Recorded Crime in Scotland: January 2021

Summary

The number of crimes recorded by the police in Scotland was 12% lower in January 2021 than in January 2020, decreasing from 19,054 to 16,813.

Over the same time period:

• Non-sexual crimes of violence were 9% lower (decreasing from 736 to 672 crimes).
• Sexual crimes were 22% lower (decreasing from 1,107 to 861 crimes).
• Crimes of dishonesty were 21% lower (reducing from 8,658 to 6,811 crimes).
• Fire-raising, vandalism etc. was 20% lower (reducing from 3,964 to 3,176 crimes).
• Other crimes were 15% higher (increasing from 4,589 to 5,293 crimes).
• Fewer crimes were recorded by the police in 24 (75%) out of 32 local authorities.

The number of offences recorded by the police in Scotland was 16% lower in January 2021 than in January 2020, decreasing from 19,758 to 16,626.

Over the same time period:

• Miscellaneous offences were 12% lower (decreasing from 9,541 to 8,443).
• Motor vehicle offences were 20% lower (decreasing from 10,217 to 8,183).

Overall, the number of crimes recorded by the police between April 2020 and January 2021 was 6% 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 – January 2021 - recorded crime was 12% lower than in January 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.