Recorded crime statistics: February 2021

Summary

The number of crimes recorded by the police in Scotland was 16% lower in February 2021 than in February 2020, decreasing from 18,992 to 15,979^[1].

Over the same time period:

• Non-sexual crimes of violence were 6% lower (decreasing from 694 to 653 crimes).
• Sexual crimes were 9% lower (decreasing from 1,124 to 1,020 crimes).
• Crimes of dishonesty were 28% lower (reducing from 8,843 to 6,405 crimes).
• Fire-raising, vandalism etc. were 17% lower (reducing from 3,656 to 3,019 crimes).
• Other crimes were 4% higher (increasing from 4,675 to 4,882 crimes).
• Fewer crimes were recorded by the police in 26 (81%) out of 32 local authorities.

The number of offences recorded by the police in Scotland was 20% lower in February 2021 than in February 2020, decreasing from 19,222 to 15,352.

Over the same time period:

• Miscellaneous offences were 21% lower (decreasing from 9,528 to 7,540).
• Motor vehicle offences were 19% lower (decreasing from 9,694 to 7,812).

Overall, the number of crimes recorded by the police between April 2020 and February 2021 was 7% lower than the same period in the previous year. In April 2020 recorded crime was 18% lower than April 2019. For the most recent month – February2021 - recorded crime was 16% lower than in February 2020. 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.