Recorded Crime in Scotland: January 2022

Main findings

Crimes recorded by the police

In January 2022, the police recorded 18,430 crimes. This was 10% (or 1,617 crimes) higher than the 16,813 crimes recorded in the same month of 2021 (when pandemic restrictions were in place) but 3% lower than the 19,054 crimes recorded in the same month of 2020 (for which there was no pandemic or restrictions on movement). There were variations in the year-on-year trends between different crime types. However, with the exception of Crimes of dishonesty and Fire-raising, vandalism etc., all groups were higher than pre-pandemic levels (January 2020), despite the overall decrease (Table 1, Chart 1).

In January 2022:

• Non-sexual crimes of violence were 17% (or 117 crimes) higher compared to January 2021 (increasing from 672 to 789 crimes), and 7% higher compared to January 2020 (increasing from 736 to 789 crimes). Within this, Attempted murder and serious assault increased by 38% compared to January 2021 (from 216 to 297 crimes), and increased by 2% from January 2020 (from 291 to 297 crimes). Other violence increased by 2% compared to January 2021 (from 219 to 223 crimes) and increased by 72% from January 2020 (from 130 to 223 crimes). The increase since January 2020 is mainly due to a rise in Threats and extortion (from 40 to 123 crimes), with the latest National Statistics bulletin estimating that more than three-quarters (77%) of Threats and extortion recorded in 2020-21 were cyber-crimes. Crimes under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 increased by 15% compared to January 2021 (from 124 to 142 crimes), but were 7% lower than in January 2020 (decreasing from 153 to 142 crimes).
• Sexual crimes were 33% (or 284 crimes) higher compared to January 2021, increasing from 861 to 1,145 crimes, and were 3% (or 38 crimes) higher than in January 2020 (increasing from 1,107 to 1,145 crimes). Sexual assault increased by 50% compared to January 2021 (from 259 to 389 crimes), but decreased by 4% compared to January 2020 (decreasing from 405 to 389 crimes). The rise in Sexual assault since 2021 was primarily due to an increase in Sexual assault of females, including classifications for adults (aged 16 or older) and older children (aged 13-15). Other sexual crimes increased by 29% compared to January 2021 (increasing from 454 to 585 crimes) and increased by 11% compared to January 2020 (increasing from 525 to 585 crimes). The rise in Other sexual crimes since 2021 was primarily due to Communicating indecently, Threatening to disclose an intimate image and Voyeurism. Rape and attempted rape increased by 14% compared to January 2021 (from 145 to 166 crimes), but decreased by 5% compared to January 2020 (from 174 to 166 crimes).
• Crimes of dishonesty were 17% (or 1,133 crimes) higher compared to January 2021, increasing from 6,811 to 7,944 crimes. This was 8% lower than in January 2020 (decreasing from 8,658 to 7,944 crimes). Shoplifting was the biggest contributor (by volume) to the increase, having risen by 42% compared to January 2021 (from 1,366 to 1,936 crimes), but was 12% lower when compared to January 2020. Crimes of Fraud have been at increased levels throughout the pandemic. There was a 3% increase compared to January 2021 (up from 1,555 to 1,600 crimes), and a 65% increase since January 2020 (from 969 to 1,600 crimes). The Changes in levels of recorded fraud section below provides users with further background on what may be contributing to this change.
• Fire-raising, vandalism etc. was 16% (or 503 crimes) higher compared to January 2021, increasing from 3,176 to 3,679 crimes, but was 7% lower than January 2020. Vandalism etc. has risen 15% since January 2021 (increasing from 3,002 to 3,450 crimes). This is 9% lower than January 2020 levels.
• Other crimes were 8% (or 420 crimes) lower than in January 2021, decreasing from 5,293 to 4,873 crimes. This is 6% higher than January 2020 (increasing from 4,589 to 4,873 crimes). The contributors to the decrease from 2021 were Drugs (which fell by 19% compared to January 2021 and 9% compared to January 2020) and Crimes against public justice (which fell by 2% compared to January 2021 but increased by 30% compared to January 2020).

Chart: each category shows bars from top to bottom for January 2020, 2021 and 2022

Offences recorded by the police

In January 2022, the police recorded 18,736 offences. This was 13% (or 2,110 offences) higher than the 16,626 offences recorded in the same month in 2021, but 5% lower than in January 2020 (decreasing from 19,758 to 18,736 offences). Miscellaneous offences increased by 15% compared to January 2021, and by 2% compared to January 2020. Motor vehicle offences increased by 10% compared to January 2021, but decreased by 12% compared to January 2020, as detailed below (Table 2).

In January 2022:

• Miscellaneous offences increased by 15% (or 1,267 offences) compared to January 2021 (increasing from 8,443 to 9,710 offences), and by 2% compared to January 2020 (increasing from 9,541 to 9,710 offences). The largest increase by volume since January 2021 was Common assault, which rose by 19% from 3,723 to 4,435 offences, and was 1% higher than January 2020. All other categories in miscellaneous offences also increased compared to January 2021.
• Motor vehicle offences were 10% (or 843 offences) higher compared to January 2021, increasing from 8,183 to 9,026 offences, but were 12% lower than January 2020 levels. The main contributor to the increase since January 2021 by volume was Speeding (which increased by 43%, from 1,336 to 1,905 offences). The only categories within Motor vehicle offences that increased when compared to January 2020 were Driving under the influence (up 15%) and Dangerous and careless driving (up 5%).

Local Authorities

Compared to January 2021, a decrease in recorded crime was seen in 11 (34%) out of 32 local authorities, with 21 showing an increase (Table 3). The largest increase was seen in the Shetland Islands (up 60%) and the largest decreases were in East Dunbartonshire and the Orkney Islands, which both had 22% fewer recorded crimes. It should be noted that the relatively small number of crimes recorded in some of Scotland's local authorities can fluctuate over time - leading to large percentage changes. This is particularly relevant in this release, where monthly data is being presented rather than the annual information provided in the National Statistics.

The biggest contributors by volume to the overall increase in crimes recorded by the police were Glasgow City (up 26%, or 646 crimes) and Edinburgh City (up 11%, or 221 crimes).

April 2019 to January 2020 and April 2020 to January 2021, compared with April 2021 to January 2022

Overall, in April 2021 to January 2022 the police recorded 188,135 crimes, a reduction of 3% (or 5,240 crimes) compared to April 2020 to January 2021 (193,375 crimes) (Table 4). This was 9% (or 18,432 crimes) lower than April 2019 to January 2020 (206,567 crimes). The biggest drivers of the decrease by volume since April 2020 to January 2021 were Drugs (down 22%, or 6,728 crimes), Crimes against public justice (down 9%, or 1,886 crimes) and Housebreaking (down 15%, or 1,314 crimes). When compared with April 2019 to January 2020, the biggest drivers of the reduction by volume were Shoplifting (down 28%, or 7,296 crimes), Drugs (down 22%, or 6,452 crimes) and Other theft (down 17%, or 5,812 crimes). The largest increase since April 2020 to January 2021 by volume was Shoplifting (up 6%, or 1,133 crimes). Compared with April 2019 to January 2020, the largest increase by volume was Fraud (up 68%, or 6,027 crimes).

The number of offences recorded by the police in April 2021 to January 2022 was 1% (or 1,518 offences) lower than April 2020 to January 2021, with Miscellaneous offences remaining almost unchanged (increasing by 136 offences) and Motor vehicle offences decreasing by 2% (or 1,654 offences) (Table 5). Compared to April 2019 to January 2020, offences decreased by 8% (or 16,722 offences), with Miscellaneous offences decreasing by 4% (or 4,068 offences) and Motor vehicle offences decreasing by 12% (or 12,654 offences).