Recorded Crime in Scotland: May 2021

Summary

The police in Scotland recorded 19,376 crimes in May 2021. This was 6% lower than the 20,587 crimes recorded in the same month of 2020 (when the first pandemic lockdown was still in place) and 11% lower than the 21,722 crimes recorded in the same month of 2019 (for which there was no pandemic or restrictions on movement).

In May 2021:

• Non-sexual crimes of violence were 8% higher compared to May 2020 (increasing from 744 to 805 crimes), and 2% higher compared to May 2019 (increasing from 787 to 805 crimes).
• Sexual crimes were 34% higher compared to May 2020 (increasing from 942 to 1,259 crimes), but 2% lower than May 2019 (decreasing from 1,280 to 1,259 crimes).
• Crimes of dishonesty were 8% lower than May 2020 (decreasing from 8,436 to 7,800 crimes) and 18% lower than in May 2019 (decreasing from 9,508 to 7,800).
• Fire-raising, vandalism etc. was 13% higher than May 2020 (increasing from 3,324 to 3,757 crimes), but 12% lower than in May 2019 (decreasing from 4,286 to 3,757).
• Other crimes were 19% lower compared to May 2020 (decreasing from 7,141 to 5,755 crimes) and 2% lower than in May 2019 (decreasing from 5,861 to 5,755).
• Fewer crimes were recorded by police in 21 (66%) out of 32 local authorities, compared to May 2020.

The number of offences recorded by the police in Scotland in May 2021 was 21,047. This was relatively unchanged from the 21,069 offences recorded in the same month of 2020 (when the first pandemic lockdown was still in place) and 5% lower than the 22,121 offences recorded in the same month of 2019 (for which there was no pandemic or restrictions on movement).

In May 2021:

• Miscellaneous offences decreased by 1% compared to May 2020 (decreasing from 11,458 to 11,344) and decreased by 1% compared to May 2019 (decreasing from 11,507 to 11,344).
• Motor vehicle offences were 1% higher compared to May 2020 (increasing from 9,611 to 9,703), but 9% lower compared to May 2019 (decreasing from 10,614 to 9,703).

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.