Recorded Crime in Scotland: May 2020

Summary

The number of crimes recorded by the police in Scotland was 5% lower in May 2020 than in May 2019, reducing from 21,722 to 20,587.

Over the same time period:

• Non-sexual crimes of violence were 5% lower (reducing from 787 to 744).
• Sexual crimes were 26% lower (reducing from 1,280 to 942).
• Crimes of dishonesty were 11% lower (reducing from 9,508 to 8,436)
• Fire-raising, vandalism etc. were 22% lower (reducing from 4,286 to 3,324).
• Other crimes were 22% higher (increasing from 5,861 to 7,141).
• Fewer crimes were recorded by the police in 19 (59%) out of 32 local authorities.

The number of offences recorded by the police in Scotland was 5% lower in May 2020 than in May 2019, reducing from 22,121 to 21,069.

Over the same time period:

• Miscellaneous offences remained unchanged, reducing by less than 1% (from 11,507 to 11,458).
• Motor vehicle offences were 9% lower (reducing from 10,614 to 9,611).

Overall, the number of crimes recorded by the police during April to May 2020 was 12% lower than the same period in 2019. This included April 2020 being 18% lower than April 2019 and May 2020 being 5% lower than May 2019.

As outlined above, the annual Recorded Crime in Scotland bulletin remains the primary source of information on crimes and offences recorded by the police in Scotland, including longer-term analysis of changes to each of the crime and offence groups detailed above.

It should be noted that the total figure for recorded crime (presented in this summary and throughout the bulletin) excludes the new crimes being recorded under the recently enacted coronavirus legislation. Please see the Crimes recorded under coronavirus legislation section below for more information.