Recorded Crime in Scotland: January 2022

Summary

The police in Scotland recorded 18,430 crimes in January 2022. This was 10% higher than the 16,813 crimes recorded in the same month of 2021 (when pandemic restrictions were in place) and 3% lower than the 19,054 crimes recorded in the same month of 2020 (for which there was no pandemic or restrictions on movement).

In January 2022:

• Non-sexual crimes of violence were 17% higher compared to January 2021 (increasing from 672 to 789 crimes), and 7% higher compared to January 2020 (increasing from 736 to 789 crimes).
• Sexual crimes were 33% higher compared to January 2021 (increasing from 861 to 1,145 crimes), and 3% higher compared to January 2020 (increasing from 1,107 to 1,145 crimes).
• Crimes of dishonesty were 17% higher compared to January 2021 (increasing from 6,811 to 7,944 crimes), but 8% lower than in January 2020 (decreasing from 8,658 to 7,944 crimes).
• Fire-raising, vandalism etc. was 16% higher compared to January 2021 (increasing from 3,176 to 3,679 crimes), but 7% lower than in January 2020 (decreasing from 3,964 to 3,679 crimes).
• Other crimes were 8% lower compared to January 2021 (decreasing from 5,293 to 4,873 crimes), but 6% higher than in January 2020 (increasing from 4,589 to 4,873 crimes).
• Fewer crimes were recorded by the police in 11 (34%) out of 32 local authorities, compared to January 2021.

The number of offences recorded by the police in Scotland in January 2022 was 18,736. This is 13% higher than the 16,626 offences recorded in the same month of 2021 (when pandemic restrictions were in place) but 5% lower than the 19,758 offences recorded in the same month of 2020 (for which there was no pandemic or restrictions on movement).

In January 2022:

• Miscellaneous offences increased by 15% compared to January 2021 (increasing from 8,443 to 9,710), and were 2% higher compared to January 2020 (increasing from 9,541 to 9,710).
• Motor vehicle offences were 10% higher compared to January 2021 (increasing from 8,183 to 9,026), but 12% lower compared to January 2020 (decreasing from 10,217 to 9,026).

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.