,125  1,000  988  820  715  -13 1,831 
 Fire-raising, vandalism, etc. 3,991  3,623  3,174  3,024  2,944  2,712  2,395  2,191  2,123  2,018  -5 4,293 
  Fire-raising 194  176  170  161  159  143  140  152  141  146  4 250 
  Vandalism etc. 3,797  3,447  3,004  2,863  2,785  2,569  2,255  2,039  1,982  1,872  -6 4,043 
 Other crimes 22,994  22,997  21,199  21,194  21,371  21,823  19,706  17,285  15,987  15,889  -1 34,953 
  Crimes against public justice 11,244  11,806  11,249  11,111  11,430  11,589  10,304  9,159  8,293  8,584  4 19,230 
  Handling offensive weapons 2,953  2,838  2,226  2,104  1,989  1,883  1,790  1,772  1,921  2,072  8 4,051 
  Drugs 8,553  8,125  7,492  7,782  7,766  8,181  7,412  6,238  5,663  5,126  -9 11,476 
  Other crime 244  228  232  197  186  170  200  116  110  107  -3 196 
All offences 81,967  76,712  72,539  78,728  80,465  74,737  68,801  60,793  56,298  52,916  -6 96,174 
 Miscellaneous offences 34,906  35,789  34,693  35,856  38,715  39,619  35,992  31,220  27,149  25,590  -6 52,405 
  Common assault 15,812  16,341  15,017  14,744  15,766  16,374  14,867  12,891  11,335  10,531  -7 21,336 
  Breach of the peace etc. 13,958  14,608  15,069  16,262  18,522  19,418  18,025  15,795  13,676  12,999  -5 26,827 
  Drunkenness and other disorderly conduct 670  352  257  358  283  165  80  49  35  35  - 318 
  Urinating etc 55  28  44  47  47  31  17  16  12  7  -42 61 
  Other miscellaneous 4,411  4,460  4,306  4,445  4,097  3,631  3,003  2,469  2,091  2,018  -3 3,863 
 Motor vehicle offences 47,061  40,923  37,846  42,872  41,750  35,118  32,809  29,573  29,149  27,326  -6 43,769 
  Dangerous and careless driving 3,495  3,198  3,095  3,899  3,778  3,989  4,168  4,199  3,390  3,676  8 4,960 
  Driving under the influence 5,648  5,562  5,009  4,318  3,845  3,730  3,824  3,845  3,726  3,520  -6 5,000 
  Speeding 13,172  12,602  12,195  14,281  14,251  12,630  10,874  9,566  9,172  9,268  1 9,859 
  Unlawful use of motor vehicle 12,160  9,921  8,682  9,488  9,258  7,088  7,921  7,584  8,255  6,907  -16 14,850 
  Vehicle defect offences 1,902  1,623  1,374  1,740  1,724  1,661  1,429  1,058  1,197  1,140  -5 2,615 
  Seat belt offences 2,743  2,047  2,132  2,604  2,293  527  326  97  217  181  -17 374 
  Mobile phone offences 3,916  2,896  2,937  3,415  3,606  2,645  1,710  994  815  564  -31 672 
  Other motor vehicle offences 4,025  3,074  2,422  3,127  2,995  2,848  2,557  2,230  2,377  2,070  -13 5,439 

1. Figures for some categories dealt with by the high court - including homicide, rape and major drug cases - may be underestimated due to late recording of disposals - See annex Revisions section.
2. Number of individual offences relating to people proceeded against, whether or not the main crime/offence involved.

Contact

Email: Justice_Analysts@gov.scot

Back to top