Recorded Crime in Scotland: April 2021

Summary

The police in Scotland recorded 19,347 crimes in April 2021. This was 13% higher than the 17,171 crimes recorded in the same month of 2020 (when the first pandemic lockdown was in place) and 8% lower than the 20,994 crimes recorded in the same month of 2019 (for which there was no pandemic or restrictions on movement).

In April 2021:

• Non-sexual crimes of violence were 13% higher compared to April 2020 (increasing from 636 to 716 crimes), but 3% lower compared to April 2019 (decreasing from 740 to 716 crimes).
• Sexual crimes were 45% higher compared to April 2020 (increasing from 781 to 1,136 crimes) and 8% higher than April 2019 (an increase from 1,055 to 1,136 crimes).
• Crimes of dishonesty were 7% higher than April 2020 (increasing from 7,177 to 7,645 crimes) and 19% lower than in April 2019 (a decrease from 9,459 to 7,645).
• Fire-raising, vandalism etc. was 18% higher than April 2020 (increasing from 3,148 to 3,729 crimes) and 12% lower than in April 2019 (a decrease from 4,233 to 3,729).
• Other crimes were 13% higher compared to April 2020 (increasing from 5,429 to 6,121 crimes) and 11% higher than in April 2019 (an increase from 5,507 to 6,121).
• More crimes were recorded by police in 27 (84%) out of 32 local authorities, compared to April 2020.

The number of offences recorded by the police in Scotland in April 2021 was 20,234. This was 31% higher than the 15,449 offences recorded in the same month of 2020 (when the first pandemic lockdown was in place) and 7% lower than the 21,644 offences recorded in the same month of 2019 (for which there was no pandemic or restrictions on movement).

In April 2021:

• Miscellaneous offences increased by 8% compared to April 2020 (increasing from 9,306 to 10,080) and decreased by 9% compared to April 2019 (a decrease from 11,047 to 10,080).
• Motor vehicle offences were 65% higher compared to April 2020 (increasing from 6,143 to 10,154) but 4% lower compared to April 2019 (decreasing from 10,597 to 10,154).

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.