Recorded crime in Scotland: April 2020

Summary

The number of crimes recorded by the police in Scotland was 18% lower in April 2020 than in April 2019, reducing from 20,994 to 17,171.

Over the same time period:

• Non-sexual crimes of violence were 14% lower (reducing from 740 to 636).
• Sexual crimes were 26% lower (reducing from 1,055 to 781).
• Crimes of dishonesty were 24% lower (reducing from 9,459 to 7,177)
• Fire-raising, vandalism etc. were 26% lower (reducing from 4,233 to 3,148).
• Other crimes remained relatively unchanged, at 1% lower (reducing from 5,507 to 5,429).
• Fewer crimes were recorded by the police in all but two local authorities.

The number of offences recorded by the police in Scotland was 29% lower in April 2020 than in April 2019, reducing from 21,644 to 15,449.

Over the same time period:

• Miscellaneous offences were 16% lower (reducing from 11,047 to 9,306).
• Motor vehicle offences were 42% lower (reducing from 10,597 to 6,143).

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.