Justice Analytical Services - safer communities and justice statistics monthly data report: August 2022 edition

Summary statistics on community safety

Improved public perception of local crime rate since 2008-09. The public feel safer in their local communities. The SCJS found that, in 2019-20, 73% of adults thought that the local crime rate had stayed the same or reduced in the past two years. This shows an improvement from 69% in 2008-09 and no change since 2018-19 (73%).

Most adults feel safe walking alone after dark. The SCJS found that over three-quarters (77%) of adults said that they felt very or fairly safe walking alone in their neighbourhood after dark in 2019-20, unchanged from 2018-19 (78%) but an increase from 66% in 2008-09.

Most adults say police are doing a good or excellent job. The SCJS reported that, in 2019-20, 55% of adults said that the police in their local area were doing a good or excellent job, unchanged from 2018-19 (56%) but down from 61% in 2012-13.

Number of fires fallen 22% in the last decade. In 2020-21, there were 25,147 fires in Scotland, up 3% on 2019-20 but 22% lower than in 2011-12. There were 53 fire fatalities in 2020-21, nearly double the historic low of 27 in 2019-20 and the second highest in the last decade.

Sharp fall in emergency hospital admissions due to assault since 2011-12. In 2020-21, there were 1,891 emergency hospital admissions due to assault, including 496 due to assault with a sharp object. These were, respectively, 57% and 47% lower than in 2011-12.