Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2019-2020

7. Classification of Crimes and Offences

Crimes

Group 1: Non-sexual crimes of violence

(Also referred to as Crimes of violence)

Homicide etc.

Includes:

• Murder
• Culpable homicide
  • Culpable homicide (common law)
  • Causing death by dangerous driving
  • Causing death by careless driving when under influence of drink or drugs
  • Causing death by careless driving
  • Illegal driver involved in fatal accident
  • Corporate homicide

Attempted murder and serious assault

Includes:

• Attempted murder
• Serious assault

For the definition of Serious assault and the distinction between Serious assault and Common assault please see Paragraph 6.19 within Annex 1.

Robbery

• Robbery and assault with intent to rob

Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act

• Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act

Other

Includes:

• Threats and extortion
• Cruel and unnatural treatment of children
• Abortion
• Concealment of pregnancy
• Possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, commit crime etc.
• Abduction
• Ill treatment and neglect of mental patients and vulnerable adults
• Drugging
• Slavery or forced labour
• Human organ offences

Group 2: Sexual crimes

Rape and attempted rape

Includes:

• Rape
• Attempted rape

Sexual assault

Includes:

• Contact sexual assault (13-15 year old or adult 16+)
• Sexually coercive conduct (13-15 year old or adult 16+)
• Sexual crimes against children under 13 years
• Lewd and libidinous practices

Crimes associated with prostitution

Includes:

• Crimes relating to prostitution
• Soliciting services of person engaged in prostitution
• Brothel keeping
• Immoral traffic
• Procuration

Other

Includes:

• Other sexually coercive conduct
• Other sexual crimes involving 13-15 year old children
• Taking, distribution, possession etc. of indecent photos of children
• Incest
• Unnatural crimes
• Public indecency
• Sexual exposure
• Threatening to disclose and intimate image
• Disclosure of an intimate image
• Communications Act 2003 (sexual)
• Other sexual crimes

Group 3: Crimes of dishonesty

(Also referred to as Dishonesty)

Housebreaking

Includes:

• Theft by housebreaking domestic property (dwelling and non-dwelling)
• Theft by housebreaking other property
• Housebreaking with intent to steal domestic property (dwelling and non-dwelling)
• Housebreaking with intent to steal other property
• Attempted housebreaking with intent to enter and steal domestic property (dwelling and non-dwelling)
• Attempted housebreaking with intent to enter and steal other property

Theft by opening lockfast places (OLP)

• Theft by opening lockfast places (OLP) (excluding motor vehicle)
• OLP (excluding motor vehicle) with intent to steal
• Attempted OLP excluding motor vehicle with intent to steal

Theft from a motor vehicle by OLP

Includes:

• Theft by OLP from a motor vehicle
• OLP with intent to steal from a motor vehicle
• Attempted OLP with intent to steal from a motor vehicle

Theft of motor vehicle

• Theft of a motor vehicle and contents
• Attempted theft of a motor vehicle

Shoplifting

• Shoplifting

Other theft

Includes:

• Theft of pedal cycles
• Theft from a motor vehicle not elsewhere classified

Fraud

• Fraud

Other crimes of dishonesty

Includes:

• Forgery (other)
• Reset
• Embezzlement
• Corruption

Group 4: Fire-raising, vandalism etc.

Fire-raising

Includes:

• Fire-raising
• Muirburn

Vandalism, etc. -

Includes:

• Malicious mischief
• Vandalism
• Culpable and reckless conduct (not with firearms)
• Reckless conduct with firearms
• Culpable and reckless conduct involving aircraft

Group 5: Other crimes

Crimes against public justice

Includes:

• Perjury
• Resisting arrest
• Bail offences (other than absconding or re-offending)
• Wasting police time

Handling offensive weapons

Includes:

• Possession of an offensive weapon
• Restriction of offensive weapons
• Having in a public place an article with a blade or point
• Having in prison an article with a blade or point
• Possession of a firearm in a prison
• Possession of an offensive weapon (not elsewhere specified) in a prison
• Possession of an offensive weapon (not elsewhere specified) in a school
• Having in a school an article with a blade or point
• Possession of an offensive weapon used in other criminal activity
• Having in a public place an article with a blade or point used in other criminal activity
• Possession of an offensive weapon in a prison used in other criminal activity
• Having in a prison an article with a blade or point used in other criminal activity
• Possession of offensive weapon in a school used in other criminal activity
• Having in a school an article with a blade or point used in other criminal activity

Drugs

Includes:

• Importation of drugs
• Production, manufacture or cultivation of drugs
• Possession and supply of controlled drugs
• Related money laundering offences
• Bringing drugs into prison
• Psychoactive substance: production, import/export, supply or possession in custody

Other

Includes:

• Treason
• Conspiracy
• Offences relating to serious organised crime
• Explosives offences
• Wrecking, piracy and hijacking
• Crimes against public order

Coronavirus restrictions crimes

• Coronavirus restrictions crimes

Offences

Group 6: Miscellaneous offences

Common assault

Includes:

• Common assault
• Common assault on an emergency worker

For the distinction between Serious assault and Common assault please see Paragraph 6.19 within Annex 1.

Breach of the peace etc.

Includes:

• Breach of the peace
• Threatening or abusive behaviour
• Offence of stalking
• Offensive behaviour at football
• Threatening communications (Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Act 2012)

Drunkenness and other disorderly conduct

Includes:

• Drunk and disorderly
• Drunk and incapable
• Drunk in charge of a child
• Drunk and attempting to enter licensed premises
• Drunk or drinking in unlicensed premises
• Disorderly on licensed premises
• Drunk and attempting to enter designated sports ground
• Refusing to quit licensed premises
• Consumption of alcohol in designated places, byelaws prohibited

Urinating etc.

Includes:

• Urinating /defecating

Other

Other (cont.)

Includes:

• Racially aggravated harassment
• Racially aggravated conduct
• False/Hoax calls
• Offences involving children
• Offences involving animals/plants
• Air weapons licensing offences
• Offences against local legislation
• Offences against liquor licensing laws
• Labour laws
• Naval military and air force laws
• Offences against environmental legislation
• Consumer protection acts

Group 7: Motor vehicle offences

Dangerous and careless driving

Includes:

• Dangerous driving offences
• Driving carelessly

Driving under the influence

Includes:

• Driving or in charge of motor vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs
• Blood alcohol content above limit
• Failing to provide breath, blood or urine specimens

Speeding

Includes:

• Speeding in restricted areas
• Other speeding offences

Unlawful use of vehicle

Includes:

• Driving while disqualified
• Driving without a licence
• Driving without insurance
• Driving without a test certificate
• Vehicle tax and registration and identification offences

Vehicle defect offences

Includes:

• Construction and use regulations
• Lighting offences

Seat belt offences

• Seat belt offences

Mobile phone offences

• Mobile phone offences

Other

Includes:

• Accident offences
• Parking offences