Recorded crime in Scotland: August 2020

Summary

The number of crimes recorded by the police in Scotland was 4% lower in August 2020 than in August 2019, reducing from 20,730 to 19,927.

Over the same time period:

• Non-sexual crimes of violence were 7% higher (increasing from 775 to 828 crimes).
• Sexual crimes were 3% lower (reducing from 1,128 to 1,091 crimes).
• Crimes of dishonesty were 11% lower (reducing from 9,159 to 8,118 crimes).
• Fire-raising, vandalism etc. remained almost unchanged, decreasing by less than 1% (reducing from 3,963 to 3,954 crimes).
• Other crimes were 4% higher (increasing from 5,705 to 5,936 crimes).
• Fewer crimes were recorded by the police in 18 (56%) out of 32 local authorities.

The number of offences recorded by the police in Scotland was 1% higher in August 2020 than in August 2019, increasing from 21,725 to 21,847.

Over the same time period:

• Miscellaneous offences were 8% higher (increasing from 11,407 to 12,375).
• Motor vehicle offences were 8% lower (reducing from 10,318 to 9,472).

Overall, the number of crimes recorded by the police between April and August 2020 was 7% lower than the same period in 2019. In April 2020 recorded crime was 18% lower than April 2019. For the most recent month - August 2020 - recorded crime was 4% lower than in August 2019. 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.