Recorded crime in Scotland: attempted murder and serious assault, 2008-2009 and 2017-2018

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Recorded Crime in Scotland: Attempted Murder and Serious Assault, 2008-09 and 2017-18

Serious Assault is any attack where the victim needs hospital inpatient treatment or has any fractures / broken bones, internal injuries, severe concussion, lacerations that require stiches which may lead to impairment or disfigurement, or any other injury which may lead to impairment or disfigurement. Attempted Murder is defined as attempting to kill without necessary cause, or acting in a way so reckless as to show the perpetrator was utterly regardless of the consequences. These findings relate to a sample of crimes of Attempted Murder and Serious Assault recorded by the police.

The number of crimes of Attempted Murder and Serious Assault recorded by the police has fallen by 36% over the last twenty years, between 1998-99 and 2017-18, and by 35% over the last ten years, between 2008-09 and 2017-18.

Change in victimisation rate between 2008-09 and 2017-18:

Estimated number of victims per 10,000 population:

All ages:

• 2008-09 – 12.4 victims per 10,000 population
• 2017-18 – 7.7 victims per 10,000 population

Under 13 years:

• 2008-09 – 1.1 victims per 10,000 population
• 2017-18 – 1.5 victims per 10,000 population

Aged 13 to 19 years:

• 2008-09 – 23.4 victims per 10,000 population
• 2017-18 – 15.1 victims per 10,000 population

Aged 20 to 29 years:

• 2008-09 – 36.2 victims per 10,000 population
• 2017-18 – 16.4 victims per 10,000 population

Aged 30 to 39 years:

• 2008-09 – 22.6 victims per 10,000 population
• 2017-18 – 14.8 victims per 10,000 population

Aged 40 to 49 years:

• 2008-09 – 10.8 victims per 10,000 population
• 2017-18 – 8.1 victims per 10,000 population

Aged 50 and above:

• 2008-09 – 2.2 victims per 10,000 population
• 2017-18 – 2.9 victims per 10,000 population

Characteristics of crimes of Attempted Murder and Serious Assault:

• In 2017-18, 80% of victims were male and 20% were female. In 2008-09, 87% of victims were male and 13% were female.
• The median age of victims has increased from 27 years old in 2008-09 to 31 years old in 2017-18.
• The median age of perpetrators has increased from 23 years old in 2008-09 to 27 years old in 2017-18.
• The proportion of crimes which involve the use of a weapon has fallen from 63% in 2008-09 to 55% in 2017-18.

In 2017-18, the majority of Attempted Murder and Serious Assault:

• Took place in a public space (70%)
• Involved male / all male perpetrators (84%)
• The perpetrator(s) were known to the victim (66%)
• Noted the consumption of alcohol (63%)