Recorded Crime in Scotland: December 2020

Summary

The number of crimes recorded by the police in Scotland was 5% lower in December 2020 than in December 2019, decreasing from 19,209 to 18,229.

Over the same time period:

• Non-sexual crimes of violence were 3% lower (decreasing from 723 to 698 crimes).
• Sexual crimes were 9% lower (decreasing from 968 to 885 crimes).
• Crimes of dishonesty were 9% lower (reducing from 8,502 to 7,767 crimes).
• Fire-raising, vandalism etc. were 8% lower (reducing from 3,930 to 3,605 crimes).
• Other crimes were 4% higher (increasing from 5,086 to 5,274 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 11% lower in December 2020 than in December 2019, decreasing from 20,597 to 18,374.

Over the same time period:

• Miscellaneous offences were 14% lower (decreasing from 10,938 to 9,382).
• Motor vehicle offences were 7% lower (decreasing from 9,659 to 8,992).

Overall, the number of crimes recorded by the police between April and December 2020 was 6% lower than the same period in 2019. In April 2020 recorded crime was 18% lower than April 2019. For the most recent month - December 2020 - recorded crime was 5% lower than in December 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.