Recorded Crime in Scotland: April 2021

Main findings

Crimes recorded by the police

In April 2021, the police recorded 19,347 crimes. This is 13% higher (or 2,176 crimes) 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). There were variations in the year-on-year trends between different crime types. Whilst all groups of crimes and offences increased compared to April 2020, the majority were still lower than pre-pandemic levels (April 2019) (Table 1, Chart 1).

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). Within this, Attempted murder and serious assault increased by 16% compared to April 2020 (from 226 to 262), however was still 27% lower than in April 2019 (decreasing from 361 to 262 crimes). Other violence increased by 20% compared to April 2020 (from 153 to 184) and increased 64% from April 2019 (from 112 to 184). Crimes under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 increased by 28 crimes (26%) compared to April 2020 (from 109 to 137), and were 9% higher than in April 2019 (an increase from 126 to 137).
• Sexual crimes were 45% higher (or 355 crimes), increasing from 781 to 1,136 crimes. Sexual crimes were also 8% higher than in April 2019 (increasing from 1,055 to 1,136 crimes). Sexual assault saw the largest increase since April 2020, increasing by 69% (from 220 to 372), however it remained 8% below April 2019 levels. Other sexual crimes increased by 30% compared to April 2020 (from 425 to 554); this was also a 20% increase compared to April 2019 (from 461 to 554). Rape and attempted rape increased by 51% compared to April 2020, from 134 to 202 crimes; this is also a 10% increase compared to April 2019 (from 184 to 202 crimes).
• Crimes of dishonesty were 7% higher (or 468 crimes) compared to April 2020, increasing from 7,177 to 7,645 crimes. However, this was still 19% lower than in April 2019 (decreasing from 9,459 to 7,645). Crimes of Fraud have continued to increase throughout the pandemic, increasing by 55% since April 2020 (from 1,089 to 1,684) and increasing 113% since April 2019 (from 791 to 1,684). The Changes in levels of recorded fraud section below provides users with further background on what may be contributing to this change. Shoplifting also increased by 22% compared to April 2020 (from 1,417 to 1,732), but is still 39% lower than in April 2019 (decreasing from 2,826 to 1,732).
• Fire-raising, vandalism etc. was 18% higher (or 581 crimes) compared to April 2020, increasing from 3,148 to 3,729 crimes. However this was still 12% lower than in April 2019. The increase since April 2020 was driven by crimes of Vandalism etc., which increased by 17% from 2,937 to 3,430 crimes, however this is still 14% lower than April 2019 levels.
• Other crimes were 13% higher (or 692 crimes) than in April 2020, increasing from 5,429 to 6,121 crimes; this was also an 11% increase since April 2019 (from 5,507 to 6,121). The main contributors to these increases were Crimes against public justice (which rose by 13% compared to April 2020 and 32% compared to April 2019) and Drugs (which rose by 16% compared to April 2020 and 4% compared to April 2019).

Offences recorded by the police

In April 2021, the police recorded 20,234 offences. This is 31% higher (or 4,785 offences) than the 15,449 offences recorded in the same month in 2020, but 7% lower than in April 2019 (21,644 compared to 20,234). Miscellaneous offences increased by 8% compared to April 2020, but were still 9% lower than in April 2019. Motor vehicle offences increased by 65% compared to April 2020, but were still 4% lower than in April 2019, as detailed below (Table 2).

In April 2021:

• Miscellaneous offences increased by 8%, from 9,306 to 10,080 offences, but were still 9% lower than in April 2019 (decreasing from 11,047 to 10,080). The largest increase since April 2020 was in Common assault (which increased by 12% from 3,678 to 4,110 offences), however levels were still 15% lower than in April 2019. Other miscellaneous offences increased by 13% compared to April 2020 (from 1,162 to 1,315 offences), and 19% compared to April 2019 (from 1,105 to 1,315).
• Motor vehicle offences were 65% higher compared to April 2020 (or 4,011 offences), increasing from 6,143 to 10,154 offences, but were still 4% lower than April 2019 levels. The main contributor to the increase since April 2020 was offences of Speeding (which more than quadrupled from 501 to 2,248 offences), however this is still 21% below April 2019 levels. Unlawful use of a vehicle has also increased over this time period, by 34% compared to April 2020 (from 2,747 to 3,686 offences) and 16% compared to April 2019 (from 3,176 to 3,686).

Local Authorities

Compared to April 2020, an increase in recorded crime was seen in 27 (84%) out of 32 local authorities, with 5 showing a decrease (Table 3). The largest increase was seen in Angus (up 98%) and the largest decrease was in Na h-Eileanan Siar (down 16%). It should be noted that the relatively small number of crimes recorded in some of Scotland’s local authorities can fluctuate over time - leading to large percentage changes. This is particularly relevant in this release, where monthly data is being presented rather than the annual information provided in the National Statistics.

The biggest contributors by volume to the overall increase in crimes recorded by the police were Fife (up 28%, or 259 crimes), Dundee City (up 34%, or 234 crimes) and Aberdeen City (up 23%, or 198 crimes).